Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield approaching contract deadline
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, entering the final year of his three-year, $100 million extension with Tampa Bay, has set a training-camp deadline for contract talks, while the team is reportedly preparing a two-year offer.
Baker Mayfield will enter the 2026 season on the last year of his three-year, $100 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which carries a cap figure of just under $40 million. The quarterback has told the organization he will cease negotiations once training camp begins, giving both sides roughly a month to reach a new agreement.
Team officials have indicated that a two-year extension is being considered, with estimates suggesting a total value around $165 million over the term, comparable to recent deals for other NFL quarterbacks. Head coach Todd Bowles said there is “absolutely no question” that he wants Mayfield as the long-term starter, and praised him as “a true pro.”
Mayfield’s camp deadline follows reports that negotiations are “not anywhere close” to a deal he seeks, and that the two parties have differing views on his market value. If a new contract is not signed, Mayfield will play the 2026 season on the final year of his current deal, earning a base salary of $10 million. The quarterback is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while dealing with several injuries, including a biceps contusion and a shoulder issue.