“I’m very optimistic about it,” the General Manager said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. “He wants to play. He wants to prove to us that he is the franchise quarterback that we said that he was. So, we’ll just have to see how it plays out. I’ll never close the door on anything in the short term, but right now, he’s focused on football.”

With a new season in Tampa Bay just around the corner, the future of the former Cleveland Browns quarterback beyond the 2026 campaign remains uncertain. Will Licht be able to reach an agreement and keep Mayfield in Tampa Bay for many more years to come?

Where do the Bucs stand with Mayfield right now?

The contract extension talks between Mayfield and the Bucs hit a wall right before training camp. While Tampa Bay was willing to pay top-tier money—around $50M per year—the impasse comes down to length: the front office only offered a short two-year deal, whereas Mayfield is hunting for a long-term commitment as their franchise guy.

After setting a firm deadline for the start of camp, Baker openly admitted feeling “disrespected” by their proposals, shut down any further in-season negotiations to focus purely on football, and is now set to play out the 2026 season before hitting free agency in 2027.

The Bucs need Baker Mayfield

After a disappointing 8-9 campaign in 2025 that saw Tampa Bay miss out on the postseason, Mayfield’s production took a natural hit—finishing with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while battling injuries across his receiving corps and offensive line. Still, the Bucs desperately need him dialed in if they want to crash the playoff party again.

In an NFC South that remains wide open, Baker brings the swagger, toughness, and proven track record of elevating this offense; without a long-term deal locked in, Tampa’s entire season hinges on whether their fiery QB can turn that disrespected chip on his shoulder into another career bounce-back year.

This will be a particularly interesting appearance for Mayfield because it marks his first preseason action since the Buccaneers’ contract-extension situation became a major storyline. Tampa and their quarterback were unable to reach an agreement on a new long-term deal, and Baker has made it clear that he will not continue negotiating during the 2026 season.

That means Baker Mayfield is playing the 2026 season in the final year of his current contract, setting up the possibility of free agency in 2027. For now, though, the focus is on football, and Saturday’s matchup against the Chiefs will give Mayfield his first opportunity to get live-game reps in Tampa Bay’s new-look offense.

Will Baker Mayfield play against the Chiefs?

Yes. Baker Mayfield is expected to start the game and play approximately one or two series for the Bucs against the Chiefs. Todd Bowles indicated that the Buccaneers’ starters should receive somewhere between eight and 15 plays, depending on how the game unfolds.

That limited workload is designed to give the starters some valuable game-speed work without exposing them to unnecessary preseason risk. Once Mayfield leaves the field, the Buccaneers will turn their attention to the competition behind him. Jake Browning is expected to receive an opportunity, with Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels also part of the battle for the backup quarterback job.

Who will replace Baker Mayfield at quarterback?

Jake Browning has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the No. 2 job and will have another opportunity to strengthen his case against Kansas City. The veteran quarterback has experience in the NFL and is competing with both Bazelak and Daniels for the backup role.

Bazelak is also expected to see action as the Bucs continue evaluating their quarterback depth. He has remained in the mix, but the competition became even more interesting after Jalon Daniels impressed during the preseason opener against the Jets.

Daniels, who signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent this offseason, has drawn attention from the coaching staff for his poise and ability to make plays with his legs.

Baker Mayfield’s contract situation adds another layer

Mayfield’s appearance against the Chiefs comes with an intriguing backdrop. The Buccaneers have not been able to give their quarterback the contract extension he was looking for, while Mayfield has decided to put negotiations aside and focus on the 2026 season.

The quarterback enters the final year of his deal, and unless the situation changes, he could reach free agency after the season. That gives every game additional importance as Mayfield looks to demonstrate his value on the field while the Bucs determine how far they’re willing to go to keep him beyond 2026.

For now, Mayfield’s immediate goal is much simpler: get his work in, stay healthy and help the Buccaneers prepare for the regular season. His first appearance against the Chiefs should provide a brief but important glimpse of where he stands heading into a season that could have major consequences for his future in Tampa Bay.

