Rondé Barber Projects Baker Mayfield Contract Extension Is Not Done Before Training Camp
June 21st, 2026
Are the Bucs headed for a messy situation with the face of their franchise?
Baker Mayfield wants a contract extension. He’ll earn $40 million this season but he has no contract for 2027.
Team Glazer offered Mayfield an extension that left him disappointed. Mayfield responded saying he had a deadline of the start of training camp. At that point, per Mayfield, he no longer would negotiate a contract extension — no talks during football season.
Bucs insider Rondé Barber works for the team and is close friends with the organization’s power hitters. He doesn’t think an extension gets done quickly.
“I would find it hard to believe that they do,” Barber replied last week when asked if he thinks Mayfield will have a new deal by his personal deadline or Week 1 of the regular season.
Barber’s comments came on The Rondé Barber Show, a WFLA-TV streaming production.
If Barber were in charge at One Buc Palace, he’d make sure Mayfield is the Bucs’ quarterback of the future.
“Find a way to pay him. Make him happy, whatever that number is,” Barber said. “It’s not 60, 65 [million per year,] somewhere in the $50 million range. It’s a decent amount of [salary] bump. But I just hope it doesn’t distract this team going into this season, because I think this is a big year for a lot of people in this organization.”
The distraction angle is real. Mayfield is human. He’s got over $100 million+ on the line in future earnings. At some point in the season, that could affect him and/or his play, if he has no 2027 contract.
Did Team Glazer make the fan-unfriendly move of bringing back Todd Bowles only to play contract games with his handpicked quarterback? That’s a hard concept for Joe to accept.
June 21st, 2026 at 9:23 am
Ronde is dead on. Baker is in the 50 million range, he simply is when you look at other qb’. Yes pay the man in that range and be done. If this goes into the season it is going to affect Baker and the team simple as that.
June 21st, 2026 at 9:28 am
It was a different era, and a different type QB, but Dan Marino, HOFer, had a history of turnovers to go with his great numbers the first 8-10 years of his career.
Then, he started having injuries and missing games- again, the Defenses were allowed to punish the QB more back then, but the physical punishment started taking a toll.
Mayfield doesn’t avoid contact and he’s no spring chicken anymore.
Bucs should hold the line on how much they’re willing to invest in an aging QB who may or may not be past his prime (no one knows)
June 21st, 2026 at 9:43 am
He should tell them privately that if they don’t make him a fair offer, he’s joining Vea and sitting out camp until they get right.
That’s a boss move.
Licht and Bowles know this year determines their future, too. Baker ain’t jumping off this cliff the owners created by leaving Bowles in charge without a parachute of some guaranteed money.
Remember, Licht is the one that built an OL with backup Guards as sturdy as a wet paper towel. Baker ain’t playing on a one year deal only to get injured.
June 21st, 2026 at 9:48 am
Football minds always say- look at the legs. How many times have the legs been under the knife. Regarding Mayfield, the answer is none. The guy could easily play top gun football another 6-8 years.
June 21st, 2026 at 9:52 am
Just rewatched the Atlanta game, 3rd and 28. Baker let Atlanta back in the game with a late pick. He than throws behind a wide open EE that would’ve been a first down that would’ve let the Bucs kill the clock. Bowles, and the defense rightfully took the flack, but Baker wasn’t clutch down the stretch. He’s being paid what he’s worth.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
As they should. He needs to prove himself this year, or he and the Toilet Bowl can flush themselves outta here…
Anyone who likes Baker but doesn’t look at it objectively is dumb. He’s a GOOD football player, not GREAT. He’s not some multiple Super Bowl-winning QB. He was chased out of two cities and has hopefully found the right scheme and personal fit.
He doesn’t deserve to be paid like an elite quarterback at all.
Could he be eventually? Maybe…Is he yet… NO NOT AT ALL!!!
June 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
As they should. He needs to prove himself this year, or he and the Toilet Bowl can flush themselves outta here…
Anyone who likes Baker but doesn’t look at it objectively is dumb. He’s a GOOD football player, not GREAT. He’s not some multiple Super Bowl-winning QB. He was chased out of two cities and has hopefully found the right scheme and personal fit.
