Jason Licht Talks Baker Mayfield “Delicate Balance”
June 6th, 2026
“Look, Mr. Glazer, Baker will come around. His agent went limp on us two years ago.”
The Buccaneers showed Baker Mayfield the money. He held his nose.
Mayfield should at least be happy to be wanted long-term by the Buccaneers. That was the big news this week. The team is trying to sign him to a contract extension that is surely a lot bigger than the three-year, $100 million deal Mayfield will wrap up after the 2026 season.
Is Mayfield’s health a consideration for the Bucs? That’s unclear, but consider the comments of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht during his sitdown this week with Ira Kaufman, the venerable JoeBucsFan.com columnist.
Ira Kaufman: Did Baker Mayfield try to do too much during the 2-7 tailspin [last year]?
Jason Licht: The way he’s wired, he’ll always try to put everything on him. Given the things he was battling through, it was a tough second half of the year.
Kaufman: Will you to try to contain his scrambling instincts to minimize the hits Mayfield endures?
Licht: That’s a tough one. There’s been a lot of ‘No, no no … way to go’ when Baker takes off. He’s a playmaker. That’s the way he’s built. Yes, it’s a delicate balance.
Joe has to think Mayfield’s play style and injury history are part of the equation for Mayfield’s contract extension. Bucs fans — and Mayfield — love his football DNA. That genetic blueprint might cost him a handful of millions.
June 6th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
With this contract, Baker Mayfield will be set for life. Especially with the addition of the previous one. So will his kids. And his kids’s kids. And his kids’s kids’s kids. So he probably shouldn’t worry too much about YAV.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
if he’s snubbing his nose at 45-48 for 4, oh well.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Baker wants guarantees, likely the Bucs want contract outs if injury occurs. I
Imagine the money is right, just not the details
June 6th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
The word on the street is the Bucs put forth an offer that was above 50 mil per. If that be true Baker is playing a dangerous game to snub that kind of money.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
This should not be a problem!
Most teams are desperate to find a Mayfield quality quarterback.
There is no way weaseling out of paying him the market value of a established quarterback
50 million dollars a year is his bracket.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
When you look at the qb’s right under dak 60, they all come in around 52, up and below 60. I don’t think Baker can complain too much anything around 52 and up. That is the market. However, you live and die by the sword. I don’t think he can change the way he plays, you ruin the player. Licht said it, no ,no Baker, go go Baker. You can ding him for injury unless you flat tell him no making your own plays. You either want the player the way he plays or you don’t. Pretty simple really. My guess he wants more than 1 to 2 years which the Bucs, Licht love to offer. Ask ME he will tell you
June 6th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Show Mayfield the game film from his 2-7 finish.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Can’t ding him , sorry
June 6th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
So would the experts that know all about this because they have been in the room tell us what the offer was? What kind of money wAs offered? For how long? All the details of the contract they’re offering. I’m sure they’re not trying to make him the total “Future QB” for 5 or more years .
Oh wait only the actual people present would know unless it was leaked. So far I haven’t seen or heard it.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
The word on the street where exactly? I doubt Licht or Baker’s agent leaked it.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
“Joe has to think Mayfield’s play style and injury history are part of the equation for Mayfield’s contract extension.”
I agree.
But would also add – play-off wins and 4th quarter INTs are also part of the equation.
I believe Mayfield is capable of being a top 10 QB and I hope he has a strong comeback year in 2026.
However if he struggles again it might be his last in Tampa…
The only issue I have with letting Baker walk is – Who do we replace him with?
June 6th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
“That genetic blueprint might cost him a handful of millions.”
It’s not costing Lamar Jackson. In any case, $50M/yr for 4 yrs seems fair for both sides.
June 6th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Buccaneers had Baker on the cheap…
Play HARDBALL Baker!
June 6th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Mestemaker next draft….love ya Baker but slow your roll a little bro if youre trying for too much….theres others to pay too. If you’re gonna be that way then play out this year and bye.
June 6th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
This is perfect! This is going to work out PERFECT!!! Im excited the winds are brewing. New qb,hc, stadium. No, there are no garauntees the new era will be prosperous or even better then this mediocrity, but there will be HOPE. I know for 100% fact this we arent going nowhere with this qb and hc. Both are average at best.Neither is young and ascending at their respective position.
The sobering reality is the Glazers and staff @OBP know this. The analytics and business side wanted to blow it up after 2025. The football ppl know 9 wins and a home playoff game keeps you employed in Tampa.
I already know that for whatever reason the name calling is coming my way but answer me this. Since last season, even before Baker’s “injury” everything I said has been 100% spot on. Once or twice could be luck. But we are talking 6-7 things.
3 things you can take to the bank: Baker will not be extended. I hope it comes out Mike Evans left because of Baker (as a player, not the person) and Bowles was retained because the FO felt their was no replacement available that they were enamored with.
Ill say this and you can save this: 2026 will be Baker last season here. He would have to take his game to another level and win like has never won before.i dont think hes capable of that. If Baker can play at a top 3-4 MVP level (he cant ) and get this team to the Sb (even less proabable) they will GLADLY pay him whatever the F he wants.
But thats never going to happen. This is tricky because Baker is a average, limited, aging Qb who is popular with the fan base. Everyone @ OBP is NOT a fan of his. Contrary to the Putrid Report, there are not a dozen teams”wanting and willing to break th ebank for Baker”
He literally has no market and his personality/popularity might hurt him getting more jobs. His unwarranted ego is out of this world. Imagine being a 31 year old, sub.500 Qb, thats average with one wildcard win and giving hard deadlines on contracts talks.
That facade of him being a “everyday guy” is fading away. Hes a diva. Im tired of hearing about him being “pissed off” and having “chips on his shoulders”. Put up or shut up. The dude has been given multiple chances by multiple teams. hes approaching a decade in.
Darnold wo turned 29 yesterday had one of the worst OL in Seattle yet they had one of the best Offenses. In that title game to get to the Sb, Darnold threw for 350 and 3 td and outplayed Stafford. The defense gave up 480 yards and 27 points. The seahawks ran for like 65 yards as a team. Sometimes as a Qb you have to be THE REASON. Baker is incapable of playing like that. Ever. Darnold went that entire playoff run without a turnover. 3 games. Say with a straight face Baker could.
Speaking of Darnold, last off season he signed basically the same contract that Baker did the yer before. All he did was thrwo for 4000 yards, lead a top flight offense, finish top 8 in mvp, win 14 regular season games and win a SB.
I know this wil hurt but Baker is not Darnold. Despite coming into the leauge the same year Darnold is 2 years younger. Much bigger and plays from the pocket. His play style is more sustainable and more favored. NFL offensive minds dont like that Johnny manzeil/hero ball/panic ball style.
I think AT LEAST 25/32 gms would take Darnold over Baker. If you take away brands and marketing and do a PLAYER A profile/PLAYER B profile, its a no brainer. Baker fans bring up Dak contract (Dak is so much beteer then Baker btw, lol) and the bad ones (Tua, Murray, Watson, Cousins) but fail to mention Darnold. Or the fact in 2026 Baker cap number is higher then Stroud, Daneils, Caleb, Maye and Nix COMBINED.
Baker will not be here in 2027 guys. Its not even his choice, they want to move on.Forget what they are SAYING and focus on their ACTIONS going back to last year trade deadline.
June 6th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Oh boy…. This is your first year rooting for a Tampa bay team huh ?(Bye Baler Bye Bowles)
June 6th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
I hope he holds out!
June 6th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
i dont read novels bye bye