The down time on the NFL calendar before training camp begins in late July opens a window for clubs to hammer out extensions with key recruits.
Baker Mayfield’s contract in Tampa is currently hovering over the calendar gap and is the most important QB deal yet to be made this offseason. Over the weekend at his football camp in Oklahoma, Mayfield noted that there is still work to be done before he pulls out a long-term extension with the Bucs.
“I would love to be there,” Mayfield said Saturday, via KWTV’s Steve McGehee . “I think both sides want to get it done. Now it’s a matter of finding the middle ground and what makes both parties happy…We fell in love with Tampa, and it’s a great place to raise kids and be in. So regardless of what happens, I think we’re going to spend our offseason there. Sure, it’s a little brutally hot, but it’s good for training — yeah, I want to be there. right, and it’s the first place I’ve been that’s been going like Oklahoma when it comes to football is football, how can they put you in the best position to be successful on the field and how can they provide resources to help you.
Mayfield enters the final year of a three-year, $100 million deal that runs through 2024. The $33.33 million per year deal puts him 16th among QBs and well south of the bulk of quality starters, 12 of whom make north of $50 million per year.
Since taking over from Tom Brady in 2023, Mayfield has steadied the ship in Tampa, helping the Bucs to two division titles in his first two seasons. The QB was in the MVP conversation early last year with his exploits, but injuries started piling up and dented the Bucs’ postseason hopes.
Mayfield has said he would like a new contract before training camp begins on July 27. As of last week, it was reported that the teams were not very close to finding that middle ground to complete a pact. We have four more weeks to bridge that gap before the self-imposed deadline expires.