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Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers have ended their offseason contract talks with no new agreement being reached, per Fox Sports’s Greg Auman.
Mayfield will report to training camp and play out the upcoming season on the last year of his expiring contract, and the two sides will revisit talks after the season.
The stalled talks leave open the possibility of the 31-year-old being a major free agent next March.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during an NFL football practice, Thursday, June 16, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. AP Photo/Chris O'MearaIn June, Mayfield expressed that he and his agent would end talks before the start of training camp, whether a deal was done or not, to allow him to focus on football.
Mayfield is entering the final season of his three-year, $100 million contract signed in March 2024. He will make $40 million this upcoming season.
The two-time Pro Bowler has expressed his appreciation for the Bucs giving him an opportunity to resurrect his career as a starter after short stints with the Panthers and Rams. He’s also said he helped them in finding their franchise quarterback after Tom Brady’s retirement.
Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Getty ImagesMayfield led the Bucs to two playoff appearances in his first seasons in Tampa in 2023 and 2024.
Per ESPN, he is seeking an extension that “reflects his performance and is more in line with what quarterbacks of a similar caliber are making,” and he would be willing to play under the franchise tag in 2027, which would be a one-year, $47.97 million deal.
The Bucs have several important franchise players who are without new deals heading into the 2026 season.
Monday, ESPN reported that tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade from Tampa Bay after his own contract negotiations stalled. Vea had been a hold-in at mandatory minicamp in June.
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