With the preseason now finished, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can turn their attention toward the 2026 regular season. One of the biggest questions surrounding the team involves Baker Mayfield and his contract situation.
Mayfield is entering the final year of his current deal. The quarterback has made it clear that he wants to remain with Tampa Bay. However, he also wants a contract that reflects what he believes he is worth.
Mayfield is currently playing under a three-year, $100 million contract. There could still be a gap between his valuation and what the Buccaneers’ front office believes he should receive.
Contract negotiations can often begin with both sides holding different expectations. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht recently provided an encouraging update on where things stand.
Jason Licht Sounds Optimistic About Mayfield’s Future
The Buccaneers and Mayfield could potentially reach an agreement before the regular season begins. However, negotiations can also continue into the regular season before both sides finalize a new deal.
During Tampa Bay’s preseason finale against Jacksonville, Licht made a radio appearance.
Fox Sports Greg Auman,
“Bucs GM Jason Licht, asked on @WFLA broadcast about how optimistic he is about Baker Mayfield staying in Tampa: “Very optimistic.”
That is certainly an encouraging message from Tampa Bay’s general manager. It suggests the Buccaneers remain optimistic about keeping their quarterback beyond the 2026 season.
Mayfield’s 2025 Season Complicated His Evaluation
Mayfield’s future became more complicated following a disappointing second half of the 2025 season. Tampa Bay’s campaign essentially became a story of two very different halves.
The Buccaneers opened the year 6-2 and looked like a legitimate NFC contender. During that stretch, Mayfield also looked like one of the league’s better quarterbacks.
Things changed dramatically during the second half. Tampa Bay struggled, and Mayfield received plenty of criticism for several poor performances and questionable decisions with the football.
There were also bigger problems throughout the Buccaneers’ roster. The defense was a major issue as Tampa Bay’s season unraveled and ultimately ended without a playoff appearance.
That collapse created questions about whether Mayfield can consistently perform at an elite level. Those questions naturally became part of Tampa Bay’s evaluation of his next contract.
Buccaneers Still Believe in Mayfield
Despite those concerns, Tampa Bay’s continued interest in keeping Mayfield is clear. At the same time, it would be understandable for the Buccaneers to want another season of evidence before making a long-term commitment.
Mayfield will have another opportunity to prove his value in 2026. His performance could ultimately play a major role in determining what his next contract looks like.
In 2025, Mayfield completed 63.2% of his passes for 3,693 yards. He finished with 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 90.6 passer rating.
For now, Licht’s comments provide a positive indication about Mayfield’s future in Tampa Bay. The quarterback’s contract situation will remain one of the Buccaneers’ biggest storylines heading into the 2026 season.
Reality Check
We’ve been over this before, it’s my opinion the Buccaneers should’ve already re-signed Mayfield. The only scenario that his value doesn’t go up after this season is if the Buccaneers have another bad season. That would lead to several changes, possibly from the GM down.
This comment from Licht does seem to point on the right direction.
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