The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and pending free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield have yet to come to terms on a contract as free agency gets closer and closer.
ESPN NFL Insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler recently dropped their “NFL free agency buzz: Last-minute intel on signings, trades” article, and it has some good nuggets in there for Bucs fans.
Fowler:
“As of late Saturday, the Buccaneers and Mayfield remained in talks but hadn’t progressed toward a deal. Multiple teams I’ve spoken to over the weekend predict Mayfield and the Bucs will land on a three- or four-year deal at some point in the next few days. But this is a budgetary concern for Tampa Bay.
Will the Glazer family, which paid the great Tom Brady $97.8 million over three seasons, be willing to pay Mayfield that kind of money … or more? Tampa Bay also has to pay left tackle Tristan Wirfs eventually, and possibly at a market-resetting clip. Either way, the Bucs’ front office appears motivated to do this, as it sorted out Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. (franchise tag) with thoughts of focusing on Mayfield the rest of the week.”
Graziano:
“Mayfield is going to have a market if Tampa Bay doesn’t sign him before free agency opens. The fact that the Bucs haven’t re-signed him yet is a strong indicator that he doesn’t believe they’re the only team interested at his price point, which could exceed $40 million per year. If Cousins does stay in Minnesota, I believe the Falcons would look at Mayfield, and I don’t think they’d be alone.”
Basically, both sides are trying to make the other flinch here. Obviously Jason Licht and the front office have to push for the best deal. And as Fowler mentions, the Glazers might not be thrilled paying Mayfield more than they did Tom Brady.
Mayfield and his representation are looking to get the maximum amount, so something has to give here. Look for Licht to take this all the way to the beginning of free agency Monday. If no deal is done by then, Mayfield hits the open market coming off of one of his best seasons.
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