Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is done waiting. After months of negotiations, the 31-year-old signal-caller announced Thursday that he will not sign a contract extension before the 2026 season, calling the talks disappointing and revealing a sense of disrespect.
“I’m very, very thankful for the chance they gave me – do not get me wrong on that,” Mayfield told reporters, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “But I also know what I brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and play-wise. It’s been some of the best years of my career, and I think it’s only going to trend upward. So it’s disappointing in that regard to feel disrespected a little bit. That’s really the disappointing part – to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it.”
Mayfield set a self-imposed deadline to get a deal done before training camp, but the two sides remain far apart. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Buccaneers never offered a contract longer than two years, and the financial terms were “pretty far” from what Mayfield considered fair. Despite the frustration, the former No. 1 overall pick insisted he never considered holding out.
“I want to win ball games,” Mayfield said. “I want to play with these guys. It’s a special group, and that’s why it feels like home.”
Mayfield has been a key part of Tampa Bay’s success since joining the team in 2023. He led the Bucs to back-to-back NFC South titles and set career highs in 2024 with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. But his 2025 campaign was derailed by injuries, limiting him to 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns. Still, Mayfield believes he’s proven his worth as a franchise quarterback.
“I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback,” Mayfield said. “It’s been said publicly, from ownership down. So to not have a deal done is very disappointing. But I said the deadline is the deadline, and I addressed the team to let them know I meant that.”
The Buccaneers have a history of playing hardball in contract negotiations, and this situation is no different. Mayfield acknowledged that pattern, saying, “I’m not the first one to go through it like this. This is kind of historically how they’ve done negotiations. It’s disappointing when you think you’re a cornerstone of the franchise to be treated like that.”
Despite the stalemate, Mayfield is confident he’ll bounce back in a big way. He predicted a “really big year” in 2026, one that could make the Buccaneers regret not locking him up sooner. That kind of confidence echoes the recent Lamar Jackson contract standoff, where another star QB played through uncertainty and eventually got paid.
Mayfield’s situation also raises questions about his future beyond Tampa Bay. With the 2026 season approaching, a strong performance could make him a hot commodity on the open market. Some have even speculated about a potential return to Cleveland, though that seems like a long shot given his history there. For now, the quarterback is focused on proving he’s worth every penny.
“I want to win ball games,” Mayfield reiterated. “I want to play with these guys. It’s a special group, and that’s why it feels like home.”
