Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea contract updates may concern Buccaneers fans

Quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea are two key Tampa Bay Buccaneers players looking to sign lucrative contract extensions amid the NFL's ongoing summer break. 

During Monday's edition of NFL Network's "The Insiders" program, league insider Mike Garafolo revealed an update on those situations that may concern Tampa Bay fans. 

"No rush" for Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea extensions this summer?

Per Grant Gordon of the NFL's website, Garafolo said that extensions for Mayfield and Vea "are unlikely to be worked out anytime soon." Garafolo also mentioned that "there is no rush for the Buccaneers to get new deals worked out for Vea or Mayfield." 

Both Vea and Mayfield are currently in contract years, and Vea did not participate in drills during the club's mandatory minicamp amid his desire for a multiyear deal. While it's unclear if Vea is a hold-in candidate regarding the start of training camp in late July, Mayfield previously suggested he is fine with playing on his current agreement. 

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers have "a lot of work" to reach an agreement

According to Gordon, Garafolo said "that there is confidence a Mayfield deal will get worked out." Per the JoeBucsFan website, it sounds like recent conversations between the Buccaneers and Mayfield's camp haven't gone all that well. 

"They are not close yet," Garafolo said about the Buccaneers and Mayfield. "I know that now. I’m confident in that one. I can tell you that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done on this one." 

A report from late June indicated that neither Mayfield nor the Buccaneers were all that concerned about the signal-caller's situation. Veteran Tampa Bay players are due to report for training camp on July 28, and Mayfield doesn't want contract talks to go beyond that date. 

He may have to ignore such a proposed deadline if he wants to ink a deal before Week 1 of the 2026 regular season arrives. 

"But I can tell you right now where Baker and his camp, where they have in their mind where the numbers should be, where the Bucs have offered to this point — yeah, they’re not close," Garafolo added. "And it’s about finding that middle ground. They’re not close to that just yet."