He doesn’t deserve to be paid like an elite quarterback at all.
Could he be eventually? Maybe…Is he yet… NO NOT AT ALL!!!
June 21st, 2026 at 10:01 am
The excuses for Mayfield’s poor QB play down the stretch in 2026 are already being baked into the cake.
He’s making $40 million dollars after his worst display in his NFL career.
Will paying him $55-60 mil a year improve his decisions in big game moments?
If he wants to sit out, then trade him away for a bunch of picks.
We can go 8-9 or 7-10 with Browning, no problem. And way cheaper.
Then you can fire Bowles and bring in a real HC and a true DC.
Baker cares more about himself than the team around him. Complete bum.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:01 am
Hodad. Mayfield put us up 28-14 in the 4th quarter. Clutch as hell. Then Atlanta drove the length of the field for a TD. 28-20. Then our OC had us throwing the ball on Falcons end of the field. What? Of course the Falcons went 70 yards. 28-26. Of course they scored a field goal with 0 on the clock. Our defense sucked equally in games against the Patriots, Bills, and Rams. Philly scored 24 first half points but the special teams contributed 7 of those. Our defense was the worst in the league, stats don’t tell the whole story. But they don’t lie either.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:03 am
Hopefully Baker advises the Nerds that he’ll do a new deal for $40M if they show the HC/DC the door sooner rather than later.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:08 am
Team Glazer are pearl clutching 328ers. They would rather invest in a loser 328er than keep Evans and Mayfield because they know that the peeps will still watch them, write about them and buy $$ beers. Their pearls reflection is their profit margins.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:09 am
This idea that playing the year out (for $40 MILLION dollars!) without a contract in place for the following year – is somehow going to negatively effect Baker’s psyche and/or on-field play is really stupid.
There are legitimate questions about consistency with this QB based on his career and especially based on the 2nd half of the 2025 season which is fresh in the minds of the guys who write checks at OBP……
You can’t overpay an NFL QB just to keep him “happy”.
Bucs should hold the line at $50M per and if Baker thinks he’s worth more than that – OK, then prove it! Lead your team to 11 wins and a deep playoff run. Throw for 4000 yards and 9 Ints….
This whole anxiety about Baker’s contract thing is more a construction of the media than an actual issue….. It’ll get done – one way or another – sooner or later…..
June 21st, 2026 at 10:16 am
Pickgrin. Nice to know many people are sane, and you’re one of those many. Ira has touched on it in a few podcasts, saying he really doesn’t think it’ll affect Baker playing a lame duck year. People commenting that something will change about Baker’s or the teams performance hinging on a new contract have not got a clue about what motivates Baker. Or any great player, for that matter.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:17 am
Why prolong the inevitable?
June 21st, 2026 at 10:20 am
If 3rd and 28 and 4th and 14 had never happened and we had managed to squeeze into the playoffs only to get beat by the Rams in the first round, the demands for Bowles head on a platter and the incessant criticism of Baker Mayfield by his haters here would have remained in full force!
June 21st, 2026 at 10:22 am
I keep saying Baker is not the issue with this team. Last year he was injured and the O-line was injured and WR were injured left and right. The real problem is the defense and Baker over compensated by doing to much to make up for Bowles crap defense. Pay him so it’s not a distraction. If he plays extremely well it’s going to cost a hell of a lot more money.
June 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
I don’t want him to sign, waiting to see how the season goes will be exciting
June 21st, 2026 at 10:36 am
Use a 2nd rounder on Sorsby and this will get crazy
June 21st, 2026 at 10:45 am
Leave it to the bucs organization to let the best head coaching candidate leave the building, over pay and extend a guy with no business being a head coach, and insulting Baker with a low ball offer.
These owners are good at making bad moves
June 21st, 2026 at 10:49 am
Bucsfan81….Its unreal how many fans overlook how horrible our defense performs regularly. Half the time offenses are toying with us.
June 21st, 2026 at 11:25 am
Todd and Baker should both be gone after last season’s pathetic fiasco.
June 21st, 2026 at 11:37 am
Bake made like $45 Mil last season.
