Tristan Wirfs Talks Baker Mayfield Contract Chase
June 20th, 2026
Yes, Bucs players are aware Baker Mayfield seeks to become the highest paid athlete in the history of Tampa Bay Sports.
Mayfield wants a fat bag for his three years of excellent service to the Buccaneers. That’s what franchise quarterbacks get.
Mayfield buddy and Bucs stud left tackle Tristan Wirfs was asked about the Mayfield contract chase during his chat with Aileen Hnatiuk of WFLA-TV.
Will it get to Baker? Will it affect his routines? Wirfs said the Bucs already had a full preview in 2023 — when Mayfield played on a one-year, prove-it contract.
“Even the first time around, it didn’t really affect him, like how he approached every day — how he interacted with any of us, how he went out to practice. It never affected him that way,” Wirfs said.
“But, yeah, I don’t know a ton about it. Obviously, I want him to be here for a long time. I want him to be my quarterback for a long time. So, I hope things work out for him and with the whole contract situation. But I know he’s still the same guy who’s coming in here day in and day out and leading us.”
Wirfs said he’s aware Mayfield set a contract-extension deadline of Day 1 of training camp, aka July 30. Per Wirfs, that is Mayfield’s way of telling teammates he’s all about them. “Hey, like when the season’s here, I’m all ball,” is how Wirfs described the Mayfield mentality.
Joe expects Mayfield to accept a Bucs offer this summer. The deadline, though, is a bit goofy. If Mayfield thinks contract chatter could distract him in early August, then what the hell is going to happen in December or January if Mayfield knows he’s got to perform because hundreds of millions are on the line?
June 20th, 2026 at 7:28 am
Excellent service? Joe is so worried Baker will be replaced with a new Mike Glennon the rose colored glasses are ignoring the team has accomplished nothing in his tenure. Won a terrible division. Beat a really bad Eagles team in a Wild Card game. Forget Raise the Flags – how about raise the standard?
June 20th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Just pay him.
June 20th, 2026 at 7:39 am
This is nothing new. Mike Evans did the same thing when he was negotiating his contract. He cut off talks when training camp started. That’s probably where Baker got the idea. Mike ended up coming back and so will Baker. But like Joe said, he better sign his current offer because he just might have another awful 2nd half of the season.
I really expect him to be better with our OLine in tact.
June 20th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Whatever. Contract talk bores me. Hard to comprehend for ham, and eggers the difference between making 44 million compared to 55 million. Cry me a river.
June 20th, 2026 at 8:01 am
Some people would accept an eternity of mediocrity and stagnation before taking a risk to achieve better. Losers think this way. Look at the entire Baker and Bowles era, what of significance has been accomplished? A playoff win 3 years ago against a team that lost 7 straight games?
Baker will have nowhere to hide this season. No excuses.
June 20th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Hodad. 55 million minus 44 million are 11 million. I’m a ham and egger, too, and I could cipher that easy enough.
June 20th, 2026 at 8:19 am
I’d like to see him sign before camp. Otherwise, it’s hard to keep 50 million off your mind. No distraction.
June 20th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Glazers stink..Bowles is still serving as HC and DC. Make it make sense (not cents).
June 20th, 2026 at 8:46 am
View from 132, how about you let the organization finish rebuilding before criticizing the outcome. I’ll take the 9-8 record and winning the division over 5-12 and a last place finish. Takes time to rebuild the 2021-2022 Super Bowl roster! We have one remaining player from that team.
June 20th, 2026 at 8:54 am
Yes Kenny, I can do math too. My point, I can’t fathom what difference between making 44, and 55 million a year! How much better off does it really make your life. Hard to feel sorry for poor Baker, and his family scraping by on a 100 million dollar contract, compared to whatever the hell he’s asking for.
June 20th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Joe … ‘If Mayfield thinks contract chatter could distract him in early August, then what the hell is going to happen in December or January if Mayfield knows he’s got to perform because hundreds of millions are on the line?’
