Baker Mayfield Tees Off; Says Bucs Are Not Respecting His Value
July 30th, 2026
The Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback is not happy with the Bucs’ front office and/or ownership.
Baker Mayfield held his first training camp news conference of the summer and about 9 out of the 10 minutes was about how he is unhappy the Bucs didn’t show him what he believes is a decent contract extension.
The darts were sharp, though Mayfield insists he and his family love Tampa and want to be here indefinitely. Mayfield also expressed his gratitude for the Bucs giving him a chance to lead the team.
“I wanted a deal done and I set the deadline [for the start of training camp] and told them it was going to be all ball after that. And I did mean that,” Mayfield said. “I don’t know if they thought I was just going to take some of the offers that they gave. But I’m at the point in my career and understanding what I’ve brought to this franchise.”
Mayfield said he’s delivered the Bucs some of the best years of his career “and it’s only going to trend upwards” because he feels so comfortable on the team.
“So disappointing in that regard, you know, to feel disrespected a little bit. That’s really been the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it,” Mayfield continued.
“This is not a ‘poor me’ thing; there’s a lot of other people that have it way worse off. But I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and [contract] years and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories that I deserve to be compensated. And I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback. It’s been said publicly from ownership down here. And so, to not have a deal done is very disappointing.
“But I said the deadline was the deadline. I addressed the team to let them know I meant that. It’s all ball. I’m with these guys. I think all the guys that have been here no exactly who I am. The guys that are new here I wanted to address that, because they might have had a notion prior to coming here about who I am as a person. But it’s all team. It’s all about winning here now and what we’re going to do.”
Powerful stuff from Mayfield.
Joe will have more coming this morning.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Glad I didn’t renew my season tickets this year.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:25 am
I’ve been saying this for a while. Baker is more about emotion and respect than money for its own sake. I hope the Bucs have a contingency plan to replace him if/when he balls out this season.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Reality Check — Let’s Stop Pretending Version
#1: Pro football teams that have a quarterback have LOTS of problems. Teams that don’t have a quarterback have ONE problem.
#2: ON AVERAGE NFL teams spend about 40% of their cap on defense and about 55% on offense. The draft can distort the numbers of a particular team over a couple of years but the aggregate league averages stay pretty consistent.
#3. There are two workable approaches to the QB position. A few lucky teams have Top-5 talent, like the Bills, the Chiefs and a couple more; those teams prioritize offensive talent while aiming for a competitive defense. Others successful teams are built around Top 15 talent with those teams emphasizing defensive talent along with an adequate offense.
#4. Super Bowl winners lean towards the Superstar QBs. BUT MOST SB LOSERS HAD TOP 15 TALENT. In other words having an above average QB and then stacking the defense (especially the front-7) is the most reliable strategy for building a contender. And, having a stout defense is especially attractive to older free agent Superstar QBs.
CONCLUSIONS
Baker has not proven himself to be Top-5 but is well within the Top-15. So, the Bucs have a QB. The Bucs have starved their defense for the past five years. This is somewhat due to bad luck and bad drafting but MOSTLY due to a concentration on the offense. The best strategy going forward is to re-sign Mayfield and then to draft or trade for superior defensive talent. Letting Baker go would mean that the Bucs would have one enormous problem and would kick them out of joining the ranks of current contenders. Spending lots of resources on offense might possibly win some regular season games but would doom the team in the playoffs. One exception is Mauch: it does no good to get rid of top young talent so we have to bite the bullet and spend some of the 55% on him.
Vita Vea is a big headache right now. But he is not an answer in the long term, and the Bucs are not a serious contender this year. Lightning could strike, but that’s not how you bet. Licht has already rebuilt a bigger, stronger d-line so trading him for defensive talent or for draft capital is the way to go.
Prove me wrong.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:26 am
I personally love it. Don’t give him a contract. He will go all put this year wanting that big pay day. Then if he does we pay the man. I still would franchise him next year and if he balls put 2 straight years give him a 3 year 165 ish deal. If he doesn’t then we draft our future qb
. I think we need to draft a qb next year regardless. We don’t have a backup and never really have had one in this franchises history. Some will argue Fitz was but he was a glorified journeyman. Nothing special but serviceable.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:26 am
“…you know, to feel disrespected” Yikes! That is huge. Not sure how that bridge gets repaired. Money might not do it.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Having a franchise tag isn’t the same as realistically being able to use it if the leader of your team decides he’s done with you.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Is it me or are the Glazers kind of going “Hugh Culverhouse” as far as giving the vibe they do not want to pay top dollar for talent. Then again, maybe the Glazers are not going all in because of the age factor with Vea and doubts if Baker can stay healthy. Worst thing that can happen is if this meandering by Licht and the Glazers turns Tampa into Pittsburgh South, a perennial mediocre team that ia always bound between 8 to 10 wins and usually picking in the teens every draft. Maybe the Glazers are okay with a 9 win season and a home playoff loss. It seems they set expectations low when they retained Todd. Go Bucs.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:36 am
Baker should ask to be traded. Bucs are sooo lacking at QB behind him that Baker would have the leverage for a quick deal to his liking.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:36 am
I’d just trade Mayfield now. They have no intentions of keeping him. They want to go scorched earth and have a roster full of ‘yungry’, inexpensive players. Go ahead and trade him. Doesn’t matter the return because the value, for the Glazers, is starting Browning and winning 3 games – lines up the #1 pick.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Baker should ask to be traded. Bucs are sooooo lacking at QB behind him that Baker would have the leverage for a quick deal to his liking.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:43 am
This season is already a train wreck.
