{"id":306376,"date":"2026-06-13T14:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T14:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306376\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T14:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T14:21:23","slug":"jason-licht-gives-honest-thoughts-on-baker-mayfields-contract-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306376\/","title":{"rendered":"Jason Licht Gives Honest Thoughts on Baker Mayfield’s Contract Comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tampa Bay Buccaneers <\/a>general manager Jason Licht is usually pretty good when it comes to keeping his guys around. He isn’t perfect \u2014 see Mike Evans this offseason \u2014 but he’s valued re-signings quite heavily during his tenure in Tampa Bay, and he has a big target this next offseason in Baker Mayfield.<\/p>\n

Licht brought on Mayfield on a one-year deal in 2023, and some strong play turned that into a three-year deal worth $100 million in 2024. Mayfield has delivered on that contract, too, throwing over 40 touchdowns in 2024 and playing at an MVP level for the first half of 2025, and as a result, it’s already time to think about extending him.<\/p>\n

Mayfield is looking for a big-money contract, but he told reporters last week <\/a>that he and the Bucs are not close to a deal and that he’s given the team until training camp to negotiate a satisfactory one \u2014 if they don’t, per Mayfield, he and his camp would wait until the end of the season, which comes with all kinds of risks. <\/p>\n

Licht recently appeared on JP Peterson’s podcast, and he was asked about Mayfield’s comments as OTAs comes to an end and mandatory minicamp is on the way. <\/p>\n

Jason Licht Speaks on Baker Mayfield’s Contract Comments\"Tampa<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Licht said that he and Mayfield have had discussions, but that he really isn’t worried about Mayfield’s status as a Buccaneer for this season and beyond. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had some discussions and we\u2019ll continue to have some internal discussions and see, and try to bring this to closure one way or another,\u201d Licht said, per FanstreamSports.com’s JP Peterson<\/a>. \u201cBut no one wants to see Baker go anywhere, and no one\u2019s worried about how Baker\u2019s mindset is going to be. I\u2019ve had conversations with him about that. He\u2019s all about wanting to win. So he\u2019s in a good place… He\u2019s free to say whatever he wants to say. And that\u2019s the way he\u2019s wired and I have nothing but love for Baker. I\u2019ll keep all that stuff internal.”<\/p>\n

It makes sense that the two parties would like keep a good thing going. Mayfield has been playing what has arguably been his best ball since 2023 in Tampa Bay, and though he’s a bit inconsistent, he’s shown he can win football games with the Buccaneers and even has a playoff win under his belt.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Licht should know that finding a decent quarterback in the NFL is tough, so locking up Mayfield will be a priority for him. He supposedly has until training camp to do that before talks are moved to the offseason, but it’s hard to believe Mayfield wouldn’t accept a good deal if it came in after that deadline.<\/p>\n

The Bucs will hold mandatory minicamp next week before a long break, and after that, Mayfield’s training camp deadline will hit at the end of July. <\/p>\n

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