Latest NFL Rumors on Baker Mayfield Contract Talks Ahead of Bucs' Opener vs. Burrow, Bengals

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield declared that he won't engage in contract discussions before the end of the 2026 season, and it sounds like he's sticking to that stance.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that "there haven't been any substantive negotiations since the start of camp" between Mayfield and the Bucs, who are set to open the year against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Mayfield ended contract negotiations with Tampa Bay before the start of training camp, declaring that he felt "disrespected" by what the team initially offered. Still, Bucs general manager Jason Licht expressed confidence that the team will be able to retain him by the end of the year.

"I'm very optimistic about it," Licht said during the WFLA broadcast of the Bucs' third preseason game at the Jacksonville Jaguars, per ESPN's Jenna Laine . "He wants to play. He wants to prove to us that he is the franchise quarterback that we said that he was. So, we'll just have to see how it plays out. I'll never close the door on anything in the short term, but right now, he's focused on football."

Breer noted that he feels there's still a chance for Mayfield and the Bucs to re-engage in contract talks before Sunday's season opener, pointing out that "the two sides weren't that far apart earlier in the summer." He also highlighted Tampa Bay's "willingness to get a market deal done closer to the season," as evidenced by the team's deals with Tristan Wirfs, Zyon McCollum, Luke Goedeke and Vita Vea over the last two years.

Mayfield hasn't been known to change his mind often, so it remains to be seen if he will budge before he takes the field against the Bengals on Sunday.