You’re worse than I am when it comes to ‘WHAT IFs’ Joe. Every minute of every day is chock full of What Ifs. I’m sure that Ryan Jensen wasn’t thinking during that 28 July 2022 practice ‘What If I collide with Logan Hall and suffer a severe, career-ending knee injury’. Hey, life happens, and we deal with it.
Regardless of how negotiations turn out, I’m confident that Baker will give his best. HOW that plays out for Baker & for the Bucs this season is anyone’s guess right now.
June 20th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Baker knew in ’23 this was his last chance, or be relegated to Mason Rudolf status. He did ok. Lifetime, he’s 2-3 in the playoffs, has highest playoff passer rating of ANY active QB. I’d kinda like to see him wait until after the season, makes it more interesting
June 20th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Let his deadline pass. See if he’s true to his word and if he can lead his team to better than 9-8/ 8-9. Then make the best decision for the team.
As long as Mayfield keeps his Dad away from his account numbers, he’s not going to be on food stamps any time soon.
June 20th, 2026 at 9:59 am
No extension for Mr. 2-7
June 20th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Every season is different. Last year was riddled with injuries that disrupted the chemistry of players.
2026 starts with a healthier team, with hopefully players avoiding injuries in preseason games. If the Bucs stay relatively healthy, they are a legit playoff team.
Love to see how the naysayers put their spin on this. Their negativity will be hard to shed for them. I’d love for them to eat crow, which they will ungratefuly not do. Expect NEGATIVE EMBRACES NEGATIVE from these naysayers
June 20th, 2026 at 10:12 am
DefenseRules, you are spot on about life being full of “what ifs” and all folks can do is make a WAG about the outcome of the Bucs 2026 season! Correct about Baker too. He will leave it all on the field. Hopefully their will be more structure and discipline than there was in his 2025!
June 20th, 2026 at 10:24 am
11 million is what he wants to give his Dad for a exciting, can’t miss Cripto opportunity. I hear he’s getting in on the ground floor.
But seriously, I get that 11 million is a big per year difference. But if you can’t achieve generational wealth on 44 million a year after you already made over 100 million dollars you are not doing it right. Football is getting too much like our real society. I few individuals accumulating all the wealth to the detriment of the (society) team.
June 20th, 2026 at 10:39 am
People who say all he’s done is win a terriblr division… it’s his job. Do you expect him not to?
I just do not get this mindset.
It is a team sport. It isn’t just him. Even the picks that ended playoff run were not the sole reason we lost those. The defense kept letting those teams scare, so Mayfield took risks.
June 20th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Stanglassman. Saw something on the internet the other day said something like “in nature, if one monkey had a trillion bananas, the other monkeys would beat the shlt out of him and take his bananas”. I’d say that about sums it up.
June 20th, 2026 at 10:46 am
IDK what to think about Baker and his contract deadine but how about pics of Aileen instead of Wirfs.
June 20th, 2026 at 10:57 am
For all
You that forget pre tom Brady says. The standard is 3rd or 4th in the division with 6 wins top.
I think we need to reevaluate our “standard”
June 20th, 2026 at 11:00 am
I would not pay him he’s a accomplished nothing and I don’t see a Superbowl adding up from his abilities.
He just can’t read a defensive presnap and can’t make short immediate passes..he holds the ball to long and is always thinking about the scramble get away speed of a great running quarterback.
We saw last year how he plays banged up not good his poor play and of course our horrible defense cost us some games from so horrible teams when it mattered most
I don’t see his value and think next year we should target our rookie QB and build the future.
We have so many young weapons and a great online when healthy.
I think you save the QB money get the draft pick and use the rest of that money to make the defense great again and retain key players.
Baker at QB is like a roller coaster I don’t hate him but I’m not in love with his play style.
Mike Evans walked on him and Mike’s not walking on a great QB to go play with a scrub QB in San Fran if Baker is that guy.
Name any pass he has that’s unstoppable…I’ll wait..he’s short can’t see over the line.
