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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to begin training camp in only a few days.
The Bucs have several high-profile storylines that will be played out either before or during the season.
Will Tampa be able to come to an agreement with quarterback Baker Mayfield on a lucrative contract extension? How will the team handle 31-year-old defensive tackle Vita Vea's own desire for a new deal?
Can Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, Bucky Irving, and Tampa's offensive line stay healthy for an entire season? What kind of impact will all of the Bucs' offseason additions have on a defense that struggled badly in 2025?
Will Todd Bowles make it through the season as head coach?
The answers to all those questions will not only determine how successful Tampa's 2026 will be, but also the direction the organization decides to go in for its future.
In an article detailing the top training camp storyline for every NFL team, ESPN believes the biggest question for the Bucs centers on Mayfield, but is surprisingly not (entirely) about his contract situation. ESPN wonders if Mayfield will have a bounce-back season after being hampered by injuries throughout 2025.
Jenna Laine made the pick for the Bucs' storyline, and she wonders if Mayfield will be able to perform better in 2026 than he did last year. She mentions the multitude of injuries Mayfield played through in 2025 that have been brought to light by the Netflix docuseries Quarterback.
Laine does question whether Mayfield will be affected if he must play the season without a new contract. Even though he insists it won't be on his mind, having that kind of money hanging in the balance could weigh on anybody.
"Biggest storyline: Can Baker Mayfield bounce back? We're just now discovering the extent of Mayfield's injuries from last season -- a sprained MCL and PCL since Week 2, a biceps contusion that turned the entire muscle purple and a left shoulder injury. How much did that hamper his performance; where is his true ceiling; and if a new deal doesn't get done before the start of camp, how will it impact him in 2026? Mayfield said back in June: 'The guys in that locker room, the staff know that I'm still going to be me. I'm still going to do everything I can to help this team win a Super Bowl. And to me, that's the priority. Everything else will take care of itself.'"
It is undeniable that Mayfield's play dropped last season compared to 2024. He threw for about 800 fewer yards, and his touchdowns dropped from 41 to 26. Mayfield's completion percentage was only 63.2, down from 71.4 the year prior, while his passer rating fell from 106.8 to 90.6.
However, how much of that fall in production can be put on Mayfield himself? His top three wide receivers from 2024 were all injured for much of last season, as were his top running back and most of Tampa's starting offensive line.
Even with all the injuries, both to Mayfield and his teammates, his QBR was 61.3 last year, the highest of his three seasons with the Bucs and the second-highest mark of his career.
I agree that the top storyline for the Bucs is about Mayfield, but I believe his contract situation is more worrisome than his play level.
Laine is right to think both issues can combine into one if Mayfield doesn't get a new deal before the season. However, the QB insists that it won't be an issue.
It is easy to think Mayfield's drop in efficiency in 2025 can be blamed more on the injuries suffered by his top weapons than his own.
New contract or not, expect Mayfield to have a big season in 2026. If the rest of the offense stays healthy this year, Mayfield should look a lot more like he did in 2024 than he did in 2025.
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Continue reading...
The Bucs have several high-profile storylines that will be played out either before or during the season.
Will Tampa be able to come to an agreement with quarterback Baker Mayfield on a lucrative contract extension? How will the team handle 31-year-old defensive tackle Vita Vea's own desire for a new deal?
Can Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, Bucky Irving, and Tampa's offensive line stay healthy for an entire season? What kind of impact will all of the Bucs' offseason additions have on a defense that struggled badly in 2025?
Will Todd Bowles make it through the season as head coach?
The answers to all those questions will not only determine how successful Tampa's 2026 will be, but also the direction the organization decides to go in for its future.
In an article detailing the top training camp storyline for every NFL team, ESPN believes the biggest question for the Bucs centers on Mayfield, but is surprisingly not (entirely) about his contract situation. ESPN wonders if Mayfield will have a bounce-back season after being hampered by injuries throughout 2025.
Will Mayfield Perform Better In 2026?
Jenna Laine made the pick for the Bucs' storyline, and she wonders if Mayfield will be able to perform better in 2026 than he did last year. She mentions the multitude of injuries Mayfield played through in 2025 that have been brought to light by the Netflix docuseries Quarterback.
Laine does question whether Mayfield will be affected if he must play the season without a new contract. Even though he insists it won't be on his mind, having that kind of money hanging in the balance could weigh on anybody.
"Biggest storyline: Can Baker Mayfield bounce back? We're just now discovering the extent of Mayfield's injuries from last season -- a sprained MCL and PCL since Week 2, a biceps contusion that turned the entire muscle purple and a left shoulder injury. How much did that hamper his performance; where is his true ceiling; and if a new deal doesn't get done before the start of camp, how will it impact him in 2026? Mayfield said back in June: 'The guys in that locker room, the staff know that I'm still going to be me. I'm still going to do everything I can to help this team win a Super Bowl. And to me, that's the priority. Everything else will take care of itself.'"
It is undeniable that Mayfield's play dropped last season compared to 2024. He threw for about 800 fewer yards, and his touchdowns dropped from 41 to 26. Mayfield's completion percentage was only 63.2, down from 71.4 the year prior, while his passer rating fell from 106.8 to 90.6.
However, how much of that fall in production can be put on Mayfield himself? His top three wide receivers from 2024 were all injured for much of last season, as were his top running back and most of Tampa's starting offensive line.
Even with all the injuries, both to Mayfield and his teammates, his QBR was 61.3 last year, the highest of his three seasons with the Bucs and the second-highest mark of his career.
Final Thoughts
I agree that the top storyline for the Bucs is about Mayfield, but I believe his contract situation is more worrisome than his play level.
Laine is right to think both issues can combine into one if Mayfield doesn't get a new deal before the season. However, the QB insists that it won't be an issue.
It is easy to think Mayfield's drop in efficiency in 2025 can be blamed more on the injuries suffered by his top weapons than his own.
New contract or not, expect Mayfield to have a big season in 2026. If the rest of the offense stays healthy this year, Mayfield should look a lot more like he did in 2024 than he did in 2025.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
