Whether or not quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will come to terms on a contract extension before training-camp practices get underway in late July is a storyline that continues to cast a large shadow over the franchise amid the NFL’s ongoing summer break.
Mayfield’s latest public comments on the matter sparked concerns among pockets of Tampa Bay fans regarding his long-term future. However, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN suggested during a Monday on-air segment that Buccaneers supporters shouldn’t be losing sleep over this situation quite yet.
When can fans expect “movement” in the Buccaneers-Baker Mayfield contract talks?
“I’m told that the Bucs and Baker Mayfield have not made any progress on a new deal since he made those original comments in [June] that he wants a deal,” Fowler said, per the JoeBucsFan website. “And he needs it before training camp. But neither side is worried, I’m told, because they got five weeks here to hash this out. I expect some movement closer to mid- to late-July when players are about to report. Mayfield wants to report. He wants no issues here.”
When Mayfield made the comments referenced by Fowler, the signal-caller also said that he doesn’t want contract talks with the club to extend beyond the start of training camp. However, it’s assumed that Mayfield wouldn’t reject a deal to his liking if his camp receives one from the team during the preseason or even shortly before the regular season gets underway.
Outsiders seem to agree on the floor for Baker Mayfield’s next extension
Multiple updates shared throughout June indicated Mayfield’s representatives want a salary of at least $50M per season attached to his next extension. One can’t help but wonder if his camp and the Buccaneers currently disagree on how much guaranteed money will be included in a deal that could be signed in July.
“This seems pretty clear cut,” Fowler continued during the segment. “There are 11 different players in the NFL that make over $50M per year. Mayfield is not in that club. He feels like he’s probably outplayed a few of those guys.”
Mayfield and the Buccaneers seem to want to extend their working relationship beyond the upcoming season. Tampa Bay can retain his rights for 2027 via the franchise tag if necessary, but it sounds as of the final day of June that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht thinks he will be able to avoid having to go down such a road.