Baker Mayfield will play under current contract, become a free agent
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield has built his career by betting on himself — from walking on at Texas Tech and later Oklahoma, to winning the Heisman Trophy, becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft and rebuilding his career in Tampa Bay.
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Now he’s willing to roll the dice again.
The Bucs quarterback will play the 2026 season under his current contract as he was unable to reach a deal by his self-imposed deadline of the start of training camp.
The 31-year-old Mayfield will earn $40 million this season; he was seeking a long-term agreement.
Talks ended Tuesday afternoon as Mayfield reported to camp with no further discussions planned at this time.
The news comes one day after defensive tackle Vita Vea requested a trade from the team after talks failed to result in a contract extension. Like Mayfield, Vea is in the final year of a deal, his paying $17.75 million this season.
It adds to a tumultuous offseason which began with future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans leaving the Bucs after 12 seasons to sign with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent for less than Tampa Bay offered.
Mayfield had made it clear he didn’t want contract negotiations to extend into training camp. Just before mandatory minicamp in June, he acknowledged he was disappointed with the club’s initial offer. In fact, it was low enough that his representatives chose not to make a counteroffer.
But six weeks of negotiations netted no new deal.
However, it’s a scenario that neither the Bucs nor Mayfield were afraid of.
In fact, Mayfield insisted he would play as hard as he ever has with or without a new deal and the Bucs agreed.
“I have no concerns about that,” general manager Jason Licht said in June. ”I’ve talked to him about that. He’s in a very good place right now. He just wants to win. He’s a pro’s pro. We have all the respect in the world, I do personally, everybody here does. He’s going to ball. He’s going to ball no matter what. … When you have these types of situations, they’re never easy. But the one thing I know personally, and I can lay down at night and know that he’s going to play his ass off.”
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