Mayfield reports to camp without new deal as contract talks stall

Baker Mayfield is reporting to Tampa Bay's training camp without a new contract in hand, according to ESPN's sources. The quarterback and the Buccaneers have made no significant progress on a new deal, and sources expect that no agreement will be reached by the start of the team's first camp practice on July 29.

Mayfield has one year remaining on his current contract, which expires at the end of the 2026 regular season. His current pay ranks 16th among quarterbacks in terms of average annual value at $33.33 million per year, according to ESPN.

In June, Mayfield said publicly that he and his agent would cease negotiations once training camp arrived so he could focus entirely on football. At that time, he stated that the two sides were "not anywhere close" on a new deal. Mayfield also said that a lack of progress on a new contract would not impact his performance in any way.

According to sources close to the situation, Mayfield expressed fondness for the Buccaneers giving him an opportunity to resurrect his career as a starting quarterback after his departure from Cleveland. He also feels he helped the franchise when they needed a starting quarterback in the post-Tom Brady era, having led the team to consecutive playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024.

Mayfield wants a contract that reflects his performance and is more in line with what quarterbacks of similar caliber are making, according to sources. He isn't afraid of playing out the season under his current deal or playing under the franchise tag in 2027, per ESPN's reporting. The franchise tag for quarterbacks is $43.895 million for a single season in 2026 and is projected to rise to roughly $50 million in 2027; the transition tag is $37.833 million for a single season in 2026.

The Buccaneers have historically moved at their own pace when it comes to negotiations and have not shown movement anytime public pressure has been applied, per ESPN. That pattern mirrors what happened with former Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, who employed a similar tactic with his agent in 2023, saying negotiations would not continue once the season arrived. Evans and the Buccaneers did not rush to complete a deal; Evans played out the season and the two sides reached an agreement on a two-year deal in 2024. Evans later signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency in 2026, though sources close to the situation say that negotiations with San Francisco did not impact his departure from Tampa Bay.

The organization also faces similar dynamics elsewhere on the roster. Nose tackle Vita Vea, a member of the franchise's Super Bowl LV-winning team, recently requested a trade. Unlike Mayfield, who was a full participant in mandatory minicamp, Vea was a minicamp hold-in, a roster move done to avoid fines and participate in classroom instruction while not risking injury.