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Baker Mayfield contract extension talks have taken over the Bucs offseason, mainly because it is the most crucial contract expiring for Tampa Bay after the 2026 season.
Mayfield’s camp has set late July as the deadline for negotiations, which only increases the pressure on the front office to put pen to paper if they want to continue having Mayfield as the face of their franchise this year.
Amid all the chaos, ESPN Insider Dan Graziano explained an unusual yet possible scenario that plays out later this month.
“If I had to guess, I’d say the Bucs find a way to make some kind of adjustment to Mayfield’s deal before the season starts, but I can’t say for sure that adjustment will be a long-term extension,” Graziano wrote. “A lot still feels up in the air right now.”
In other words, general manager Jason Licht may sign Mayfield, but it might be short-term.
The core issue is not whether they want him back, but for how long.
Baker is staring down age 31 and wants to be paid top-tier market value, with rumors floating around that his average per year market value is $50 million.
But the Tampa front office is likely hesitant to dive off a cliff for a massive, long-term commitment. Tampa probably wants an out by 2028, while Baker wants ultimate job security
At his recent football camp in Oklahoma, Baker mentioned he loves Tampa and plans to spend his offseasons there "regardless of what happens."
It sends a direct message to the front office that they cannot use his love for the city to force a hometown discount.
He is making it known he is perfectly willing to pack his bags and play his regular-season football in a different jersey if the money isn't right.
If the Buccaneers call his bluff and let him play out the final year of his deal, they are staring down an absolute nightmare next March.
Applying the franchise tag to a quarterback in 2027 is going to be astronomically expensive. Stalling now could force Tampa into an impossible corner next spring, leaving them to either swallow a massive one-year cap hit or let the guy who stabilized their post-Tom Brady era walk away for absolutely nothing.
It would be a massive gamble, especially when the Bucs are poised to dominate the NFC South this season. Not meeting Mayfield on a common ground may entirely crush their hopes of continuing divisional dominance even before the 2026 season starts.
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Mayfield’s camp has set late July as the deadline for negotiations, which only increases the pressure on the front office to put pen to paper if they want to continue having Mayfield as the face of their franchise this year.
Amid all the chaos, ESPN Insider Dan Graziano explained an unusual yet possible scenario that plays out later this month.
“If I had to guess, I’d say the Bucs find a way to make some kind of adjustment to Mayfield’s deal before the season starts, but I can’t say for sure that adjustment will be a long-term extension,” Graziano wrote. “A lot still feels up in the air right now.”
Baker Mayfield Contract May Not Be Long-Term
In other words, general manager Jason Licht may sign Mayfield, but it might be short-term.
The core issue is not whether they want him back, but for how long.
Baker is staring down age 31 and wants to be paid top-tier market value, with rumors floating around that his average per year market value is $50 million.
But the Tampa front office is likely hesitant to dive off a cliff for a massive, long-term commitment. Tampa probably wants an out by 2028, while Baker wants ultimate job security
At his recent football camp in Oklahoma, Baker mentioned he loves Tampa and plans to spend his offseasons there "regardless of what happens."
It sends a direct message to the front office that they cannot use his love for the city to force a hometown discount.
He is making it known he is perfectly willing to pack his bags and play his regular-season football in a different jersey if the money isn't right.
If the Buccaneers call his bluff and let him play out the final year of his deal, they are staring down an absolute nightmare next March.
Applying the franchise tag to a quarterback in 2027 is going to be astronomically expensive. Stalling now could force Tampa into an impossible corner next spring, leaving them to either swallow a massive one-year cap hit or let the guy who stabilized their post-Tom Brady era walk away for absolutely nothing.
It would be a massive gamble, especially when the Bucs are poised to dominate the NFC South this season. Not meeting Mayfield on a common ground may entirely crush their hopes of continuing divisional dominance even before the 2026 season starts.
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...