“I think we’re going to shock a lot of people this year,” the quarterback said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “And so I’m excited.” According to Mayfield himself, it’s very difficult to tune out the outside noise, although it can often be used as motivation to accomplish great things.

“You can’t avoid it,” the QB said. “The TVs [are] everywhere. Everybody’s picking us probably to have a losing record.” The Bucs will look to return to prominence after missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2019, following a dramatic finale against the Carolina Panthers.

The motivation of starting on the road

Paycor Stadium will be the setting for the first major test for a Bucs team looking to start the season on the right foot. There, Baker Mayfield and his teammates will face the Cincinnati Bengals, and while it could be a challenging matchup, playing on the road provides extra motivation for the QB.

”You’re with your guys, and it’s just the Bucs against everybody else in that city you’re going to, and so I think it’s a good opportunity for us against the Bengals,” Mayfield also added.

A tough schedule ahead for the Bucs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face a challenging season ahead, with trips to stadiums where the home crowd tends to make its presence felt. Among the toughest road games are visits to the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and Chicago Bears.

Not only that, but Raymond James Stadium will also host opponents who can easily be considered contenders. Among them are the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Tuesday that Baker Mayfield won’t be playing vs Jets on Friday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. As for Geno Smith, his playing status vs Buccaneers has also been revealed.

Backup QBs Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels will take the majority of the snaps. Jake Browning is dealing with an injury, so he’ll be sidelined for the team’s preseason opener.

Baker Mayfield’s preseason stats

Mayfield’s career has gone from first overall pick to backup to star. Hence, his NFL preseason outings have varied a lot depending on how his team view him. He sat entirely during 2019, 2025, and 2026’s preseasons (2020 didn’t have a preseason due to COVID-19).

Buccaneers’ preseason schedule

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers features three AFC opponents, with two of them being away games. The Jets are the first of the opponents and given that this game is in MetLife Stadium, their main mission is to avoid any injuries.

Mayfield recently admitted he felt “disrespected” by Tampa Bay’s contract offer and warned that passing on the opportunity to lock up their franchise quarterback would only make things more expensive in the future. He also confirmed he has ended negotiations and intends to play out the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Those comments generated widespread debate across the NFL, and now it appears they may not have been well received inside the Buccaneers’ organization.

Buccaneers reportedly unhappy with Mayfield’s comments

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the relationship between the two sides has become increasingly strained following Baker Mayfield’s public remarks about his situation in Tampa.

“It almost feels like it’s Baker versus the team. Baker is not happy with them and they’re not happy with the way he spoke about the organization. That’s not great.”

The report suggests that while both sides remain focused on the upcoming season, the public nature of Mayfield’s criticism has created additional friction during an already complicated contract situation.

What happened between Baker Mayfield and Bucs?

Adam Schefter also revealed an important detail regarding the negotiations. Tampa Bay did offer Mayfield a contract worth approximately $50 million per season, but the disagreement centered on the length of the deal rather than the annual salary. The Buccaneers reportedly wanted a two-year extension, while Mayfield was seeking a much longer commitment.

For now, neither side appears willing to revisit negotiations during the season. That means Mayfield is expected to play out the final year of his contract before testing free agency in 2027, where another strong campaign could make him one of the most sought-after quarterbacks on the market.

Baker Mayfield’s had enough of the contract talks with the Buccaneers as he feels disrespected. However, it can all be traced back to what the QB feels is a two-year deal offered, and the team is actually offering a two-year extension.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Buccaneers offered Baker Mayfield a two-year extension worth slightly over $100 million. This structure results in a $72.5 million “new-money” annual average when accounting for the previous $27.5 million in “old-money.”

The contract dispute likely comes down to a difference in perspectives. Baker Mayfield focuses on the total average from signing and the Buccaneers evaluating the new-money average. In this scenario, a two-year extension worth over $100 million brings a new-money annual average value exceeding $50 million. Conversely, looking at the entire three-year commitment lowers the real average from the date of signing to $42.5 million.

There is no sign that any part will budge

The difference comes down to a few million, but also it relies on principle right now. Mayfield is emotionally hurt now. In fact, Mayfield warned the Buccaneers that they’ll regret this decision.

