Report: Bucs, Baker Mayfield ‘not close’ on contract extension
As NFL free agency draws near, the biggest question looming for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains at quarterback, where they’ve yet to work out a long-term contract extension with Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield is coming off the best season of his career after signing a cheap one-year deal with the Bucs last offseason, helping to lead Tampa Bay to a third straight NFC South title despite transitioning out of the Tom Brady era.
So, how are negotiations progressing between Mayfield and the Bucs?
According to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report, who is as plugged in as anybody on the Bucs beat, says the two sides are “not close” in their efforts to come to an agreement:
***NEW Baker Mayfield, #Bucs Not Close On New Deal
How far apart are #BakerMayfield and the #Bucs in contract negotiations? Scott Reynolds has the details in this important update.#Buccaneers#BoomerSooner#NFLFreeAgency https://t.co/70noVmqOpr
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 6, 2024
Mayfield is sure to have multiple suitors on the open market if he hits free agency next week, and his agent is likely using that knowledge to push the Bucs for more money. It’s hard to argue with that, considering the going rate for a quality starting quarterback in today’s NFL, especially after the entire league saw a surprising increase in the salary cap for the 2024 season.
There’s still time for that gap to be eliminated and for both sides to work out a long-term teal to keep Mayfield in Tampa Bay moving forward, but it looks like there’s still a ways to go before that can happen.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Bo Nix, Oregon
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Michael Pratt, Tulane
Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Joe Milton III, Tennessee
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Devin Leary, Kentucky
Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK
Share this
image
gallery
Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Jordan Travis, Florida State
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Kedon Slovis, BYU
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Carter Bradley, South Alabama
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
Jeremy Moussa, Florida A&M
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
