Jason Licht On Baker Mayfield
February 24th, 2026
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht was hit with the money question about his franchise quarterback today at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Joe asked Licht if the Bucs plan to make extending Baker Mayfield’s contract a priority for this offseason — whether that’s one year, two years or more. Mayfield’s current three-year contract expires after the 2026 season.
Licht wanted to profess his love of Mayfield but wouldn’t slap a timetable on talks.
“So Baker, our thoughts on Baker haven’t changed,” Licht said. “Baker has been with us three years, you see the competitor he is. Obviously, he’s got a lot of arm talent, but he’s a leader, all these things. Our plans with Baker haven’t changed. At some point, I don’t have a timetable, I’m sure we’ll be having those discussions.”
Licht was pressed to say if those discussions will happen this year and he wasn’t going there. “At some point, we’ll be having those discusssions,” Licht repeated.
Yes, one could certainly say the Bucs have greater concerns that the quarterback position. However, QB is the most important position and not many teams want their beloved QB entering a contract year, after which literally anything could happen.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
RIP to Ronyell Whitaker. He started out as a feisty defensive back and had a good game against the Saints on the road in 2003. Passes away at 46. Way too young.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
At some point, we’ll be having those discusssions
TRANSLATION: make the NFC Championship game or kick rocks!!!!
yeah he has arm talent, yeah he throws TD’s, yeah he’s a “leader” but do all those things produce WINS…..
GO BUCS!!!!
February 24th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
We’ll see.
If they aren’t pursuing Evans, it could signal a lack of enthusiasm to resign Baker. I’m guessing this is another prove it year for Baker. If he gets hurt, the Bucs will draft a QB next year.
You have to question if Baker can stay healthy for another 3 years.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Sure, he single handedly cost us the playoffs — but lets give him a huge extension despite his history of choking in the biggest moments. Oh wait, my bad, I mean ‘being injured’ in the biggest moments.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
I think Bakers cap hit is somewhere in the 52 million dollar range.
If the FO is serious about free agents – IMO Baker gets an extension to free up cap space. In the alternative, Tristan and Chris combine for another 70 million give or take this year – maybe their deals get reworked.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
I think they want to see how this season turns out. If Baker stays healthy and does well, and if we win enough, he’ll get a deal.
If we end up tanking, we’ll be drafting a QB next year.
For now, all I care about is dumping Teddy and replacing him. There are plenty of cheap options out there.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Lessismore, you may be right.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
I just looked. His cap hit is $52,975,000 this year. They may have no choice after all. Extending him a year or two in order to lower his number might be worth it. If they eat the contract, it will easy future years a LOT.
Wow. Tough call. Take the gamble to re-sign, or pay a huge salary for a year, freeing yourself to draft a QB next year.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Testing
February 24th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Baker better be ready to score fifty offensive points a game or Todd’s hapless defense will lose the next seventeen games.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
So much talk about Baker and Evans.
We didn’t lose because of Mayfield, although a few fools might argue that.
We didn’t win because of Evans. Again, some may argue.
Our season was lost because we couldn’t rush the QB
We only have one NFL caliber defensive lineman. #50
When we drafted Hall, I said that day, that he was a tweener. Check.
When we drafted Kancey, I said, right here, that he was too small to ever play DL in the NFL. Check
How many years will we pay him to sit on the IR, before some of you agree with me.
We have wasted huge amounts of resources on horrible DL and edge rushers. We have signed guys that didn’t care about football, and hadn’t for years- if ever.
Our Linebackers and secondary look horrible. They aren’t that bad.
ANY QB IN THE NFL CAN SCORCH A DEFENSE, IF THEY ARENT PRESSURED.
The greatest Cornerbacks in league are only expected to cover their guy 3 seconds.
Our offense isn’t our problem. Our pathetic excuse for a pass rush is. Once again.
Joe made these same arguments, year after year, until they acquired JPP.
He can’t save us now. But someone must
Baker can win a Super Bowl with our offense.
None could win a SuperBowl with our defense
February 24th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
With Todd’s hapless defense Baker better be ready to score fifty offensive points a game or the Bucs will lose the next seventeen games.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
If you read between the lines, as Joe frequently does, it looks to me like JL said that Baker is the plan for the future but that Baker has the leverage (at the moment) to decide how this thing is going down. That being said Baker will play the same whether he’s making 3 million or 35 million. And he’d certainly work hard to make the deal right for JL and Tampa. I’m sure he’s more concerned with the team winning next year than how much money he’s making. He wants a Super Bowl. He has money.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
“He single-handedly cost us the playoffs”
Nobody can be this braindead.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
BucBoi, I understand your frustration with Mayfield, and a lot of it is deserved. The entire team had issues, but none more than the not so special teams. How did the special teams ruin the Bucs season?