He took a time brady lead and trained team and out up some good numbers the first 2 years … But looks like a lane duck when it matters he can’t win.
My vote it’s offer him 2 year contract option for a 3rd and it should count this year and next year… honestly I make him play this year and tag him if he plays good you’ll be paying less and you can get your rookie QB if he plays like he did last year.
June 20th, 2026 at 11:17 am
December and January won’t matter. If he’s balling out he’ll just see more dollar signs and keep raking in the money. If he’s playing like sh!t well that’ll be the end.
I think they get a deal done, the players like Baker and he’s definitely above average and has the ability to be elite. Consistency is his issue, moneys not really in the NFL so a $50 mil contract this year is a $70 mil in 2-3 years.
Also, what does resigning him due when guys like , Goedeke etc. are up for an extension or option to hit free agency. If they’re that good of buddy’s they’re more likely to stay
June 20th, 2026 at 11:39 am
Baker and VV contract situations are getting dicier…
Tennessee topping off Jeffrey Simmons with an exorbitant deal won’t help calm things down…that’s for sure. YaYa over VV; Baker betting on himself so far.
June 20th, 2026 at 11:59 am
I love the people on here talking about Baker’s lack of accomplishments while he has been in Tampa.. I just want to remind all you selective memory people that Tom Brady lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs the last year he was in Tampa.. Baker came on to that same team and had similar, if not slightly better, results and managed 2 Pro Bowls..
And until virtually every top player on the roster was standing on the sidelines in street clothes last year, Baker was considered MVP!
– Defensive HC
– 3 Different OCs in 3 Years
– Terrible OC Last Year
– Terrible Defense
– Offense Riddled with Injuries
– Baker gets injured trying to carry the Team
– HC allows him to play injured
Then blame Baker for the team falling off at the end of the season.
I think Tampa would be absolutely foolish not to make sure Baker gets a new contract.. However, if he doesn’t, he will have NO trouble finding a team to pay him..
Tampa fans may think Franchise QBs grow on trees.. But I guarantee you, NFL teams who don’t have one, know they don’t!
June 20th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Lets work on Big V first….Need that D first….”3rd and 28″
then we’ll get to Baker
June 20th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Pay Baker what he wants. He certainly deserves it!
June 20th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Here’s a silly Saturday take that’s straight outta fantasy Madden:
Trade VV & Baker and a 1st to Baltimore for Lamar Jackson. Talk about an exciting change up!
* I know it would never happen…off season football fodder.
June 20th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
@ bucnjim Says: “how about you let the organization finish rebuilding before criticizing the outcome. I’ll take the 9-8 record and winning the division over 5-12 and a last place finish. Takes time to rebuild the 2021-2022 Super Bowl roster! We have one remaining player from that team.”
Status quo excuse maker guy. It doesn’t take 4-YEARS to “rebuild” ANYTHING in the modern day NFL. And, tell me HOW paying and investing $50+MIL PER Season LONGTERM, in an aging, beat up and banged up, middle of the road, inconsistent QUARTERBACK (who would NOT even be a fit to YOUR OWN supposed “rebuild” timeline). I’ll take 5-12, if that means a TRUE REBUILD, with a young modern day ‘offensive’ play-caller HC, and a young, slick, sharp, and ‘aggressive’ GM. I’ll take MOVING all this dead weight, for 2027 (and 2028) draft capital, AND clearing as MUCH Cap Space as humanly POSSIBLE. And, then get this thing BACK to moving in the RIGHT direction again!!!! You can get real good in A HURRY, under the right leadership. But, NOT (obviously) with this current bunch that we have now. So, I’m not afraid of being 5-12, at ALL. I welcome it, because I see-it as an OPPORTUNITY. Cause, we are no better NOW. It’s ALL just a bunch of Smoke & Mirrors,” that you’ve fallen for. Bought-it. Hook. Line. And SINKER. Bad Teams don’t waste $50+MIL on QB’s. IF they do, then they’re going to STAY BAD.