And it started right after last season when the decision was made to retain Bowles.
SMH.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:45 am
“take some of the offers that they gave”. That would be plural. These cheap fools must have really lowballed Baker from the git go.
No wonder Tampa has been (besides the gifted Brady years) the biggest joke and losingest franchise in the history of the league.
Someone should tell the Glazers and Licht that football fans the world over know who Baker Mayfield is.
And that hardly a football fan the world over have a clue who they are. The truth hurts some, but that’s the truth. Not a thing in the world the owners can do to change that.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Sounds like a possible total rebuild next year. Coaching and GM are gone unless they go far in the playoffs. Baker and Vea are expendable if this season goes down the tubes.
The big problem is that the Bucs can not develop QB’s and have no one to replace Baker when he leaves. Think the Bucs are playing a dangerous game with Baker and Vea.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:46 am
I’ve been in Mayfields corner since day 1 .. Its not like he’s hurting for money ! He’s under contract this year ,it should be ” all ball ” anyway!! Running that mouth is exactly what’s not needed! It’s time for the rookie Daniel’s to take 1st team reps ! The Evans Express is waiting for all the spoiled brats!
July 30th, 2026 at 11:48 am
Licht would do well to make some type of statement.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:48 am
Weeping, moaning, and gnashing of teeth
July 30th, 2026 at 11:50 am
Perhaps a burr under his saddle is exactly what Baker needs to push not just him but the Bucs closer to that next level! Oh, the subjective haters are sharping their long words to make hash of what he said, but if he keeps the mantra and is successful, this will be his last season with the Bucs!
July 30th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Yes now that you mention it , I was thinking boy this reminds me of the infamous Doug Williams issue, meaning money not racism. Once again the Bucs have a top tier QB but don’t want to pay. I think the Glazers should watch their own 50 year production and remind them what happens when you let a top tier qb leave. The Bucs were never very good for a long ,long time. Again shame on the Glazers.
Unfortunately I did renew my season tickets I wished I had not. Maybe I will try and sell them. Presently I don’t feel very good about these owners!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Yes now that you mention it , I was thinking boy this reminds me of the infamous Doug Williams issue, meaning money not racism. Once again the Bucs have a top tier QB but don’t want to pay. I think the Glazers should watch their own 50 year production and remind them what happens when you let a top tier qb leave.Again shame on the Glazers.
Unfortunately I did renew my season tickets I wished I had not. Maybe I will try and sell them. Presently I don’t feel very good about these owners!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Steve V. Maybe running that mouth is exactly what is needed. I’ll let Baker make his decision on that, sorry.
Somebody around here needs to lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.
That won’t be a problem for Baker. And it’s refreshing to see.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Some interesting info in that quote from Baker-he says ” I don’t know if they thought I was just going to take some of the offers(plural)they made”. So we now know the Bucs made more than one offer.
I believe Bucs offered about 50 mil per and if Bake thinks he is worth well more than that he is sadly mistaken. Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert make between 50-52 mil per and Personally I would take any of those three above Baker.
July 30th, 2026 at 11:55 am
#6, is all talk, I thought that you got paid to Ball Out, all of the time???? You are under contract aren’t you….: this Netflix special is going to your head. Please leave, we don’t need you, as much as you think……
July 30th, 2026 at 11:57 am
For the folks pounding their chest and jumping on the soap box about the Bucs not needing Bakers – going to be really interesting to see how the tune changes when the Bucs try yet again to draft a ‘franchise’ QB in the first round. Testaverde. Dilfer. Freeman. Jameis. Maybe the 5th time is the charm?
