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Bucs QB Baker Mayfield To Play 2026 Without Extension

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Bucs QB Baker Mayfield To Play 2026 Without Extension

Originally posted on Pro Football Rumors
By Connor Byrne | Last updated Jul 28, 2026 3:04 PM ET

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Buccaneers veterans reported to training camp on Tuesday, quarterback Baker Mayfield‘s self-imposed deadline for contract extension negotiations. The sides did not reach an agreement, making it official that Mayfield will play the season without a new deal, Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine of ESPN report.

Mayfield is entering the final season of the three-year, $100MM pact he signed with the Buccaneers in 2024. The agreement made him the NFL’s 15th-highest paid QB by guarantees and 16th in annual value at the time. Mayfield is still 16th at his position in AAV ($33.3MM), leaving him well below the top of the market. There are now 12 passers earning at least $50MM per season. Mayfield reportedly aimed that high in extension talks, but he will stay far south of that level in 2026.

Mayfield and the Buccaneers made “no real progress” in discussions, according to Fowler and Laine. He is on track to become one of the league’s highest-profile free agents in 2027, but he and the team will revisit talks after the season, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports. In the event they do not close the gap then, the Buccaneers would have the option of keeping Mayfield off the open market via the franchise tag. Playing under the tag would not faze Mayfield, which could be good news for Tampa Bay if it is willing to go that route. Doing so could cost the Buccaneers around $50MM.

Mayfield, a Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 1 pick in 2018, began his career with an up-and-down four-year run in Cleveland. The Browns traded him in 2022 to the Panthers, with whom he struggled over seven games and six starts. The Panthers waived Mayfield during the season, and he finished the year with the Rams after they claimed him. With his stock way down, he reached the open market for the first time in 2023. Mayfield settled for a one-year, $4MM deal with the Buccaneers, who needed a replacement for the retired Tom Brady.

The Buccaneers’ first investment in Mayfield proved to be a steal for general manager Jason Licht & Co. After Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask for the starting job, the Oklahoma product posted career highs in completion percentage (64.3), yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28, against 10 interceptions) over 17 starts. He earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time and helped the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record and an NFC South title. They handled the Eagles in the wild-card round, 32-9, before dropping a 31-23 decision to Detroit in the divisional round.

Mayfield’s first-year performance in Tampa Bay earned him his current contract, and he has continued to offer above-average production. Mayfield threw 16 picks in Year 1 of the pact, but he established new career bests in completion rate (71.4), yards (4,500), TDs (41) and passer rating (106.8) en route to another Pro Bowl bid. The Buccaneers went 10-7 and won another division title, but they fell to the Commanders, 23-20, in a home wild-card round loss.

The Bucs were the favorites to win the division again last year, especially after a 6-2 start, but the wheels came off in the second half. Dealing with a rash of injuries, Tampa Bay limped to a 1-7 finish and ended the year 8-9. The Buccaneers’ sub-.500 record still ranked first in the division, but they lost the tiebreaker to the Panthers. While Mayfield put together yet another 17-start season, he played through multiple injuries. Most of his numbers dropped off as a result, as he completed 63.2% of passes for 3,693 yards, 26 TDs, 11 picks and a 90.6 rating.

Along with Mayfield, the Buccaneers’ injury-laden offense declined as a whole in 2025. The unit ranked 19th in yards and 20th in points under offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, whom head coach Todd Bowles fired after the season and replaced with Zac Robinson. Mayfield, who was at his best under Liam Coen in 2024, is now working with his fourth O-coordinator in as many years in Tampa Bay. If Mayfield clicks with Robinson the same way he did with Coen, it would put him in the catbird seat in negotiations next year.

This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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