June 20th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
@ Kenton Smith Says: “Stanglassman. Saw something on the internet the other day said something like “in nature, if one monkey had a trillion bananas, the other monkeys would beat the shlt out of him and take his bananas”. I’d say that about sums it up.”
And, I would say, that the ‘tens of thousands’ of SMART monkeys, all became MILLIONAIRES themselves, and then went on to create MANY other great things to benefit society, BECAUSE of HIM. The rest of monkeys, who made poor decisions, were all jealous (& etc.), and therefore became total LOSERS. While, the TOP monkey, along with the rest of the SMART monkeys, developed life saving technologies, and saved the world.
June 20th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
@ Truestorybucaneers Says: “next year we should target our rookie QB and build the future. I think you save the QB money get the draft pick and use the rest of that money to make the defense great again and retain key players”
I agree with most that you say, but NOT on drafting a QB in the 1st-Round, during year number one, of a total, complete rebuild. Because, you’re only WASTING the most important aspect of drafting a 1st-Round Quarterback. And, that is his ‘ROOKIE’ Contract. And, it always RUINS THEM playing on a bad team, and usually with a bad O-Line. The much better move is to sign a veteran “Bridge” on the CHEAP, and continue building the ROSTER FIRST. Then, DRAFT your QB, so that you can take FULL ADVANTAGE of having ALL 5-YEARS LEFT of his ‘rookie’ deal. Which, will coincide with the right ‘timeline’ when it is time that you have to sign/extend all your other young STARS on the roster and through Free Agency. THEN, you are OFF to the races with a TRUE ‘Championship’ Window, & a long sustained run at being TRUE Contenders. Of course, most all of this completely goes out the window though, IF you have a chance to DRAFT a ‘generational’ type of talent at the QB position… In that case, you more than likely, CANNOT afford to pass that up. But, that’s the only “IF” (if he’s generational).
June 20th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Another thing, the very last thing you would want to do is to REACH for a Quarterback in THIS ‘all-time’ LOADED 2027 Draft-Class. There are just waaaayyy too many ELITE STUD’s, that will available at other ‘HIGH’ value positions, all up and down THIS DRAFT. It’s a great QB-class, BUT I’m not sure that Mendoza STILL wouldn’t have been the #1-PICK. Obviously, he still would’ve been THIS year, but I’m saying had HE decided to stay in school. We’ll see about Manning… Of course, Sorsby will not be in there… I’m not SOLD on Moore OR Sayin, either one. So, “Jeremiah FREAKING SMITH,” is MY GUY!!!! Now, HE is can’t miss… Generational. I’d take him paired with his ex OSU teammate EE, and JMac (would’ve been REAL NICE having Jeremiyah Love with that group)… They’d make A LOT of QB’s look pretty damn good. I really like Cam Coleman, too!!!! He is SUCH a FREAK. It will be very interesting to see how he looks this season playing alongside of Wingo, & with Manning as their QB. Coleman reminds me of a much more ‘athletic’ Mike Evans. Jump balls to HIM are more like 80/20-90/10, versus being just 50/50. I want see him get TURNED LOOSE this season. God. I can’t WAIT for College Football… This is the part of the year, where I really start getting a little jittery and antsy! High School is only about 6-WEEKS or so away, & I’m already looking for team’s schedules (especially locally), to see who’s playing who, and what kind of matchups are we going to get!!!! SHEW.
June 20th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Take 53 million over 4 years and be done with it.
Good teams are not hindered by that even if it goes bad. Denver Broncos being exhibit A.
June 20th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Tristan got paid already and knows how the business works, lol he can want all he wants but it’s not a guarantee until the ink hits the paper.
We’re not even at that point yet.
Baker came out and said we aren’t close.
The team, via the local media let it be know they have concerns.
The wool some of you are pulling over your own eyes is that Baker is bad when he’s injured, but in reality he’s average at full strength.
It’s like signing a treaty in peace treaty in Versailles in 2026, and being totally out of the loop in realizing the historic significance of doing so