For the second time since the start of June, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
quarterback Baker Mayfield suggested earlier this week that he and the club aren’t close to agreeing on a contract extension.
Mayfield remains on track to play during the 2026 season while in a contract year. However, NFL insider Mike Florio shared during Wednesday’s edition of the “Pro Football Talk Live” program that Tampa Bay fans shouldn’t yet begin losing sleep over Mayfield’s future beyond the upcoming campaign.
Buccaneers confident Baker Mayfield won’t play hardball?
“My understanding is the Buccaneers believe [Mayfield] will take their best offer before [training] camp opens,” Florio said, per the JoeBucsFan website. “That’s Step 1.”
A recent report indicated that Mayfield’s camp may be seeking an extension with a salary of at least $50M per year. It’s unclear what the Buccaneers have thus far been willing to offer the 31-year-old, but it’s also worth mentioning that Tampa Bay could retain Mayfield’s rights for 2027 via the franchise tag if he doesn’t sign an extension and then plays well through this coming January.
Earlier in June, Mayfield said that his “deadline” for contract negotiations is “as soon as training camp starts” in late July. According to Florio, people within the Buccaneers think Mayfield could put pen to paper on an agreement before players report for camp on July 28.
Would Baker Mayfield bet on himself a second time?
“Whatever their best offer is before camp opens,” Florio added about the Mayfield situation, “he’ll take it. That’s what I believe the Bucs believe, based upon the people I’ve talked to.”
One may think that Florio’s update could be an instance of the Buccaneers using the media to send somewhat of a message to Mayfield regarding how contract talks will go over the next five weeks or so. For what it’s worth, Mayfield has a history of betting on himself, as he did just that when he signed a one-year “prove it” contract to join the Buccaneers in March 2023. Perhaps he once again would go down such a road if he isn’t happy with the Buccaneers’ “best offer” next month.