The Buccaneers will not be near an extension agreement with Vita Vea. The identical can be true of Tampa Bay’s other, more noteworthy, summer contract priority.
The 2026 offseason has long been understood to be the time for Baker Mayfield to barter a brand new deal. Tampa Bay’s three-year starting quarterback has one season remaining on his deal, and a raise will likely be in store once an extension might be finalized. For now, though, there remains to be loads of work to be done on the negotiating front.
During a recent edition of The Insiders (video link), NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported there remains to be a spot between the worth point Mayfield is looking for and Tampa Bay’s latest offer. No details are in place regarding either end of the spectrum, but this will not be the primary update highlighting the necessity for progress on the contract front.
Mayfield himself said in June his camp and the Bucs were “not anywhere close” to an extension agreement. Either side have made clear the mutual interest in understanding an extension, as they did in 2024. As Mayfield noted, though, he has set the beginning of coaching camp because the deadline for a deal to be struck. Bucs players will report back to camp on July 28, leaving a small window of time for the vital traction to be gained.
Injuries have been mentioned as a consider any long-term Mayfield commitment. The previous No. 1 pick has not missed a game during his Tampa Bay tenure, but playing through nagging ailments has long been a subject of concern. The value of a brand new deal will after all be a key matter as well. Mayfield’s current pact carries a mean annual value of $33.33MM. The quarterback market recently reached $64MM because of Patrick Mahomes‘ latest Chiefs deal.
A consensus doesn’t exist across the league with respect to what Mayfield, 31, should receive on a brand new pact. He has spoken in regards to the need to search out a middle ground, something which has clearly not taken place yet. Nevertheless, the two-time Pro Bowler has not indicated a holdout will likely be forthcoming, and negotiations have appeared cordial thus far.
As things stand, Mayfield is resulting from carry a team-high cap charge of $39.98MM in 2026. That figure could be lowered with a brand new deal, but as Garafolo notes Tampa Bay doesn’t currently feel much pressure to finalize one. It is going to be interesting to see if that changes over the approaching weeks.