Bump him up to $50 Mil/season and be done with it, Bucs.
And definitely it done before the season starts.
June 21st, 2026 at 11:38 am
If Baker played as well last season as he did in 2024…he’d have more of a case.
I “heard” somewhere on the interwebs that Baker is asking for 65 mil per…Licht likely lofted out a # closer to 45 mil per.
This could get both interesting and ugly. It could also become a big distraction…with Buddha Bowles already on the hot seat/plate. Licht has a lifetime contract I believe as The Glazers are scared of him for some reason.
June 21st, 2026 at 11:39 am
It’s football!! Contract? No contract? It’s big business! Both sides want what they want! Will they compromise? We’ll see… Bring on September!!
June 21st, 2026 at 11:44 am
Bucs are paying Baker 33 mil this year. If Bucs franchise Baker next year that will be around 50 mil. So that is 83 mil for 2 years which is far less than they would spend on a new contract.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the future of Todd Bowles I believe that the Glazers will take a wait and see approach regarding Baker and Todd.
June 21st, 2026 at 11:45 am
I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of Bucs and NFL games since 1979 and would like the to know, since when has a qb ever, ever ever thrown a pass with his legs????
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, the most mobile and exciting qbs in the NFL have ever thrown one yet. Not even Brady the most Super Bowl winning qb ever one and of the least mobile ever has.
So I guess Mayfield has done this which makes him the best ever to play the game
THE EXCUSES BY THE MAYFIELD APOLOGISTS HAS FINALLY REACHED EPIC PROPORTIONS!!!!
Looking at the top 10 paid qbs in the NFL I cannot see where he belongs. In the $50 mil/year squad when his bad play is as bad as his great play is great.
Why should the Bucs pay a man who really has never done anything CONSISTENTLY great in his career a contract that will hamstring the Bucs for years to come???
The Glazers/Licht have already hamstrung us for the 2026 season by keeping Bowles please don’t give in to fear/of all the Baker panderers of losing a better than middling qb who will be injured for years before drafting a replacement or a better head coach !
June 21st, 2026 at 11:57 am
Im just f it at this point….4 years 52…if he wants more, let the year play out and see, and im one of Baker’s biggest fans.
But we need to take care of Big V first!!
June 21st, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Apparently Baker is seeking a long term contract with some money guaranteed
June 21st, 2026 at 12:32 pm
3.28.Evans…is…right…as…rain. If we should have as “pathetic fiasco” resembling in any manner last year’s “pathetic fiasco” this season- we will have either a new head coach and quarterback, or a new head coach, or a new quarterback. You can hope all you want, 3.28.Evans. Todd Bowles is about to have a great season. He’s due.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Oh and by the way you little worsheepers, stop using the term hater because not one us true BUC FAN up here before you who’s not enamored by your little idol hates his play without reason nor as a man. You were busy panting after him in Cleveland/Carolina/La to see to see what we’ve seen.
Our two previous qbs have shown us what great qb play and excruciating exciting and exhaustingl horrible qb play look like. One led us to our 2nd SB win and quite possibly our 3rd appearance/win if not for Bowles and the other led us to Brady. Mayfield is simply a better, smarter and more intelligent but less physically capable version of Jameiss Winston ATM. We’ve seen what that leads us to and we want what Mayfield cannot give us, consistent great qb play.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Oh and by the way you little worsheepers, stop using the term hater because not one us true BUC FAN up here before you who’s not enamored by your little idol hates his play without reason nor as a man. You were busy panting after him in Cleveland/Carolina/La to see to see what we’ve seen.
Our two previous qbs have shown us what great qb play and excruciating exciting and exhaustingl horrible qb play look like. One led us to our 2nd SB win and quite possibly our 3rd appearance/win if not for Bowles and the other led us to Brady. Mayfield is simply a better, smarter and more intelligent but less physically capable version of Jameiss Winston ATM. We’ve seen what that leads us to and we want what Mayfield cannot give us, consistent great qb play.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Oh and by the way you little worsheepers, stop using the term hater because not one us true BUC FAN up here before you who’s not enamored by your little idol hates his play without reason nor as a man. You were busy watching him in Cleveland/Carolina/La to see to see what we’ve seen.