July 30th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
He’s been emboldened by all the ‘national’ idiots, who do not even follow the BUCS and don’t even know about the Bucs already OFFERING HIM. And, Baker is only listening to the little ‘bits and pieces’ that HE WANTS TO HEAR. I’m assuming that he didn’t hear the part where J-Mac (of the Herd fame) said all in one BIG BREATH, for the BUCS to “pay the man his money,” but then immediately proceeds with… “Now, I’m not saying that HE is work Dak-Money or anything like that, OR that he’s even worth $50-MIL, but he’s probably worth $45-MIL, right!?” “Again Bucs, PAY THE MAN HIS MONEY!” Lmao GTFO Dude, you don’t even know what you’re TALKING ABOUT. Cause, GUARANTEED… The Bucs already have OFFERED HIM THE “45-MIL,” or at the very least, right at that amount. 💯 NOT a single one of THEM (if it was THEIR TEAM under the exact same circumstances, would be just so willy-nilly about “PAYING HIM” exactly what HE WANTS, and LONGTERM) 💯. So, let’s just hear what THEIR ‘numbers’ (money and years) LOOKS LIKE!? Everything they’re saying, is all EMPTY.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Mac Says: (paraphrase) The Bucs have never really have had a back-up QB in franchise history.
_________________
A Young up and comer backed up Steve DeBerg in 1985. If memory serves, he was pretty good. Wish I could remember his name, though. …but your point is taken. It’s definitely been a very long time since we had a viable back-up. Your FitzMagic/journeyman point is legitimate. Less a back-up and more of a plug-and-play guy for like 16 teams.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
This is self-inflicted INSANITY.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
The Bucs should feel RELIEVED. Baker should put his money where his mouth is and either put up or SHUT TF UP, and tell everyone what the Bucs offered then!? If not, then the BUCS should just get it over with, and LEAK-IT THEMSELVES. 💯
July 30th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
“But I’m at the point in my career and understanding what I’ve brought to this franchise.”
One playoff win in 4 years loser! Is this your leader? This is the team first guy? Omg…17 more games of this pathetic excuse of a QB. Only helped win 2 games out of nine to miss the playoffs after the bye and he’s being disrespected. What a joke.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Mayfield … “So disappointing in that regard, you know, to feel disrespected a little bit. That’s really been the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it.”
Personally glad that Baker said what he said, but the result is the same whether he said it or not. Baker is Baker, and he’ll give 110% throughout the season. And if we end up franchise-tagging him for 2027, he’ll still give 110% (I seriously doubt the Bucs will go that route however, since they can’t defray the franchise tag costs to future years).
All this strikes me as ‘just posturing’. Baker took to the airwaves; Bucs’ management went silent.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Feeling undervalued when the team ABSOLUTELY $ hit the bed, and you were throwing picks in the 4th??? whole lot of value in that smh didn’t think he was a Diva but now I am not so sure.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
FortMyersDave:
Now that you mentioned Culverhouse, I’m definitely getting late-stage Culverhouse vibes lately and not just when it comes to the team itself, but also some of the comparatively cheap things the Glazers have cut over the past few years.
Visible examples if you’ve been paying attention:
1. Did you notice that the cheerleading squad was cut by 25% over the past couple of years? It used to be four teams, now it’s three. And it’s not like they kept the same number of people and just make four teams into three larger ones, either. They cut people.
2. Have you noticed that the large sideline flags between the 100-200 levels disappeared over the past couple of years? Those flags are cheap to have made if you own an NFL franchise and the people waving them are volunteers — they don’t pay them a penny.
Side note/added context (not visible): I talked to one of them last year. The volunteers used to get merchandise vouchers for every game they worked (it wasn’t many — like 20 bucks’ worth per game or something). The guy was bummed because that was how he was paying for his Bucs gear and the Glazers cut the vouchers. Instead, they were giving them food vouchers that didn’t even cover a full meal — they had to come out of pocket for some of it. At the time, I was thinking “you’re getting to watch an NFL game for free, suck it up” but in context of your Culverhouse reference, some “Mr. C” penny pinching might actually be happening there.
Just two examples that came to mind due to the Culverhouse reference…
July 30th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
When the Bucs had Tom Brady they were all in paying veterans players like Gronk and other stars. But they apparently not willing to pay Baker or Vita top tier money. If it plays out that way the Glazers will be giving players and fans alike the middle finger. Hopefully this is not the case. We will find out in the coming months where the Glazers truly stand.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
“Disrespected” may just be the most overused and trite word in sports today. Yawn. I feel disrespected as a lifetime fan that Baker is not going to take what was offered. Mayfield, don’t you disrespect me by not taking an incentive based contract so that we don’t owe you for the overthrows and picks! I mean, we’ll pay for TDs and first downs, but it’s downright disrespectful to expect to paid for picks! Getting me worked up here man! Whatever.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
That doesn’t sound good at all.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
The Bucs kept pumping me to buy season tix. I said I need to see what happens since they didn’t fire Bowles.
