Baker Mayfield’s relationship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has reached a defining moment and how it goes after Wednesday could determine whether this is the quarterback’s final year with the club.
Mayfield reported to training camp Tuesday, as all Bucs veterans were scheduled to do. But for Mayfield, this day might have signaled the end of his desire to engage with the team about a new contract.
The Bucs and Mayfield do not practice until Wednesday but they may be already past the deadline Mayfield imposed for getting a new deal done before turning his attention to football.
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And football only.
“Obviously, yes, I would love to have a long-term deal done, but they know my deadline,” Mayfield told reporters weeks ago. “As soon as training camp starts, we’re not doing any contract stuff. It’s all ball. It’s not up to me when that gets done by. Hopefully before that, but if not – still going to have a good year.”
Multiple reports citing unnamed sources said Mayfield reporting to training camp without a new deal was his red line. It means he intends to play out the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
That’s a big deal.
It means Mayfield is now figuratively betting on himself in the coming season, letting his performance determine what sort of contract he gets after the season. This could reward him with the kind of deal he’s been trying to convince Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht to offer – a deal that pays in the mid-to-high $50 million per year on an annual average basis.
Or this could penalize Mayfield with a mid-tier sort of deal, averaging in the $35-$38 million per year, that Mayfield has already rejected and the Bucs see as more fair.
For the team, meanwhile, this is a gamble. It has clearly declined to meet Mayfield’s asking price over the months of negotiations and that has spoken loudly that it really likes Mayfield but doesn’t love him on par with other franchise quarterbacks.
If Mayfield proves the Bucs right, it’s bad news because it means he didn’t play well enough this coming season.
If Mayfield proves the Bucs wrong, it’s potentially still bad news because he’s going to be a very hot commodity in free agency next offseason and the Bucs might not be able to pay him what he wants.
(That’s to say nothing of the fact Mayfield may be a little irritated with the club for not believing in him now.)
So everybody’s opinion of Mayfield is riding on what happens this season and what’s at stake is both the player’s and the franchise’s future.
The Buccaneers, by the way, are at something of a crossroads.
They didn’t move quickly to extend receiver Mike Evans before the 2025 season, so he played out his contract and left as an unrestricted free agent to San Francisco this offseason.
Nose tackle Vita Vea, meanwhile, has asked for a trade because he is unhappy the team has not given him an extension offer he believes fair before the final year of his current deal.
Vea, like Mayfield, is in the final year of his deal.
That’s a lot of talent the Bucs have either let leave their building or put at risk of leaving.
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And here’s a Hail Mary idea: The team will practice for the first time Wednesday. So, technically, training camp doesn’t begin until then.
Maybe the Bucs try one last time to get a deal done with Mayfield before that moment he steps on the field and his self-imposed deadline becomes concrete.
It’s hard to believe the impasse of the previous few months can be overcome in one day. But that’s why it’s a Hail Mary.
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