The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield have not reached a contract extension.
As June continues, there is no sign an agreement is close.
Mayfield is entering the final year of his current contract. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times recently pointed to one concern.
Health Remains A Topic
“The Bucs are concerned about one element of his game he continues to neglect: his health,” Stroud stated. “While Mayfield hasn’t missed any games since joining the Bucs, he’s been slowed by injuries.”
Mayfield has stayed on the field since arriving in Tampa Bay.
However, injuries have followed him at times. He dealt with injured ribs and a sore ankle during two playoff games.
A knee issue surfaced late the following season. He also suffered a significant injury to his non-throwing shoulder in Week 12 last year.
Stroud noted how the season changed after Tampa Bay’s strong start.
“Last season,” Via Stroud, “…Mayfeld went from a top MVP candidate after leading the Bucs to a 6-2 start to losing seven of the final nine games and missing the playoffs.”
Licht Sends Clear Message
Despite the lack of a new contract, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht expressed confidence in the situation.
“No one wants to see Baker go anywhere, and no one’s worried about how Baker’s mindset is going to be,” Licht said.
What Happens Next?
The Buccaneers could keep Mayfield’s rights for 2027 through the franchise tag.
Still, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested that may not be the preferred outcome.
“Some think the Bucs wouldn’t use the franchise tag; with a 2026 cap number of $39.975M, Mayfield’s 2027 franchise tender would be at least $47.97M,” Florio said. “There’s a sense in some circles that the Bucs believe they’ll ultimately offer him more than anyone would in free agency, if a new deal isn’t done before Mayfield’s self-imposed deadline of the start of training camp.”
Training camp begins in late July. That leaves time for both sides to work out a new deal.
The BR Rub
Needle scratch…. How is it that nobody correlates the injuries to the offensive line and Mayfield’s regression last season? How is it that nobody is bringing up how bad the Offensive Coordinator was? I mean, he was literally fired AND Head Coach Todd Bowles said in hindsight Grizzard, (the OC) was not ready to be a coordinator.
Let’s put it this way, under Canales and Coen Mayfield flourished. And they went on to get head coaching jobs in part because of Mayfield’s play.
In 2025 the team was decimated by injuries, especially to the offensive line. Mayfield was injured as well. So why isn’t anyone factoring these facts in?
Simple answer, either they’re doing their best to protect the narrative they’ve formed, or they just don’t like Mayfield. The reality is, there is nobody coming available in the draft or free agency that measures up to Mayfield.
Of course you can always rely on the Buccaneers stellar record of drafting quarterbacks…
Good luck with that!
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