In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a chance on Baker Mayfield after the former No. 1 overall pick had been bouncing around the league for a year. He rewarded them with two superb seasons and two trips to the playoffs. But as he enters his fourth year with the team and his final year under contract, things seem to be looking dicey.
Speaking to the media this week, Mayfield made it clear that he wants to stay in Tampa beyond 2026. But he also revealed that the team is "not close" to reaching a contract extension with him and warned that if nothing happens between now and the start of training camp, there will be negotiations past that point.
“First and foremost, regardless, we’ve built roots here in Tampa. We love the community, we love being here. They’ve embraced us. We enjoy being here and, obviously, are going to raise kids here,” Mayfield said, via Bucs insider Greg Auman. “But the contract stuff, it’s happening, it’s starting — talks and whatnot. But, not anywhere close to what we were thinking. So, would love to be here long-term, and as of right now, that’s not exactly the case. But I’m under contract for 2026. The guys in that locker room, the staff know that I’m still going to be me — I’m still going to do everything I can to help this team win a Super Bowl. To me, that’s the priority. Everything else will take care of itself.
“Obviously, yes, I would love to have a long-term deal done. But, they know my deadline — as soon as training camp starts, we’re not doing [anymore] contract stuff. It’s all ball. So, it’s not up to me when that gets done by. So, hopefully before that. If not, we’re still going to have a good year.”
A Future in Tampa Bay?
Bucs fans are probably torn on the issue.
On one hand, they acknowledge that he's the best option at QB right now and there's no clear plan to replace him on the horizon. Quarterbacks that move the ball down the field as well as he does don't grow on trees and the team isn't exactly built right now to develop a young QB from the ground up.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
On the other hand, many also have a sour taste in their mouth left over from his struggles late last season that caused them to miss the playoffs. He had only three games of over 200 passing yards in the final eight weeks of the season, and went just 2-6 in that span.
Mayfield finished the 2026 season with 3,693 passing yards and 26 touchdowns with 11 interceptions while completing 63.2-percent of his passes - all of which were his lowest marks since joining the team in 2023.
Will the Buccaneers find common ground with Mayfield to keep him under contract beyond 2026, or will he hit the open market sooner rather than later?
