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JUNE 26:\u00a0<\/strong>In the course of the latest edition of his annual youth football camp in Norman, Oklahoma (video link<\/a>), Mayfield spoke again concerning the status of his contract talks. He reiterated that a mutual desire exists for an extension to be worked out, adding the situation is right down to \u201ca matter of finding that middle ground and what makes either side pleased.\u201d Loads of time stays for a deal to be struck in time for training camp.<\/p>\n JUNE 17:<\/strong>\u00a0Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield<\/strong> is on course to play out the last season of his three-year, $100MM contract in 2026. Mayfield said on June 5 that he and the team were \u201cnot anywhere close\u201d<\/em> to an extension. Almost two weeks later, the perimeters haven’t made any progress.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cJust about the identical,\u201d<\/em> Mayfield said of his contract status on Tuesday (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times<\/a>).<\/p>\n Although Mayfield has never missed a game in his three-year tenure with the Buccaneers, Stroud reported last week that his health has been a priority in extension talks. Mayfield responded \u201cdefiantly\u201d Tuesday, per ESPN\u2019s Jenna Laine<\/a>, saying: \u201cI began every game last yr \u2026 the last three years. I don\u2019t know if that ought to ever be an issue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n While Mayfield is correct in pointing to his perfect attendance since he signed with Tampa Bay in 2023, the two-time Pro Bowler didn’t get through last season unscathed. Mayfield was within the MVP conversation through the Buccaneers\u2019 6-2 start, however the wheels got here off for the Bucs within the second half of the season. It didn\u2019t help that Mayfield suffered a low-grade AC joint sprain in his left shoulder in a Week 12 loss to the Rams. The 31-year-old played through it, but he threw almost as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns (nine) over the Buccaneers\u2019 last seven games. They wound up with an 8-9 record that left them out of the postseason for the primary time since 2019.<\/p>\n As he and the team look to bounce back this yr, Mayfield has set a negotiating deadline for the beginning of coaching camp in July. That would change, but when Mayfield sticks to it, he and the Buccaneers have limited time to seek out common ground. Mayfield is averaging roughly $33.3MM on his current contract, which places him sixteenth at his position. Across the NFL, there are mixed opinions on how the previous Brown, Panther and Ram will fare on his next deal.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be 32 (if he hits free agency), he\u2019s been injured, this will likely be his fifth team, is it? If he can get a coupla more years at $30 (million a yr), he should take it,\u201d <\/em>one general manager told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom<\/a>:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n