The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
90 days away from Bucs common season kickoff60 days away from Bucs preseason kickoffUnder 50 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the leadup to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams will probably be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who will probably be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
Immediately, the sequence begins with quarterback Baker Mayfield.
How Will Baker Mayfield’s Contract Scenario Play Out?
As of proper now, 2026 will probably be a contract 12 months for Baker Mayfield. Simply a few weeks in the past, he stated at his camp that the Bucs “are not anywhere close” to what he and his aspect are considering by way of numbers for a doable contract extension and that if a deal isn’t reached earlier than coaching camp, any additional contract talks will probably be tabled and picked again up after the season.
Each common supervisor Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles have maintained that they and everybody inside the workforce’s management wish to be sure Mayfield is round for a very long time to return. Bowles stated this week that Mayfield is a real skilled and that he is aware of the contract scenario gained’t have an effect on him or his preparation for the upcoming season.
Bucs GM Jason Licht and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However how will this all play out? Whereas issues may change, it seems unlikely that the Bucs and Mayfield will attain an settlement on an extension inside the subsequent six weeks or so, which might end result within the 31-year-old taking part in out the ultimate 12 months of the 3-year, $100 million contract he signed after the 2023 season. That in the end places the strain on Mayfield to show that he’s price what he’s asking for, which proper now could be seemingly one thing between $55 million and $60 million per 12 months, whereas the workforce could also be nearer to $45 million proper now.
There are such a lot of instructions this case may go relying on the kind of 12 months Mayfield has. If he places up a repeat of final season, which noticed him full 63.2% of his passes for 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns – all lows for his Bucs profession – maybe the workforce would have a stronger argument for his worth being nearer to what it has in thoughts. But when he even comes near replicating that 2024 season by which he accomplished 71.4% of his passes for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns? Mayfield would have extra leverage in that case.
Then, after all, there’s the franchise tag. That’s a reputable possibility for Tampa Bay on condition that it could value proper round $50 million to maintain him on the town for 2027. To not point out, the Bucs may all the time use the tag to make sure they’ve Mayfield on the books for an additional 12 months and proceed to barter earlier than the season really rolls round. Licht lately stated the tag is the “furthest” from their minds proper now, but it surely’s there if the workforce wants it.
As a lot as Baker Mayfield will look to place the contract talks to the aspect as he performs out the 2026 season, there’s little question that it will proceed to be a looming storyline – even when solely within the background – as his fourth marketing campaign in Tampa unfolds.
#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield on a possible contract extension with Tampa Bay:
“The contract stuff – it’s taking place it’s beginning. Not anyplace near what we had been considering. Would like to be right here long run, however as of proper now that’s not precisely the case.
“I’m below contract for… pic.twitter.com/uFHXkfK2DF
Can Baker Mayfield Return To His 2024 Kind?
What would assist Mayfield’s case when it comes time to barter a brand new deal – assuming it’s after the 2026 season – is a season just like the one he had in 2024. Ever because the Bucs employed Zac Robinson to be their new offensive coordinator again in January, quite a lot of the speak has been about how this 12 months’s offense will look extra just like the one Liam Coen ran in 2024 than the one Josh Grizzard directed in 2025.
Bucs OC Zac Robinson, go sport coordinator TJ Yates and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Robinson and Coen each come from the Sean McVay teaching tree out in Los Angeles, plus the 2 guys are greatest buddies. They suppose rather a lot alike and have comparable backgrounds inside McVay’s system, so it stands to purpose that the 2026 Bucs offense will probably be just like the 2024 model. Grizzard got here from a distinct offensive background and integrated extra of a vertical assault final 12 months, and now it feels like there this 12 months will probably be a return to extra of what labored when Coen was main the way in which two seasons in the past.
Again in 2024, Mayfield was at his best possible. Not solely was it his greatest 12 months as a Buc, but it surely was a profession 12 months for the previous No. 1 total choose. With a 71.4% completion proportion, 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, he set profession highs on his option to his second Professional Bowl nod. And he put up these numbers regardless of a midseason lull for the workforce throughout a stretch when the offense was with out Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan. Mayfield stored the offense afloat by turning to tight finish Cade Otton and whereas the wins weren’t there throughout that stretch, it was hardly on the quarterback or the offense.
It was clear all through that 12 months that Mayfield was working very comfortably inside Coen’s offense. He had a preexisting relationship with Coen due to the temporary stint he had with the Rams late within the 2022 season, and that made for an amazing basis to work from as soon as Tampa Bay introduced Coen in to switch Dave Canales. Now, the Bucs are hoping for comparable outcomes with Robinson, who Mayfield additionally hung out with throughout that late-2022 interval in Los Angeles. With their prior expertise working collectively, it’s truthful to surprise if 2026 may flip into one other big-time 12 months for the Bucs’ franchise quarterback.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
The large distinction this 12 months would be the absence of Evans, who signed with the 49ers this offseason. The long run Corridor of Famer posted 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns in that 2024 season, serving to Mayfield set these excessive marks. Now, in 2026, the place does that sort of manufacturing come from? You don’t merely exchange a man like Evans, however this 12 months’s offense does embody the likes of Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson and Ted Hurst, plus there’s a extra seasoned McMillan in addition to a more healthy Godwin. The depth is certainly higher this 12 months than it was two seasons in the past, so may that assist Mayfield replicate what he did again then?
Will Baker Mayfield Keep Wholesome In 2026?
Simply as a return to his 2024 manufacturing would assist his contract scenario subsequent offseason, what could be an enormous assist for Mayfield by way of getting again to that degree of success is a 12 months by which he can keep comparatively wholesome. Due to his taking part in model and fearless demeanor, No. 6 will take some hits now and again. However to return to the peak of his powers this 12 months and due to this fact assist the Bucs maximize their potential, Mayfield wants to remain more healthy than he did in 2025.
Mayfield battled by damage after damage final 12 months. First, it was a foot/toe damage, then got here a proper biceps damage. From there, he had a knee problem, then an indirect damage after which briefly an sickness earlier than a multi-week left shoulder damage. He then performed by proper shoulder and knee accidents in Week 18. Total, he was on the Bucs’ damage report in 10 out of 18 weeks.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Immediately
On the one hand, the variety of accidents the Bucs needed to battle by on the offensive line was merely remarkable. They began the season with out Tristan Wirfs, and by the point he returned, Cody Mauch was out for the season and Luke Goedeke was out for a protracted time period. Even after Goedeke ultimately returned, Ben Bredeson went down and Wirfs later missed extra time with one other damage. There have been even accidents to depth linemen like Luke Haggard, who was one of many many tasked with entering into one of many beginning guard roles on account of damage and the reshuffling of the road. You’d should suppose the Bucs have higher luck up entrance this 12 months. Absolutely?
Past that, the faster, extra rhythmic throws in Zac Robinson’s offense will definitely assist Mayfield get the ball out faster. In 2025, extra downfield throws naturally meant extra time spent hanging powerful within the pocket, and that will have put the quarterback in hurt’s method at occasions, particularly given the offensive line accidents. It’ll even be as much as Mayfield to be sensible about when he takes these hits on his scrambles as a result of whilst you wish to let him be him, he additionally has to know when to stay to play one other down.
