Adam Schefter shares new update on Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield contract standoff

Multiple reports shared this summer have revealed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield "are not close" to coming to terms on a contract extension.

Mayfield is in the final year of the three-year deal he signed in March 2024, and he said in June that he does not want contract talks to run through the start of training camp later in July. During a Monday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter discussed the contract situation that continues to hover over the Buccaneers. 

There's still a window for the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield to come to an agreement

"The Buccaneers made an offer," Schefter explained. "It wasn't what Baker was thinking. And obviously, he himself said that they weren't close. ...I always think this is a window now until the start of camp and the first few days of camp for teams and players to work out extensions. I think you'll see a bunch of extensions get done here in the coming weeks for players that are worthy of them [and] for teams that want to keep certain guys."

It was recently suggested that Mayfield could essentially bet on himself, play on his existing deal through the winter of 2027 and then accept less money from a different team than what has been offered by Tampa Bay this offseason "to stick it to the Buccaneers." Meanwhile, some within the Buccaneers are allegedly concerned that Mayfield may continue "to neglect" his health via his "UFC" playing style. 

Mayfield seemingly played with a sprained MCL and PCL from Week 2 of last season through early January 2026. He "also had a bad biceps contusion that...affected his velocity," and he suffered a significant injury to his non-throwing shoulder in Week 12 of the campaign. 

Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield both want this outcome for contract talks?

"I would think the Buccaneers will definitely be working to try to get a deal done with Baker," Schefter added. "We'll see what the two sides can come up with [for] an agreement, a compromise, on value. They were not close before. There's some ground to make up now. But both sides, I think, would like to see if they can get something done."

If the two sides don't "get something done," the Buccaneers could use the franchise tag to retain Mayfield's rights for 2027 if he plays well this fall and stays healthy through at least early January. Such a development could result in Mayfield's next deal being more expensive than the offers his camp has thus far received this summer.