Overview
- Mayfield told reporters on Friday that talks with the Buccaneers are “not anywhere close” to his camp’s expectations and that the team has until the start of training camp to finalize an extension.
- He remains under contract for 2026 with a cap hit just under $40 million and an average annual value of about $33.3 million from his current three‑year, $100 million deal.
- Mayfield said he will stop negotiating once training camp begins and that he intends to play the 2026 season fully committed even if a long‑term deal is not reached.
- General manager Jason Licht has publicly expressed confidence in a summer extension, but market data show Tampa Bay would likely need to approach roughly $50 million per year to rank Mayfield among the top 10 highest‑paid quarterbacks.
- Mike Evans’ offseason move to San Francisco shifts leadership in the receiving room to Chris Godwin and younger targets and adds urgency to the Bucs’ decision on Mayfield because the club must balance roster construction with a major quarterback pay decision.