QUESTION: Scott, have the Bucs severed the connection past restore with Baker Mayfield? What if Mayfield has a superb yr, because the Bucs are banking on, and refuses to increase?
ANSWER: No, completely not. Would you like proof? Baker Mayfield has participated in coaching camp fairly than held out and he’s targeted on each he and the staff having an excellent season in 2026. If Mayfield have been actually upset with the staff he would maintain out like Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett did this offseason when he was displeased about his contract scenario.
Mayfield is a team-first participant and an excellent chief. He loves his teammates and takes his function as a staff captain extremely critical. On the identical time, the chip on his shoulder has grown a bit bit greater together with his perceived “disrespect” from the staff’s supply. However as we’ve got come to study, Mayfield and the Bucs actually aren’t that far aside – regardless of what Mayfield recommended in his press convention on Thursday.
Pewter Report’s resident wage cap knowledgeable Josh Queipo revealed that the Bucs in all probability supplied a reasonably sturdy supply of a two-year extension within the vary of $51.75 million to $55 million per season, whereas Mayfield was possible on the lookout for at the very least a three-year extension by 2029. The disparity might be over the 2029 season and maybe not having the contract absolutely assured, which Mayfield possible would need.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Scott Reynolds/PR
However the Bucs and Mayfield do have a superb relationship. Keep in mind, that is Mayfield’s third time coping with common supervisor Jason Licht and assistant common supervisor Mike Greenberg on a contract. Mayfield signed a one-year, $4 million prove-it deal in 2023 after which inked a three-year extension the next offseason for $100 million. He desires to remain in Tampa Bay and the Bucs definitely need the 31-year outdated beneath heart for a number of extra years, so the truth that there may be mutual curiosity is right for getting a deal finished within the offseason.
If the Bucs meet Mayfield on his phrases – or nearer to them – I’m positive all will probably be forgiven in 2027 shifting ahead, and I feel that occurs if he has an excellent or nice season. Within the meantime, Mayfield wants to remain wholesome and ball out. If he does that I’m positive his price ticket would possibly go up a bit, however so will the Bucs’ wage cap in 2027. So it may cost the staff a bit extra ultimately, however having an offended employee main the Buccaneers offense might push the staff to new heights and maybe additional within the postseason.
QUESTION: Whereas I don’t assume there’s a nasty man within the Baker Mayfield negotiations, between Mike Evans leaving, Vita Vea wanting a commerce, and Mayfield’s public statements, is there some discontent beneath the floor at One Buc Place? Or are these simply remoted and on a regular basis NFL occurrences, and issues are effective?
ANSWER: I’m positive outdoors the partitions of the AdventHealth Coaching Heart it appears to be like just like the sky is falling. And I’m positive on Professional Soccer Speak and ESPN – I don’t watch any ESPN programming outdoors of stay sports activities as a result of it’s actually gone down hill – the notion is that the Bucs are a dysfunctional group. I simply don’t see it that manner. I feel there may be a variety of media-driven drama, and we’ve tried to steer clear of that at Pewter Report.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles appeared unfazed by Baker Mayfield’s criticism of the staff throughout his press convention on Thursday.
“I didn’t have a reaction,” Bowles mentioned on Friday. “He had a few things to say. He said it. We were all about ball today, and we moved on.”
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
As Bowles mentioned, gamers undergo contract years yearly, it’s simply that this yr occurs to contain star defensive sort out Vita Vea, who is selecting to be a “hold in,” and Mayfield, who has vocally criticized the staff over not getting a brand new deal on his timetable. Cornerback Jamel Dean wasn’t pleased about being pressured to take a paycut to stick with the staff final season, however he didn’t say a lot about it, went out and performed in his contract yr and had an excellent season.
Vea, who requested a commerce, isn’t going wherever. Tampa Bay has no need to commerce the 31-year outdated two-time Professional Bowler. This was only a negotiating tactic on Vea’s half. However the truth that he’s been seen laughing and speaking with Bowles is a transparent signal that he’s not too upset over the truth that he hasn’t gotten a contract extension but. If he was actually upset, he can be a maintain out and wouldn’t have reported to camp.
Similar with Mayfield. He’s collaborating in observe and plans to play this season – and ball out. This received’t be a distraction as a result of on the finish of the day, there are two gamers – out of the 53 that will probably be on the roster – which have publicly made it recognized they’re not thrilled about their contract scenario. That’s it – two. The Bucs are a really tight knit staff and really motivated to have a bounce-back season in 2026. Mayfield has even mentioned this received’t be a distraction and he’s finished speaking in regards to the contract and is concentrated on the season forward.
QUESTION: Even when Baker Mayfield balls out and the Bucs supply what he desires at that time, does he nonetheless need to come again? He used the phrase “disrespect” and Mayfield has proven he undoubtedly can maintain a grudge. They know what they’ve in Mayfield and might’t return to dangerous the QB play of the 2010s.