Our two previous qbs have shown us what great qb play and excruciating exciting and exhaustingl horrible qb play look like. One led us to our 2nd SB win and quite possibly our 3rd appearance/win if not for Bowles and the other led us to Brady. Mayfield is simply a better, smarter and more intelligent but less physically capable version of Jameiss Winston ATM. We’ve seen what that leads us to and we want what Mayfield cannot give us, consistent great qb play.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Oh and by the way you little worsheepers, stop using the term h8er because not one us true BUC FAN up here before you who’s not enamored by your little idol hates his play without reason nor as a man. You were busy watching him in Cleveland/Carolina/La to see to see what we’ve seen.
Our two previous qbs have shown us what great qb play and excruciating exciting and exhaustingl horrible qb play look like. One led us to our 2nd SB win and quite possibly our 3rd appearance/win if not for Bowles and the other led us to Brady. Mayfield is simply a better, smarter and more intelligent but less physically capable version of Jameiss Winston ATM. We’ve seen what that leads us to and we want what Mayfield cannot give us, consistent great qb play.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Oh and by the way you Mayfield fans, stop using the term hater because not one us true BUC FAN up here before you who’s not enamored by your little idol hates his play without reason nor as a man. You were busy watching him in Cleveland/Carolina/La to see to see what we’ve seen.
Our two previous qbs have shown us what great qb play and excruciating exciting and exhaustingl horrible qb play look like. One led us to our 2nd SB win and quite possibly our 3rd appearance/win if not for Bowles and the other led us to Brady. Mayfield is simply a better, smarter and more intelligent but less physically capable version of Jameiss Winston ATM. We’ve seen what that leads us to and we want what Mayfield cannot give us, consistent great qb play.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Contracts expire on Baker, Mauch, Vea, Diaby, Ashawn R., Muhammad, Kieft, Rozeboom, Tucker, Dennis and Mclaughlin at end of season. How many of them do they intend to lose with no compensation? 25 to 35 mil in cap space gets eaten up with just the top 3 or 4 re-signings/extensions. Cuts, or hopefully, trades looming large. JL has to start being a GM instead of Oprah.
June 21st, 2026 at 12:51 pm
If it wasn’t for Mayfields inconsistent play everything could be laid at Bowles feet but it can’t
June 21st, 2026 at 12:54 pm
It would be funny if Baker never played injured ,,, He would probably have great stats , less INTs , make 55-60 a year, heck he might still be in Cleveland ,,, but at the same token Bucs probably wouldn’t have made playoffs most of those years! There was a time when playing hurt was admired and commended. Now guys get a hammy and they are out a month. Give Baker his 50/4/100 and call it. And sure the Bucs can do this year and Tag next year then Bake can sign anywhere for $$$$$$,,, Worked for Cousins (anyone remember he played for Skins?
June 21st, 2026 at 1:05 pm
3.28.Evans Says:
June 21st, 2026 at 11:25 am
Todd and Baker should both be gone after last season’s pathetic fiasco.
Your football knowledge is incredible.
You bring so much to the table here 🫏🤡
June 21st, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Both Mayfield and VEA want new contracts. The Bucs only have 8.6 million in cap space for 2026. The Bucs have 42 million in cap space for 2027. Add in 50 million for Baker in 2027 and the Bucs are over the cap space. Then add in the cost of resigning Vea.
Nobody has shown me how to sign these 2 players without going over the salary cap. If you have a specific plan on how to do it, please post a specific plan to do so.
The Bucs could free up cap space by trading Vea. Renegotiating contracts of other players could open up some cap in 2026 but reduce cap space in following years.
June 21st, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Since the contract meetings with Baker’s agent have hit the wall or even more, the Bucs, even though all have indicated they would like to sign Baker, have no intention of signing him. No matter what the GM or HC says about how they would like to keep Baker, remember, talk is cheap! If the intent is NO, could they trade Baker, paying part of his 2026 contract and help cap space. If so, trade him before start of trading camp! Tank the 2026 season and start the rebuilding process.