Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield raised eyebrows when he said that the 2 sides are “not wherever shut” to placing pen to paper on a contract extension.
Mayfield is within the last 12 months of the three-year deal he signed in March 2024. On Monday morning, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated defined why Tampa Bay followers should not but panic concerning the scenario involving the membership’s QB1.
Are Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield more likely to get one thing finished this summer season?
“Probably the most primary piece of the looming negotiation…is that the quarterback needs to be in Tampa, and the Bucs need Mayfield as their beginning quarterback for the foreseeable future,” Breer wrote. “More often than not, when these two situations exist at that specific place, a deal will get labored out. That is as a result of having your quarterback in place and beneath contract is just too necessary for these concerned to not discover a decision.”
It was beforehand reported that the Buccaneers “intend” to get an extension finished with Mayfield earlier than the 2026 season will get underway. In the meantime, Mayfield stated on Friday that he would “love” to stick with Tampa Bay.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Occasions steered that the Buccaneers and Mayfield’s camp weren’t concerned in energetic conversations, because the membership hasn’t “made a counteroffer” for the reason that workforce’s preliminary proposal. Breer added extra data.
“The Buccaneers not too long ago despatched Mayfield’s camp an preliminary supply to kick off talks,” Breer stated. “Mayfield’s group, led by agent Tom Mills, has but to reply. Which is why that is nonetheless a ‘looming’ set of negotiations. Technically talking, there was no negotiation but.”
What might it value Buccaneers to maintain Baker Mayfield?
Breer spoke with brokers who stated “that the baseline ought to be $50M per 12 months over the primary three years of the deal, and a new-money APY (which is how most offers are publicly measured) larger than that” for Mayfield’s extension. Breer additionally insisted that “it’s a fairly good wager” that the Buccaneers will ultimately make Mayfield completely happy.
Mayfield insisted on Friday that he doesn’t need contract negotiations to pull on by the beginning of coaching camp in late July. Nevertheless, Breer is amongst those that suppose Mayfield would put pen to paper on a deal if the signal-caller obtained what he needs from the Buccaneers in August or early September.
