The current Baker Mayfield contract talks are at a standstill this offseason, and one factor has been revealed as to why this could be the case. While Mayfield said he wants to be with the Buccaneers for the long-term future, the team hasn’t shown him the same energy in getting a deal done. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, it appears that “health” is a factor why the Buccaneers are probably hesitating to give the QB a new deal, and will likely let him play out the final year of his deal. Earlier this month, the QB set a deadline on when Tampa Bay should extend him, and doesn’t envision himself negotiating during the 2026 season.
“Would love to be here long term, but as of right now, that’s not exactly the case,” Mayfield said. “But I’m under contract for 2026. The guys in that locker room, the staff know that I’m still gonna be me. I’m still going to do everything I can to help this team win a Super Bowl. To me, that’s the priority. Everything else will take care of itself.”
Once the 2025 season was over, many wondered when Tampa Bay would get a deal done for its QB. After letting Rachaad White and Mike Evans leave in free agency, you can argue that the Buccaneers might be rebuilding. The team still has a highly productive offense that can win a Super Bowl, but time is ticking for that to happen.
Baker Mayfield Contract Extension: Bold $155M Factor
Is Healthy Really the Issue?
Let’s break this down a bit: Mayfield is still one of the most mobile pocket-passers in the league, but he dealt with a shoulder injury last year. While he didn’t aggravate it during the 5-1 run, it happened Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams when the Buccaneers were already on a losing streak. Tampa Bay did come back and almost punched their ticket to a postseason appearance, including defeating the Carolina Panthers in their final matchup.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to at least appear in the wild-card round. Is that Mayfield’s fault? Not necessarily, he isn’t the whole team, and it might just be a coaching problem. The Buccaneers hired former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in hopes that he can get this passing unit intact. For this post, let’s argue that health isn’t the main issue, but what steps are the Buccaneers taking to make Mayfield’s life easier?
When the team lost Evans and White in their offensive unit, they haven’t exactly added a veteran WR. While they don’t need another pass-catcher, it’d be beneficial to add some experience. WR Chris Godwin hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and even though Emeka Egbuka is exploding, it wouldn’t be smart to lean all responsibility on him, which could lead to burnout.
Mayfield May Have the Advantage
The QB took this team to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2023 and 2024, including a playoff win as the underdogs against the Philadelphia Eagles. While the 2025 season didn’t go exactly as planned, the Buccaneers are holding their breath that with a younger offense, he can thrive a little more in the pocket. At the same time, it would be up to the QB to decide how he can scramble out of the pocket and find his guys open.
With this, if the team wants to make his life much easier, they should sign a low-stakes veteran WR like Deebo Samuel, Stefon Diggs or Keenan Allen to help with their playoff aspirations. The team brought in RB Kenneth Gainwell, who could serve as a pass-catching runner. They also need another offensive weapon in the aerial attack. If Mayfield has an exploding 2026 season despite the circumstances of a young offense, the Buccaneers should be panicking, as the price will go up.
