Jason Licht and Baker Mayfield spoke to reporters together on Wednesday for the first time since Mayfield signed his massive three-year, $165 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This was the final chapter, and happy ending, of a contract saga that had been hanging over the Buccaneers for months. As the general manager, Licht obviously played a key role in getting the deal done, and has repeatedly made it clear throughout the process how highly the organization views Mayfield.
Fans were eager to hear more about how Licht and Mayfield navigated the tense negotiation period and ultimately agreed to the biggest contract in franchise history. Licht’s comments made it clear that reaching a deal with Mayfield was the only option for the Buccaneers.
Jason Licht endorses Baker Mayfield as Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise QB
Licht spoke about how Mayfield’s leadership and energy rub off on the entire franchise, from the players on the field to the fans in the stands and even the brass in the front office.
“The players here feed off his energy, toughness, his style of play, his leadership. But the building feeds off it too, and so does the city and fan base… It’s just an awesome thing. It’s a no-brainer to want to have him locked up for as long as we can… We’re just so excited he’s going to be here in the future," Mayfield said.
When the two sides initially failed to reach a deal ahead of training camp, there was brief concern about the relationship between Mayfield and the front office. Mayfield publicly aired his grievances with the way negotiations were handled and said he felt disrespected by the Buccaneers.
Licht, however, didn’t take Mayfield’s comments personally. He even joked about it while discussing the negotiations.
“One of the things I love the most about Baker is you never have to question or wonder how he feels. Got an example of that last month… I think we both knew deep down that at some point we’d get something done.”
It’s clear that Mayfield and Licht have a strong relationship, which certainly helps when working through a negotiation as significant as this one. Mayfield echoed that sentiment, explaining that it’s rare for a player to have the type of relationship he has with his general manager, and that he doesn’t take it for granted.
That relationship allowed the Buccaneers to navigate a complicated negotiation process and reach an agreement that keeps their franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future.
Mayfield has been one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks since arriving in Tampa Bay, and now he’s being paid like it. If there’s v anyone happier about that than Mayfield, it might just be Jason Licht.
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