Kick coverage team giving the opposition the ball at the 50-yard line. Think about it! If the D stops them, they punt the ball to the 5-yard line. Offense needs to drive 95 yards. Or the D gives up a score and we’re immediately down 7-0. Things got so bad we were ok with giving the other team the ball at the 35!
Then throw in the blocked punts & field goals. I’m surprised more blame isn’t put on Bowles for keeping the Coach who already had a terrible record. Should have been fired week three!
February 24th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Draft Drew Allar penn state 6 or 7 round. Lots of talent bad coaching.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Capt. Tim, Great post and good to see an old-time poster still around. It has to be 15 years or so….time flies!
Kit, lol I completely agree!!
February 24th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
Joe Licht ( vs Joe Heavy ) must be the author of “Ring of Honor GM Jason Licht.”
I’d agree with a lifetime achievement award/ certificate of participation plaque though.
There’s no rush to extend Baker…if at all. If he earns it…the price increase will be worth it. If he belly flops…the team avoids a salary cap calamity.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
As long as Bowles is head coach, it doesn’t really matter who plays QB. Todd is a special coach who can get any player to the same level of performance we saw at the end of last year. Baker Mayfield or Rudy Carpenter, outcome is the same.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
It’s definitely another “prove-it” year for Baker. There is NO-WAY you extend him now. It makes ZERO sense. You allow him to play-it out. And, I am NOT blowing up my salary cap on this season, either. The NFC ‘pecking order’ is crystal clear. I am drafting BPA at #15, too! It would be THE ‘dumbest’ thing EVER to reach for an EDGE or LB. The chances are extremely low that you’re getting much of a ‘difference maker’ there. That’s the last thing you want. I am drafting for the future and my future HC and GM, if it’s me.
If Love is there at #15, there’s NO-WAY you pass on HIM. Actually, I would trade up with the Cowboys at #12, if he’s still there. HE would make a MUCH BIGGER ‘difference’ anyway, than ANY LB you’re getting at #15 in this draft. THIS SEASON. He would help Baker drastically! Then, I’m moving off of as many players I CAN at the deadline, for as much 2027 (&/or 2028) ‘draft capital’ as humanly possible. If I can’t get at Top-2/3 QB in the 2027-Draft (actually I would prefer NOT to, but you might have to with picks 1-3 with THIS class), then I hope to pair Jeremiah Smith with Love (and Bucky for one more year), EE, JMac, & maybe Tez.
Next, I sign a ‘bridge guy’ until I can get myself in position with enough draft-capital/assets to make a move on drafting a QB on a ‘rookie’ deal, before the time comes to have to start PAYING Love & Smith (also JMac and EE). Take all those other draft-picks from THIS deadline, and wheel-n-deal on O-Line and on Front-7 Depth. And, all of that available cap $$$ on THE DEFENSE.
With the right HC and GM in place 2028 can be a GREAT YEAR, & before you know-it you’re going into 2029 as LEGIT “Super Bowl Contenders” for the next 7-8+YEARS. You don’t make a move on DRAFTING a QB, until you get the overall ROSTER overhauled FIRST. You put your young QB in the BEST position possible. You’ve got HIM on a ‘rookie’ deal for 5-YEARS, when it’s time to start having to PAY FOR everyone else. You’d have more than enough FIREPOWER on that Offense, to make A LOT of NFL QB’s look pretty damn good.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
They were talking about Love on the radio, but I don’t think this was ever brought up… Drafting Love would also tell us A LOT about Bucky! He then immediately becomes RB#2. It would force him to have to STEP TF UPPPP and raise HIS level of play! Would he take it like a Man, and be ‘the player’ we think he can be… Or, would he cry and just lie down like a DOG!?
February 24th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Capt. Tim… Ive said it before… why is always lines fault… why can’t we ever have a “coverage sack”…other teams have them… it’s quick slants across the middle and running backs out of the backfield into the flat that kills this team.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
5 years. $200 million. Done.
Superbowl, here we come!
B, B, Baker and the Bucs!
February 24th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Baker has been a GREAT player to replace Brady. We need a better backup QB to insulate him so he can still play freely and we have some insurance. The Bucs have a good streak of starting QBs right now, bit we need a guy who can play when Bake is hurt which he will be…
February 24th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Sbucs,if he did the 50 ,people on this sight would wine about he should’ve scored 51
February 24th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Extension incoming. Locks down a proven qb, opens up cap space for free agents. Helen Keller can see this coming…
February 24th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Jr i guess you can say the same about Bowles??..How about making a couple stops on defense maybe run it since baker sucks
February 24th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Don’t extend him. Let him test the waters and see if some team is willing to throw a ton of loot at him. If he plays next year like he finished this past season, the offers won’t be crazy. Then again, it could mean the mysterious injury that plagued all his poor performances this past year … continues.
Gotta love some of you. If Baker plays well, it’s Super Bowl bound best QB in the league. If he plays poorly it’s a mysterious injury or another player’s fault.