If money talks are already difficult, money talks with feelings involved are even worse. Hence, it seems like this has turned into bad-blood negotiations. Hence, why they stalled.

The Bucs should consider paying Mayfield what he wants

The QB market isn’t hot right now. Good QBs are sealed by their franchises, not big names appear to be moving, and the prospects for next year still seem to raw to be trusted to be NFL QB1s.

Hence, Mayfield still has the leverage here. While the Bucs feel their offer was fair, if the QB doesn’t sign it, and there is no better alternative on the horizon, then the team should somewhat compromise.

After failing to reach an agreement on a long-term extension, the veteran quarterback will now play out the final year of his contract before becoming one of the biggest names in the 2027 free-agent class.

Rather than continuing discussions during the season, Mayfield has decided to focus exclusively on football. The quarterback believes his performance on the field will ultimately determine his market value, whether that leads to a new deal with Tampa Bay or a lucrative opportunity elsewhere.

Baker Mayfield issues warning to Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield delivered what many interpreted as a direct warning to the Buccaneers’ front office. “If you’ve waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, that’s too bad because it’s only going to get worse from here. I’m going to have a really good year. I’m not negotiating anymore.”

The message leaves little room for interpretation. Mayfield is confident in his ability and believes another strong campaign will only increase his value when free agency arrives.

Why this could become expensive for Tampa Bay

By refusing to negotiate any further during the season, Mayfield has effectively taken control of his future. If he delivers another outstanding year, the Buccaneers could find themselves facing a much steeper price in 2027.

At the same time, other quarterback-needy teams would have the opportunity to compete for his services on the open market, potentially driving his value even higher.

For now, Mayfield’s priority is helping Tampa Bay compete in 2026. But his latest comments make one thing clear: if the Buccaneers wanted certainty at quarterback beyond this season, they may have already missed their chance.

As a result, Mayfield is set to play the 2026 season under the final year of his current contract, earning $33 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. While both sides remain committed to the upcoming season, the lack of a new deal has become one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Buccaneers.

After helping stabilize Tampa Bay following Tom Brady’s retirement and turning the Buccaneers into the NFC South’s most consistent team over the past several seasons, Mayfield admitted he expected negotiations to produce a very different outcome.

Baker Mayfield explains why negotiations with Bucs ended

Speaking publicly for the first time since contract talks ended, Baker Mayfield reiterated that he wanted to remain in Tampa Bay but felt the organization failed to meet the deadline he established.

“I’ve been pretty upfront and honest about my feelings about Tampa. I wanted the deal done, set the deadline and told them it was going to be all ball after that. I did mean that. I really know what I’ve brought to this franchise. It’s been some of the best years of my career and I think it’s only going to trend upwards. It’s disappointing in that regard to feel disrespected a little bit.”

The quarterback emphasized that his focus has now shifted entirely to football, but he made it clear he was disappointed that negotiations never reached an agreement.

How much money does Baker Mayfield want from Buccaneers?

Baker Mayfield was seeking two key elements in a new contract. The first was a salary of at least $50 million per season, placing him alongside the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks. The second was a long-term commitment of at least four years, while Tampa Bay’s reported offer fell short in both total value and contract length.

“That’s really the disappointing part. To feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it. This is not a poor me thing. I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories. And I deserve to be compensated for that. I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback. It’s been said publicly from ownership down here. So, to not have a deal done is very disappointing.”

Unless negotiations unexpectedly resume after the season, Mayfield is now on track to enter free agency in 2027, where another strong campaign could earn him one of the largest quarterback contracts on the market.

When Tom Brady retired, the Buccaneers faced enormous uncertainty at quarterback. Mayfield changed that narrative almost immediately, helping stabilize the offense and leading Tampa Bay to become the top team in the NFC South, despite the division’s overall inconsistency. His performances over the past several seasons have reestablished him as one of the league’s most reliable veteran quarterbacks.

Even so, Mayfield has not received the type of extension he believes reflects his value. With quarterback salaries continuing to skyrocket across the NFL, the veteran is now willing to risk reaching the open market rather than accepting a deal below his expectations.

