Jason Licht Talks Baker Mayfield “Delicate Balance”
June 6th, 2026
“Look, Mr. Glazer, Baker will come around. His agent went limp on us two years ago.”
The Buccaneers showed Baker Mayfield the money. He held his nose.
Mayfield should at least be happy to be wanted long-term by the Buccaneers. That was the big news this week. The team is trying to sign him to a contract extension that is surely a lot bigger than the three-year, $100 million deal Mayfield will wrap up after the 2026 season.
Is Mayfield’s health a consideration for the Bucs? That’s unclear, but consider the comments of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht during his sitdown this week with Ira Kaufman, the venerable JoeBucsFan.com columnist.
Ira Kaufman: Did Baker Mayfield try to do too much during the 2-7 tailspin [last year]?
Jason Licht: The way he’s wired, he’ll always try to put everything on him. Given the things he was battling through, it was a tough second half of the year.
Kaufman: Will you to try to contain his scrambling instincts to minimize the hits Mayfield endures?
Licht: That’s a tough one. There’s been a lot of ‘No, no no … way to go’ when Baker takes off. He’s a playmaker. That’s the way he’s built. Yes, it’s a delicate balance.
Joe has to think Mayfield’s play style and injury history are part of the equation for Mayfield’s contract extension. Bucs fans — and Mayfield — love his football DNA. That genetic blueprint might cost him a handful of millions.