Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht says Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are working through contract talks with “closure one way or another” before training camp. Licht insists Mayfield’s mindset isn’t in doubt, while the quarterback has said the teams are “n
Baker Mayfield’s next chapter isn’t decided in public — but the clock is already ticking.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht described the state of negotiations with Mayfield as an ongoing internal process that will reach “closure one way or another. ” adding. “We’ve had some discussions and we’ll continue to have some internal discussions and see. and try to bring this to closure one way or another.” Licht’s message was direct: “But no one wants to see Baker go anywhere. ” and he says no one in the building is worried about the quarterback’s mindset. “I’ve had conversations with him about that. He’s all about wanting to win. So he’s in a good place.”.
For Licht, the timing matters as much as the outcome. That phrase — “closure one way or another” — lands with weight because it lines up with Mayfield’s stated deadline: the launch of training camp. If a deal isn’t reached before then. the situation shifts from negotiations to uncertainty. and the clock starts on Mayfield’s potential free agency.
Licht was also clear about how he plans to handle the relationship publicly. “I respect Baker,” he said. “He’s free to say whatever he wants to say. And that’s the way he’s wired and I have nothing but love for Baker. I’ll keep all that stuff internal; I never use the media for [talking about negotiations].”.
Tampa Bay hasn’t closed off options, either. Licht didn’t rule out using the franchise tag to keep Mayfield in place for 2027. He referenced history with a key detail: the last time Mayfield’s contract expired. after the 2023 season. the Buccaneers didn’t apply the franchise tag. and Mayfield re-signed with the Bucs.
Still, the deal on the table has become part of the friction. The three-year, $100 million contract doesn’t “properly reflect his current value, given the market,” and whether Tampa Bay is willing to match Mayfield’s expectations remains unsettled.
Mayfield has already signaled how far apart the sides are. He has said the two sides are “not anywhere close.” If the gap isn’t bridged fairly soon. Licht’s comments suggest the organization may need to begin making plans at quarterback in 2027 — and. as those conversations harden. other teams will have to consider whether they’d pursue Mayfield.
The storyline inside Tampa Bay is clear: Licht says he doesn’t want Mayfield going anywhere. and he believes Mayfield is focused on winning. But the next step now depends on whether that internal effort can reach the kind of closure both sides appear to want — before the training camp deadline turns negotiation into something else entirely.
Jason Licht Baker Mayfield Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL contract talks training camp deadline franchise tag 2027 quarterback
So they’re trading him? “Closure one way or another” sounds like they already decided.
I don’t trust the “it’ll all stay internal” thing. If they cared, they’d just sign him before camp instead of playing games.
Wait training camp is the deadline? But it says the clock is ticking for free agency, like… which clock though lol. Also franchise tag for 2027 feels like cap hype. If he’s “not anywhere close” then why are they acting calm?
Jason Licht saying nobody wants him gone but the contract numbers don’t match his value = they probably want him to take less. And if they didn’t franchise tag last time, they’re definitely gonna think twice now. I feel bad for Baker, but honestly this is why I hate QB contracts, always turns into a soap opera.