Baker Mayfield Contract Rumors, Vita Vea Trade Request Addressed by Bucs HC Todd Bowles

With the futures of both quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea up in the air, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles discussed managing distractions at the start of training camp.

"Well, there [are] players every year [that] you're going to have them [with]," he told reporters Wednesday. "These happen to be two of our biggest players. We haven't had two of our biggest in a while, but we've had players every year. It just hasn't been of that magnitude. But, it's always about football. There [are] always going to be distractions just like there are on game day. 

"There are going to be sudden changes and there are going to be sudden changes on the field. We have a very professional and mature group with a lot of leadership there, starting with Baker. So, he makes sure that's separate. He makes sure the team knows that's separate. Like I said, we're not going to make this training camp about what he signed or what he didn't sign or it being his contract year. We're just going to play ball."

Bowles' comments come after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine reported Tuesday that Mayfield "will play out the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent" after he and the team did not come to terms on a new deal despite "several months" of negotiations.

According to Fowler and Laine, "Mayfield is looking for a deal that reflects his performance and is more in line with what quarterbacks of a similar caliber are making. He is also unfazed by the potential of being franchise-tagged in 2027."

As for Vea, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Monday he requested a trade after he and the Buccaneers didn't reach an agreement ahead of the final year of his current deal.

It is difficult to imagine Tampa Bay's defense without Vea in the middle considering the two-time Pro Bowler's overall importance since the NFC South team selected him in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

His presence makes life easier for the entire defensive front because of the double teams he consistently draws, and he also has 35 career sacks.

On the offensive side, it is hard to ask for more from Mayfield than the Buccaneers have received in his three seasons. While his NFL future was very much up in the air when he arrived after bouncing from the Carolina Panthers to the Los Angeles Rams, he led the team to back-to-back division titles in 2023 and 2024 by throwing for more than 4,000 yards each year.

He then completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2025 and is well-positioned to put up excellent numbers again in 2026 with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan on the outside.

But the Buccaneers still haven't rewarded Mayfield with a new deal beyond 2026, which means his future will be a storyline throughout the campaign unless they eventually do.