Clock is ticking on a new Baker Mayfield deal

Published July 27, 2026 08:12 PM Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has made it clear that his deadline for getting a new deal done is the start of training camp. With Buccaneers veterans reporting on Wednesday, July 29, the clock is ticking. Loudly.The Bucs reportedly are trying to get something done. Of course, they tried to extend defensive tackle Vita Vea’s deal; that has resulted in Vea requesting a trade.Mayfield’s play apparently would be to finish the final year of his three-year, $100 million deal and see what happens next.Over the weekend, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that Mayfield would be willing to play under the franchise tag in 2027, at a one-year tender of $47.97 million. The question is whether the Bucs would use it. The challenge continues to be putting the right new-money value of an extension. The ultimate question, in our view, is whether it starts with a 4 or a 5.However it plays out, Mayfield has shown a willingness to bet on himself, at all times. If the bet ends up resulting in a fully-guaranteed 2027 salary of $47.97 million with a second tag in 2028 at $57.56 million (or free agency then), that wouldn’t be a bad outcome.