ANSWER: Sure, I feel Baker Mayfield would completely need to re-sign with Tampa Bay if the staff put forth a proposal that was within the ballpark of what he was on the lookout for, and if he went to the open negotiating interval of free company and obtained different affords the Bucs must be in that realm. Finally, Mayfield loves the group that took an opportunity on him in 2023, and he loves his Tampa Bay teammates, lots of whom are his finest associates.
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The explanation why he’s sad is that Mayfield does need to stick with the Bucs and the staff didn’t give him the contract phrases he was on the lookout for. That stage of disappointment is comprehensible. I feel Mayfield wouldn’t thoughts making the staff sweat a bit bit subsequent offseason as a result of they didn’t finally meet his deadline of getting a deal finished previous to the beginning of free company.
If push involves shove and Mayfield does develop a bit bitter in the direction of to the Bucs and has some ideas about if the grass is actually greener elsewhere the staff can at all times apply the franchise tag to forestall him from leaving – or being closely compensated for it if he does. Tampa Bay has the wage cap room to soak up his $30 million cap hit and the $50 million franchise tag quantity of cap house.
QUESTION: Why do gamers really feel slighted when engaged on the final yr of the contract that they agreed to? If you need a brand new contract in two years of a three-year deal then signal a two-year deal turn into a free agent. In the event that they have been underperforming I’m positive they wouldn’t request worse phrases.
ANSWER: It’s a two-way road for positive. Generally gamers maintain out or publicly gripe about their contract scenario, however generally they don’t. Baker Mayfield has been very vocal about heading into his contract yr with out an extension, however broad receiver Mike Evans and security Antoine Winfield Jr. didn’t say a lot publicly about having to play out their contract years in 2023 as a way to get a brand new deal. Each have been handsomely paid with multi-year extensions after the 2023 season – together with Mayfield.
Bucs GM Jason Licht and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by Cliff Welch P/R
To Mayfield’s credit score, he intends to play out his three-year deal that he signed in 2024, which paid him $100 million. He didn’t maintain out or demand a brand new deal after the 2024 or 2025 season regardless of being among the many league leaders in landing passes and passing yards since 2023. However this state of affairs may also work each methods.
There are many instances when NFL groups minimize gamers earlier than the ultimate yr or years of their contract. This occurs typically when groups must clear wage cap house and wish their roster to get youthful at sure positions. So NFL contracts are two-way streets in essence.
QUESTION: On a scale from 1-10, how concern ought to the Bucs be with Benjamin Morrison? They knew he had this damage historical past and nonetheless drafted him like different excessive draft picks at CB with accidents? Signal a vet CB and as an alternative they signed a security.
ANSWER: I’m about at an eight for Benjamin Morrison when it comes to concern for this season, however I don’t assume the staff’s stage of concern is that top – but. The damage historical past difficulty with Morrison main into the 2025 NFL Draft was that he had two hip surgical procedures to appropriate some points he handled prior to now. He had surgical procedure on one hip in highschool and waited till faculty to do the surgical procedure on the opposite hip, which occurred to be throughout his junior season at Notre Dame. Since coming into the league as Tampa Bay’s second-round choose final yr, Morrison hasn’t had any points together with his hips.
As an alternative, it’s been his hamstrings. Each of them because it seems, which isn’t good.
“It’s been two different ones,” Bowles mentioned. “[That] remains to be seen [as to which injury was worse].”
My concern is that his hamstring points might be tied to his surgically-repaired hips, though I’m not a physician. I simply keep in mind former Bucs defensive sort out Brian Worth, a second-round choose in 2010, having some hamstring points stemming from his pelvic surgical procedure and he was by no means the identical. I hope that received’t be the case for Morrison, however he’s missed some vital time.
Bucs CBs Ayden Garnes, Jacob Parrish, Benjamin Morrison, Josh Hayes, Keionte Scott and Demarion Williams – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Final yr Morrison missed the ultimate day of obligatory mini-camp because of a hamstring damage after which reported to coaching camp, re-injured it and missed a whole month of camp and all three preseason video games, then performed within the first three video games, harm his hamstring as soon as extra and wound up enjoying in 10 out of 17 video games throughout his rookie season. This summer season he missed the final OTA, each obligatory mini-camp practices and he’s been restricted in the beginning of coaching camp by the primary 4 practices.
“Hopefully he gets some work in this coming week,” mentioned Bowles with a touch of frustration in his voice after Morrison missed the primary 4 days of observe with out collaborating in staff drills. “I would like to see. He was out here moving around better, but I’ll see what the trainer says.”
Tampa Bay hasn’t signed a veteran cornerback and I’d be stunned in the event that they do until there may be an damage. There simply aren’t a variety of nice veteran choices, particularly guys beneath the age of 30. Jacob Parrish is operating away with the CB2 job reverse Zyon McCollum, and Keionte Scott, the staff’s fourth-round choose, has proven some actual versatility to have the ability to play outdoors cornerback along with the slot. Undrafted free agent cornerback Ayden Garnes appears to be like like a gem, too. We’ll see what occurs with Morrison and the way wholesome he can stay in camp.
