Report: Buccaneers Believe Baker Mayfield Will Take Their Best Offer Before Training Camp
June 17th, 2026
Over the next six weeks, would Baker Mayfield dare to turn down roughly $100 million guaranteed as part of a Bucs contract extension?
Perhaps as part of a three-year, $150 million deal through the 2029 season?
Joe can’t imagine gambling that kind of cash — only to battle and in hopes of staying healthy to earn an extra 10 or 20 percent as a result of a strong 2026 season. There’s just too much at stake.
And that could be the scenario facing Mayfield.
In a report this afternoon on PFT, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio, the ProFootballTalk.com founder, said he’s hearing the Bucs are very confident a deal will get done before training camp kicks off July 30.
“My understanding is the Buccaneers believe [Mayfield] will take their best offer before [training] camp opens,” Florio said. “That’s Step 1. Whatever their best offer is before camp opens, he’ll take it. That’s what I believe the Bucs believe, based upon the people I’ve talked to.”
That wouldn not be surprising. Mayfield doesn’t have a lot of leverage, and if he really loves Tampa like he says he does, he’ll sign a fair extension.
The Joe typing here has been barking on the Ira Kaufman Podcast since Thanksgiving that Mayfield would have a contract extension done before opening day of the 2026 season. It just makes too much sense, especially considering it seems like Team Glazer has little interest in rebuilding.
With no income tax in Florida and the Bucs having a strong commitment to their offensive line, Mayfield would need some unpredictable motivation to want to leave town. But considering Mike Evans did just that, nothing is off the table.