Buccaneers GM Jason Licht breaks silence about alarming Baker Mayfield contract comments

Back on June 5, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield raised eyebrows and generated headlines when he said that he and the Buccaneers were "not anywhere close" to putting pen to paper on a contract extension. 

On Thursday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles insisted that he is not concerned about the fact that Mayfield remains in the final year of his existing deal. During a recent appearance on "The JP Peterson Show," Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht reacted to Mayfield's comments. 

Baker Mayfield is "free to say whatever he wants to say" amid contract negotiations

"I respect Baker," Licht said, per the JoeBucsFan website. "He’s free to say whatever he wants to say. And that’s the way he’s wired, and I have nothing but love for Baker. I’ll keep all that stuff internal; I never use the media for [talking about negotiations]." 

Mayfield said before the first Saturday of June that he doesn't want to be distracted by contract talks once training camp practices get underway in late July. However, at least one report suggested that history shows he may not sign a contract extension until some point in August.  

It's unclear how much guaranteed money Mayfield wants attached to his extension or if the Kansas City Chiefs' recent reworking of Patrick Mahomes' deal will have any impact on negotiations between the Buccaneers and Mayfield. That said, the fact that Mayfield hasn't yet put pen to paper on an extension understandably has some wondering if Licht and Co. don't want to financially be married to the 31-year-old beyond 2026.

Jason Licht makes his feelings on Baker Mayfield clear

On Thursday, Bowles made it known there is "absolutely no question" he wants Mayfield to be his long-term QB1. 

"We’ve had some discussions, and we’ll continue to have some internal discussions and see, and try to bring this to closure one way or another," Licht said about the negotiations with Mayfield's camp. "But no one wants to see Baker go anywhere, and no one’s worried about how Baker’s mindset is going to be. I’ve had conversations with him about that. He’s all about wanting to win. So he’s in a good place."

The Buccaneers signed Bowles and Licht to multiyear contract extensions in June 2025. However, one can't help but wonder if those two and Mayfield won't be employed by the Bucs at this time next year if the club fails to make the playoffs for a second straight season.