Baker Mayfield Reveals Bucs Contract Deadline, Reacts to Mike Evans Signing With 49ers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have until training camp next month to work out a new deal for quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield told reporters Friday he has given the Bucs a deadline of the start of training camp to finalize an extension for his expiring contract.

"Not anywhere we were close to what we were thinking," Mayfield said about his early negotiations with the Bucs while speaking to reporters Friday at his youth football camp (h/t Fox Sports' Greg Auman). "Would love to be here long-term, and as of now that's not exactly the case."

Mayfield added: "As soon as training camp starts, we're not doing any of that contract stuff... So, hopefully before that."

Mayfield is currently set to play next season under a cap hit of just below $40 million before hitting unrestricted free agency ahead of his age-32 season in 2027, per Spotrac.

Mayfield also expressed regret about watching his longtime teammate, wide receiver Mike Evans, leave to join the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

"No way to sugarcoat it. It was disappointing, to not have him back," Mayfield said.

Mayfield added that Evans' departure would provide Chris Godwin Jr. with a chance to lead the unit in his 10th season with the team.

"He's always been an unbelievable leader, but for him to really take charge of that room," Mayfield said about his expectations for Godwin.

Mayfield mentioned Jalen McMillan as another potential leader in a room featuring two second-year wideouts in Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson.

"There's a lot of weapons in that room," Mayfield said. "When you lose a guy like that, you've got to have a lot of people to fill those shoes, not just one person. And we have that."

How long those wideouts will be playing with Mayfield depends on how contract negotiations progress this summer.

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht sounded confident his team would get a new contract with Mayfield finalized this summer when speaking about negotiations in April.

"Baker is at the forefront of our mind at all times," Licht said on an April 29 episode of The Drive with TKras (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra). "All of our plans revolve around Baker. That's something that we'll get to at some point."

More than a month later, it sounds like the Bucs haven't managed to convince Mayfield they're any closer to a new deal.

Mayfield's current $33 million average annual salary ranks 16th among quarterbacks, per Over the Cap.

The Bucs would need to offer Mayfield at least $50 million per year in order to have him rank among the top 10 highest-paid signal callers in the league.

Mayfield played all 17 games for a third straight season with the Bucs, but struggled down the stretch while dealing with multiple injuries including an issue with his non-throwing shoulder.

The Bucs are hoping a healthier season from Mayfield, combined with replacing Evans by committee, can help the team return to the playoffs in 2027.

Mayfield told reporters Friday he would remain committed to his team whether or not he's signed past the 2026 season. The Bucs could still want to get him signed to a new contract before training camp starts in July.