Patience.
Joe can just envision Albert Breer popping up on Rich Eisen show at some point this week to discuss Baker Mayfield’s comments on his potential new contract, and Breer pulling a Kevin Bacon in “Animal House.”
“Remain calm. All is well!”
Breer noted that (on a technicality) the Bucs and Mayfield’s camp have yet to even engage in “negotiations.” The term “negotiations” is a two-way street, Breer points out. And thus far, the Bucs floated an offer to Mayfield’s agent and the Bucs have yet to receive any sort of counteroffer.
Besides, Breer pointed out, he would not be shocked at all if Mayfield signs an extension during training camp despite what Mayfield told reporters last week.
Why? Breer noted that the Bucs have a history of signing star players to large extensions in August and September.
Mayfield said last week that as soon as training camp starts, that’s it. He’s not talking contract with the Bucs until the season is over.
Also, sure, Mayfield can set that deadline. But are we to believe that if the Buccaneers were to put what he wants on the table in, say, late August, that he’d say no on principle? That question is not arbitrary—it’s relevant because of how Tampa has recently done business.
Last year, Tampa extended right tackle Luke Goedeke on Sept. 2 and cornerback Zyon McCollum on Sept. 5. The year before, they inked left tackle Tristan Wirfs to a monster, five-year, $140 million extension in early August. The one outlier here would be the deal they did with safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in May 2024, but that one had to be done earlier because of the rules surrounding the franchise tag.
And yeah, that makes sense. If the Bucs offered Mayfield a deal he wanted in training camp, would he really cuss out his agent and tell him not to call back until February?
So in the great words of Chicago radio legend Mike North, “Take it easy!”