Perhaps he had the Target Flu, a mysterious malady that causes the arm to lose signals from the brain, especially when attempting to throw a football.
On the good side, at least we’re guaranteed two wins against Atlanta.
Baker guaranteed as much when he mocked the Stefanski hiring.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Baker is serviceable, even good at times. But last year’s finish was mostly on him, and until I hear the details of his mysterious injury you should agree.
February 24th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Muncher & MelJr,
Mayfield will have a sensational 2026, go to Rams for 2027 season, and you girls will get your dream QB, Shedeur Sanders, for 2027. You ladies deserve Shedeur.
February 24th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Capt. Kirk to be released.
Knows Robinsons Offense, we know he can put up 400+ yds at least twice a year. 😉
We need a reliable backup.
February 24th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
February 24th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
I just looked. His cap hit is $52,975,000 this year. They may have no choice after all. Extending him a year or two in order to lower his number might be worth it. If they eat the contract, it will easy future years a LOT.
———
Overthecap has him at $40M, with next year as a void year at $30M. Coming off how he played from week 7 on, I really can’t see them extending Baker unless they get a deal, and done in a way that they can get out of it without a huge cost.
Seems pretty obvious that Baker and Bowles are tied together. If you extend Baker now, and then he doesn’t bounce back, you’re in a really difficult situation the following season as you’re firing Bowles and you’re stuck with a huge contract you can’t move on from. Who would want to even come here as coach in that situation where they got a QB that got his coaches all fired again and has a huge deal?
Like Baker or not, I just can’t see the Bucs making the move right now — it doesn’t make much sense unless they get a huge bargain on the contract, or a strong 1-year out, which seems unlikely to be given from Baker’s side.
February 24th, 2026 at 8:51 pm
Gipper Says:
February 24th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Muncher & MelJr,
Mayfield will have a sensational 2026
——–
If that happens, he’s not going anywhere since the Bucs will just franchise him – and from his side he’ll end up making a ton more money.
Also, if that happens, great – it means the Bucs are winning and in the playoffs. I’m good with that.
However with as terrible as he played from week 7 until week 17, it makes no sense for the Bucs to reward that and not just wait to see if he bounces back or not. Unless, again, they get a deal – and either get him on the cheap or basically have a one-year out on the contract. From Baker’s side, if he’s confident in himself – he’ll just play out the year and get paid bigly. I really don’t see a downside for either party.
February 24th, 2026 at 9:43 pm
Old School. I agree 💯 percent he can be our franchise quarterback he just made 21 years old. I don’t know who came out with the rule of a franchise quarterback have to be drafted in the first or second round. Baker is 32 years old he’s not a franchise quarterback he’s a bridge quarterback. But I wouldn’t be mad if they draft Drew Aluar and let him sit behind Baker for a year and if we get to a NFC Championship game he can sit 2 years and we can keep building our roster.
February 24th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Todd will be inducted into the ring of horror if he doesn’t turn this thing around.
February 24th, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Long time Bucs fans can see it clearly – without an NFC title game or further, Baker is Jeff Garcia. Jeff was decent. Had some highlights. But he wasn’t THE guy. Baker is another version of the same thing.
February 24th, 2026 at 10:07 pm
Bowles is a lock for the Ring of Honor. Remember he coached a game 5 years ago against a team with a hairdresser and a cocktail waitress playing offensive tackle, and at least 6 key dropped passes after Mahomes hit dudes in the hands or face with amazing passes. And, he’s averaged almost 9 wins a season since Cooper Kupp took the Rams into field goal range through no fault of Todd’s. He might even have a hall of fame resume’. It’s hard to win games in the NFL. Todd wins almost as many as he loses, that’s not something every great coach can say.
February 24th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
“Perhaps he had the Target Flu, a mysterious malady that causes the arm to lose signals from the brain, especially when attempting to throw a football“
Why didn’t I think of this!?
Target flu, with signs and symptoms of pickyitis or triplecoveredosis
Brilliant!
February 24th, 2026 at 10:20 pm
Ottontussin
Egbukadryl
Vitamin-CG12
Okay, I’m done.
February 24th, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Unfollow the View from 132 just might be dead on .
February 25th, 2026 at 9:50 am
watch this years draft closely. if rams don’t draft a QB, mayfield is gone.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Anyone who blames this season on Baker didn’t watch the season. Baker kept us competitive throughout the first 8 weeks of the season. No Bucky, no healthy Chris, no Mike Evans, and a makeshift offensive line. Baker had a long season, and we didn’t run the football. This season was a coaching failure and was marked by excessive injuries. Baker didn’t play well in the second half of the season because he wasn’t healthy. This falls on Jason Licht for not having a competent backup quarterback. If this happened to Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, we would say it was injuries, but when its Baker, we point straight to him without looking at the pieces around him. The 49ers game was a perfect example of what he was like before he was injured, putting the team on his back and carrying us to a win.