Baker Mayfield's Bucs Contract Talks Updated in New NFL Rumors Ahead of Training Camp

Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly not close to a new contract ahead of the team's first training camp practice on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine, sources indicated that Mayfield and the Bucs have "not made significant progress" on a new deal, and they are not expected to reach one before Wednesday.

Mayfield reportedly wants a contract that "reflects his performance and is more in line with what quarterbacks of a similar caliber are making."

Despite the lack of a new deal thus far, Mayfield did indeed report to Bucs training camp on Tuesday:

According to Greg Auman of Fox Sports, the start of training camp means contract talks between Mayfield and the Bucs are over, and the veteran quarterback intends to play 2026 under his current deal.

The 31-year-old Mayfield has spent the past three seasons in Tampa, and he most recently signed a three-year, $100 million contract in 2024.

However, Mayfield is entering the final year of his current deal in 2026, and his average annual salary of $33.33 million per year is just 16th among NFL quarterbacks, per Fowler and Laine.

After falling below expectations during a four-year stint with the Cleveland Browns after they took him first overall in the 2018 NFL draft, Mayfield spent some time with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.

The Bucs signed him to a prove-it deal in 2023, and he did precisely that by setting what were then career highs with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl selection.

Mayfield earned another Pro Bowl nod the following year and he set career highs once again with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns through the air.

He also led the Bucs to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons at the helm, but both Mayfield and the Buccaneers took a step back last season.

Tampa missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record, and Mayfield's production dipped to the tune of 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Still, Mayfield's level of play has largely been excellent during his time in Tampa, as he is 27-24 with 12,237 passing yards, 95 touchdowns and 37 picks over three seasons.

That statistical output perhaps warrants a raise and a contract extension, but Mayfield reportedly doesn't intend on holding out if he doesn't get it.

According to Fowler, Mayfield "isn't afraid" of playing out the 2026 season on his current deal and potentially even playing under the franchise tag in 2027.

Should Mayfield bounce back in 2026 and put up numbers more representative of what he did in 2023 and 2024, he would perhaps be in line for an even bigger deal than what he can get right now.