Baker Mayfield is willing to bet on himself amid Buccaneers contract standoff

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin training camp this week, which means time is running out to reach a deal with Baker Mayfield before his self-imposed deadline.

If the team fails to sign Mayfield to a contract extension by the start of training camp, he’s prepared to play out the final year of his contract and become a free agent next offseason.

Baker Mayfield isn't opposed to franchise tag if contract negotiations fall through

NFL insiders across the league have expressed confidence that a deal will get done. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is the latest to weigh in on Mayfield’s situation.

“Baker Mayfield is on the record that he wants a new deal by training camp. Now, if they don’t get it done, it’s sort of an artificial deadline. Maybe they can keep working at it… Mayfield is not scared of the franchise tag. If he were to play this out, and they were to tag him, it would be around $47, 48 million in 2027. That could be a route. This is a guy who’s bet on himself before. He’s not afraid to now,” said Fowler on SportsCenter. 

Fowler’s description of Mayfield’s deadline as “artificial” echoes the sentiment of Adam Schefter, who noted that the Bucs in recent years have extended players in the middle of training camp — not before it. If talks are intensifying, Mayfield is unlikely to simply cut negotiations off before camp starts on Wednesday, buying the Bucs some extra time.

Fowler also pointed out that Mayfield isn’t concerned about the possibility of playing on the franchise tag in 2027. If the two sides can’t reach an agreement, Tampa Bay could tag him for an estimated $50 million next offseason, giving Mayfield an opportunity to bet on himself on a hefty one-year contract before signing a long-term deal. 

That scenario could actually prove to work in Mayfield’s favor. With several quarterbacks expected to sign future extensions over the next year, the market could climb even higher, potentially allowing Mayfield’s value to skyrocket even further in 2027. 

The most important factor is that both sides want a deal to get done and are operating in good faith to make it happen. 

Whether an agreement comes together in the coming days or isn’t finalized until next offseason, the most likely outcome remains the same: Tampa Bay will commit to Baker Mayfield as its franchise quarterback with a lucrative long-term contract extension.    

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