New NFL Rumors Reveal Baker Mayfield Isn't 'Scared' of Franchise Tag amid Bucs Contract Talks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract, and he's hoping to enter training camp with a new agreement in place.

"Time is of the essence because the Bucs veterans report on Tuesday," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Sunday's SportsCenter. "Mayfield is on 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. So, the Bucs need to make some progress here. They want to try to get something done, they are optimistic, but they're going to have their limits. They probably won't give him everything he wants. However, the market is 11 different quarterbacks make at least $50 million a year; Mayfield feels like he's outplayed some of those players. He's got proof of concept in Tampa after three years, so it's going to take some financial concessions for Tampa to get this done. Also, Mayfield, he's not scared of the franchise tag. Like, if he were to play this out and they were to tag him and be around $47-48 million in 2027, that could be a route. This is a guy whose bet on himself before, he's not afraid to now."

Mayfield has been adamant that contract talks wouldn't impact his preparations for the 2026 campaign.

"The guys in that locker and the staff know that I'm still going to be me," he told reporters in June. "I'm still going to do everything I can to help this team win a Super Bowl. And to me, that's the priority. Everything else will take care of itself."

Both sides would surely prefer a long-term agreement.

Mayfield, 31, has thrived in Tampa Bay, earning Pro Bowl honors while leading the team to the playoffs in his first two seasons with the organization. Last year was his worst campaign with the Bucs and he still threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 63.2 percent of his passes.

He was just 8-9 as the starter, however, and the team missed the postseason.

But Mayfield was beat up for basically the entire season, dealing with a sprained MCL and PCL, a biceps contusion and a left shoulder injury at various points in the 2025 campaign. He'll be hoping for a bounce-back campaign in 2026, though he'll have to do it without the departed Mike Evans.

And both sides will be hoping a long-term deal can be worked out this summer.