Will Baker Mayfield sign a contract extension with the Buccaneers?

No. Baker Mayfield had previously made it clear that if the contract he wanted was not offered before training camp, he would stop negotiating until after the season. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine, that is exactly what has happened.

“Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is reporting to training camp without a new deal and will play out the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.”

The report confirms that Mayfield will focus entirely on football this season, postponing all contract discussions until free agency. As a consequence, the Bucs are taking a major risk.

How much will Baker Mayfield earn in 2026 with Bucs?

Baker Mayfield is scheduled to earn $33 million during the final season of his contract with Tampa Bay. Considering how the quarterback market has evolved, that figure sits well below the NFL’s highest-paid passers.

Quarterbacks such as Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, and Justin Herbert are all earning more than $50 million per season, a financial tier Mayfield reportedly believes he belongs in after helping transform the Buccaneers following Brady’s retirement.

Because the Bucs have not been willing to meet those demands, Mayfield is expected to complete the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. If he delivers another outstanding season, he could command a massive payday, whether from the Buccaneers or another quarterback-needy franchise.

The Steelers do have young quarterbacks in the pipeline, including Drew Allar and Will Howard, while veteran Mason Rudolph remains part of the picture. However, not everyone is convinced the team’s next franchise quarterback is already on the roster.

That is why recent comments from NFL analyst Mike Florio have generated so much discussion about a potential future target for Pittsburgh. A surprise might be possible.

Could the Steelers sign Baker Mayfield in 2027?

Mike Florio believes the answer should be yes. “Baker Mayfield would be perfect in Pittsburgh. He would be perfect. I know they would like to get off this train of older veteran quarterbacks, but, I mean, he’s a spring chicken compared to Aaron Rodgers. I would make a bee line for Baker Mayfield. If I’m Mike McCarthy and I’m the Steelers and I get through this season and my options are Drew Allar, Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, I am doing whatever it takes to get Baker Mayfield in Pittsburgh.”

The timing of Florio’s comments is particularly interesting because Mayfield’s future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is far from settled. The veteran quarterback is entering the final year of his contract in 2026 and has already acknowledged publicly that extension talks have stalled.

Mayfield also made it clear that if a new deal is not completed before the season begins, negotiations will be put on hold. That stance could open the door for Mayfield to test free agency in 2027, potentially creating one of the biggest quarterback storylines in the NFL.

Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million contract with Tampa Bay after revitalizing his career with the Buccaneers. However, the quarterback market has changed dramatically since then, and he is reportedly expected to seek a deal worth at least $50 million per season if he reaches free agency.

For now, any connection between Mayfield and Pittsburgh remains speculative. But if Rodgers retires and the Steelers remain unconvinced about their internal options, Florio’s suggestion could become a very realistic scenario in just a year’s time.

Responding to reporters in a video shared by Jenna Laine on X, Mayfield opened up about the departure. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it — it’s disappointing to not have him back,“ he said, while revealing that he still maintains a great relationship with Evans despite him switching jerseys.

Mayfield noted they will be “good friends for life” when discussing his bond with the former Buccaneers wideout, who spent 12 years with the franchise. Evans was recently praised by his new 49ers teammate George Kittle, who was highly impressed after watching him showcase his skills during organized team activities (OTAs).

Can the Buccaneers survive without Evans?

The Buccaneers wide receiver room still features plenty of talent ahead of the 2026 NFL season, ensuring Mayfield will have reliable hands ready to catch his passes. However, losing Evans means losing a career 15.1 yards-per-reception average and a consistent deep threat, which could impact the team’s offensive production this year.

Evans endured an injury-shortened 2025 campaign, marking the first time in his 12 years with the Buccaneers that he appeared in fewer than 10 games in a single NFL season. His durability over more than a decade was unmatched, frequently playing through pain to post 11 consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.

While the 49ers are adding an elite weapon to their arsenal, the Buccaneers now have to figure out how to replace that historic production. Expecting the offense to click perfectly right away without him is a risky bet, as the younger receivers will have to step up with far less experience and veteran guidance in the room.