The Baker Mayfield saga with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been a complicated ride so far. As he enters his fourth season with the franchise, legitimate question marks remain about his future with the team.
Despite lengthy negotiations between the two sides, they couldn’t agree on a new deal before the season. As a result, fans worry the team could be left without a legitimate starting quarterback.
However, a former coach believes an agreement is inevitable.
Baker Mayfield Likely to Remain With the Buccaneers
Last season was arguably the worst of the entire Mayfield run with the Buccaneers. Finishing with a losing record, he ranked at number 22 in PFN’s QB Impact Metrics, a far cry from his dominance in 2024.
Add in some injury concerns, and the team became hesitant to offer him a big-money extension. Going into the final year of his contract, no agreement has come to fruition, but Jon Gruden remains confident that a deal will get done.
“I can’t speak like I have any inside scoop, but I will promise you this: they are not very far away,” Gruden confessed. The veteran head coach was with the Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008, helping lead them to Super Bowl 37.
Former Bucs HC Jon Gruden on Baker Mayfield’s contract negotiations.
“I can’t speak like I have any inside scoop but I will promise you this: they are not very far away… I think everybody, every party included wants to get this done… And I think they’re a lot closer than… pic.twitter.com/Qyq81ZM4VM
— SleeperBucs (@SleeperTBBUCS) August 24, 2026
Continuing with his revelation, he added, “I think everybody, every party included, wants to get this done… And I think they’re a lot closer than people realize. But I would expect it to get done, indeed.”
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The biggest issue with Mayfield in Tampa Bay has been the inconsistency that has plagued his three years.
When Tom Brady called time on his career, the Buccaneers needed to find stability at the most important position in the sport.
As a result, they brought Mayfield in on a prove-it deal in 2023 worth just $4 million, thanks to some strong performances with the Los Angeles Rams. A resurgent season followed, which led to a three-year extension worth $100 million in 2024.
He instantly proved himself worthy of the money, leading Tampa Bay to its fifth consecutive playoff appearance while ranking at number four in PFN’s QB Impact Metrics. However, last year was an abject disaster, which has given the two sides pause on a new contract.
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As reports were released, Adam Schefter confirmed the main point of friction between the two sides. Rather than the money on the deal, the former first overall pick was bothered by the length of the contract that the Buccaneers were offering.
“I think the money was there. The deal, the two-year extension, three-year deal, would have placed him in the top five highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, from what I understand. I think the issue, to Baker, is that if you’re a franchise player, you deserve more than a two-year extension. And I think the length was what irritated him and caused him to say he felt disrespected.”
Simply put, a lot of the details have already been figured out by both parties. As a result, the steadfast belief from Gruden about a new deal might have some merit if they can find common ground on the length of the new contract.
