Ian Rapoport drops Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield contract update

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Ian Rapoport drops Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield contract update

Originally posted on NFL on ClutchPoints
By Malik Brown, ClutchPoints | Last updated Aug 8, 2026 12:59 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield were not able to come to an agreement on a contract extension before training camp, and there is uncertainty about what the future holds for both sides. It’s obvious that Mayfield wants to be with the Bucs, but he also wants to be paid like the quarterback he is.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network recently broke down the situation between Mayfield and the Bucs, and how things may go after this season.

“Baker Mayfield is a man of his word,” Rapoport said. “When he talks about cutting off contract negotiations when the preseason starts, he doesn’t want to think about it; he only wants to think about football.  I believe him. He’s a real dude. He says what he thinks, and he means what he says.

From Inside Training Camp Live: Talking #Bucs, as the focus on their two contract situations continue… pic.twitter.com/mh9JBiCcQs

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 8, 2026

“The Bucs were willing to make him a highly paid quarterback. They weren’t willing to give him the long-term security that Baker Mayfield wanted, only offering a two-year deal with $50 million, average per year, just based on the new money. Baker Mayfield wanted more.  He wanted security. All that is true. The other part of this is, the Bucs and the entire NFL have seen what Baker Mayfield can do when he’s got something to prove, when his back is against the wall, when he knows that everybody doubts him, and that product has been really, really good.”

If Mayfield ends up having a really good season, there’s a chance that he asks for even more than he did this time around. That could be bad news for the Bucs, especially if they didn’t plan on giving him the contract that he wanted before training camp.

The Bucs could also make the decision to franchise tag Mayfield next season, which will probably be around $50 million.

This article first appeared on NFL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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