RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBaker Mayfield contract news creates drama in Buccaneers future originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Baker Mayfield wanted to get a new contract done with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before training camp.
It didn't happen, and he won't be doing any more negotiation until the end of the season.
For the Bucs, that could make things tricky. Mayfield is in the last year of his contract.
On paper, Mayfield will be a free agent next March.
Any talks of a new contract for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are finished, and he will play the 2026 season on his current expiring deal and the two sides will revisit things from there. Potentially a major free agent in March.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 28, 2026 MORE: Could Jake Paul really play in the NFL?
Of course, there are a lot of ways for the Bucs to keep Mayfield around without him reaching free agency. It's just not going to happen with an in-season extension agreement.
One of those methods is the franchise tag.
"Bucs will have the option to exercise the franchise tag on Mayfield for the 2027 season, likely at a cost of around $50 million for one year," Fox's Greg Auman wrote on X .
A player's most immediate team also gets a chance after the season to try and secure a new deal before the free agent window opens.
"They'll have an exclusive window to negotiate with him on a long-term deal before free agency in March as well," Auman wrote.
Both of those options could prove crucial to the Buccaneers. Mayfield has developed into a star in Tampa Bay.
It's always risky to move on from a proven QB, and so the Bucs will likely still try to retain Mayfield.
But as it stands, there's at least some question of how things might work out between Mayfield and the Buccaneers moving forward.
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