NFL Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Bucs Have Had 'Preliminary' Contract Talks Ahead of FA

With three weeks remaining before free agency opens, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield are having conversations about a new contract.

Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, while nothing is imminent, the two sides have had "preliminary" talks with more conversations expected to happen next week in Indianapolis during the NFL scouting combine.

Tampa could use the franchise tag to prevent Mayfield from hitting free agency, though that seems unlikely given the projected $36.3 million value for the one-year tender.

Mayfield and the Buccaneers have indicated since the season ended they would like to remain together.

After Mayfield told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe he wanted to see who the team was going to hire to replace offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who was named head coach of the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs responded by giving Liam Coen the job.

Coen was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams during the 2022 season when Mayfield was on the roster for the final five games.

During his introductory press conference on Feb. 5, Coen called Mayfield the "type of guy that you want to be around" and praised his work with the Rams under difficult circumstances.

"He came into our organization at a really difficult time, a time that we weren't having a lot of fun," Coen said. "And he came in and made football fun for a lot of people at that time, he came in and made football competitive again at practice."

Mayfield had to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal from the Buccaneers last offseason after a rough 2022 that saw him split time between the Rams and Panthers. He won the starting job over Kyle Trask coming out of training camp and the preseason.

The 28-year-old had the best season of his career in 2023. He threw for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and completed 64.3 percent of his attempts to lead the Bucs to their third consecutive NFC South title.