Baker Mayfield contract talks stall as Bucs camp opens
Baker Mayfield is reporting to Buccaneers camp without a new deal as ESPN reports little movement before Tampa Bay’s July 29 practice.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Baker Mayfield contract talks have produced little movement as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback reports to training camp, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine.
ESPN reported, citing sources, that Mayfield and his agent have not made significant progress with Tampa Bay on an extension. A deal is not widely expected before the Buccaneers hold their first camp practice on July 29, though ESPN reported there is still time for the sides to work through the issue.
Mayfield is entering the final year of his current contract, which runs through the end of the 2026 regular season. ESPN reported that people close to the situation say he wants a deal that better matches his play and the pay of quarterbacks viewed in a similar tier.
The case for a raise centers on what Mayfield has done since taking over in Tampa Bay. ESPN noted that he helped lead the Buccaneers to playoff appearances in both 2023 and 2024 after the franchise moved into its post-Tom Brady chapter.
Will Baker Mayfield get a new Buccaneers contract?
ESPN reported that a new agreement before camp practice begins is unlikely, based on sources, though the door has not been closed. Mayfield said in June that he and his agent planned to stop contract talks once training camp arrived so his attention could be on football.
At that time, Mayfield said the sides were “not anywhere close” on a deal, according to ESPN, while also saying the contract situation would not affect how he plays.
Mayfield’s current average annual salary is $33.33 million, which ranks 16th among quarterbacks, ESPN reported. Fowler also reported that sources say Mayfield is comfortable with the possibility of playing out the season or playing under the franchise tag in 2027.
Mayfield has spoken warmly about the Buccaneers giving him a chance to rebuild his career as a starting quarterback, ESPN reported. At the same time, ESPN said he feels he gave Tampa Bay needed stability at quarterback after Brady’s departure.
What would the franchise tag mean for Mayfield?
The franchise tag is a tool teams can use to keep a player for one season at a salary calculated from top pay at his position. ESPN reported that tag figures are set shortly before free agency each year.
Using 2026 figures as a guide, ESPN reported that the quarterback franchise tag is $43.895 million for one season, while the transition tag is $37.833 million. The quarterback franchise tag is projected to climb to roughly $50 million in 2027, according to ESPN.
The Buccaneers have not typically hurried contract talks because of public pressure, ESPN reported. The outlet pointed to former Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans, whose camp said in 2023 that negotiations would stop once the season started. Evans played out that year, then reached a two-year agreement with the team in 2024.
Evans later signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency in 2026, ESPN reported. Sources close to that situation told ESPN those earlier negotiations did not drive his exit.
Mayfield is not the only Buccaneers player dealing with contract frustration. ESPN reported that Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea recently requested a trade.
There is one major difference in how the two players have handled team activities. ESPN reported that Mayfield fully participated in mandatory minicamp, while Vea staged a minicamp “hold in,” attending to avoid fines and take part in classroom work while limiting injury risk.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.