Bucs GM shares honest update on Baker Mayfield's contract extension

Not so long ago, it looked like Baker Mayfield's days as a starter were a thing of the past.

He then revived his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even becoming an early-season MVP candidate over the past couple of campaigns.

That's why Bucs GM Jason Licht wanted to make it clear that the team definitely wants him to stay in Tampa for the long run.

However, given the nuances of negotiating big contract extensions, it might be a while before they find common ground in talks. 

There's still no timeline for Baker Mayfield's contract extension

"Baker is still our quarterback," the GM said, per Rob Maaddi. He's one of the toughest guys on the team. He's a great leader. Everything kind of revolves around the quarterback spot. At some point, I'm sure we'll figure something out. There's no timetable on that."

The Bucs gave Mayfield a three-year, $100 million contract extension in 2024. And as much as they'd like to have plenty of time to work on another deal, he's going to be a free agent at the end of the season.

Of course, they can also use the franchise tag on him to get some more wiggle room to get a deal done, just like the Indianapolis Colts did with Daniel Jones this offseason.

That said, Mayfield will probably want some long-term financial security before taking the field this season, and talks could get a little rough if there's no progress in the weeks leading up to training camp.