Boy, I’m glad.
I’m back to my Raheem Morris boycott. No tix, no merchandise until they fix this.
I hope the stadium is empty and the unbought hot dogs hit the team right where it deserves.
Why should the fans invest in the team when the team won’t invest in the players???
July 30th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
bucs are basically caught with their pants down in complete embarrassment. you let him walk you pay 30 million in dead cap. when you had 40 total cap space next season. you could have signed him to 50 a year for 4 years and it would have looked like 20 million next season compared to the alternative since you are out the 30 million either way. yeah maybe the 2nd year at 50 is in the upper end of payment but that year 4 50 million is cheap.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Think he’s disappointed?! 😂
How many times did he redundantly use that word in a short span of time.
Baker is usually about coming across as pretty unflappable, unfazed and in control at his PC’s – even in more tense exchanges – and he’s trying to here, but you can tell he’s bothered by it a bit. No matter what words are used to say otherwise, this was apparent.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Obviously he forgets where he came from amd that aside from the Coen year, he’s been a middle of the pack QB.
Add on the wear & tear on his body due to his reckless style, his 30’s will be rougher than he thinks.
Play off the season, take a ’27 tag if its offered but, above all, keep your mouth shut!
July 30th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
For those who say “Just let Baker walk and draft a QB of the future to get back to a SB.” Like every QB drafted turns into gold. How about we look at the 2018 draft that Baker was in. Given this class has won 3 MVPs of the 8 years since the draft and 1 SB winner, I would call that a pretty good class.
#1 – Baker who you want to get rid of.
#2 – Darnold, who won a SB last year. Like it was all him and not the #1 ranked D in the league. Compare Baker’s 2024 to Darnold’s 2025 SB season. Now Baker did attempt more passes than Darnold so he had more yards, TDs etc. I equalized the numbers for a more accurate comparison with % where appropriate.
Completion % – Baker 71.4%, Darnold 67.7%: Advantage Baker.
Yards per Attempt – Baker 7.9, Darnold 8.5: Advantage Darnold.
TDs/Att – Baker 7.19%, Darnold 5.24%: Advantage Baker.
INTs/Att – Baker 3.93%, Darnold 4.33%: Advantage Baker.
TDs/INTs – Baker 2.56, Darnold 1.79: Advantage Baker.
Rating – Baker 106.8, Darnold 99.1: Advantage Baker.
QBR – Baker 58.4, Darnold 55.6: Advantage Baker.
Rushing numbers are similar. Baker had more attempts so I equalized with % for comparison where appropriate.
Rushing Yards/Att – Baker 6.3, Darnold 2.7: Advantage Baker.
Rushing TDs/Att – Baker 5.00%, Darnold ZERO: Advantage Baker
Rushing First Downs/Att – Baker 40.00%, Darnold 28.57%: Advantage Baker
Both lost 1 fumble.
By any objective measure, Baker was a far superior QB in 2024 than Darnold was in 2025. But Darnold was on a better TEAM!
Continuing on with the 2018 draft.
#7 – Allen, MVP, but still no SB win, or SB appearance.
#9 – Rosen, he is available now and would be very cheap!
#32 – Jackson, multiple MVPs, but still no SB win, or SB appearance.
No QB in round 2. 3rd round, just Mason Rudolph. No QB in round 4. Round 5 just Mike White. Round 6 had Luke Faulk and Tanner Lee. In round 7 there were three QBs taken and I have never heard their names before.
I am not saying that the two first-round MVP QBs aren’t better than Baker. I am saying that does not guarantee a SB win, as neither has even appeared in a SB. So just drafting the next QB is easy to say and hard to execute. And do you trust JL to (a) find the right guy and (b) build a championship team around him?
July 30th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
LEADERS DONT HAVE THIS ME 1ST ATTITUDE
Baker is cooking up to be a cancer!!!!!
PAY VITA!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Bucs felt disrespected when he went 2-7 lol
GO BUCS!!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
813bucboi,
Did you just say, “LEADERS DONT HAVE THIS ME 1ST ATTITUDE” and “Baker is cooking up to be a cancer!!!!” (Holy capitalization and exclamations turbo)
….yet then say “PAY VITA!!!!”
Who was a team captain/leader last season too and who also has one year left in his current contract? But is actually not practicing with his team and asking to be traded, unlike Baker who’s with the team and not holding out/in?!?
😂🤦♂️😂
July 30th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
If contract talks were over when training began, why did you spend your entire press conference talking about the contract. The correct response would have been, Its training camp and I’m focused on football, not contract talks. So despite what you said earlier, your mind is still on contracts.
July 30th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Disrespected means 100% gone. Likely Rams to replace a retiring Stafford. Then we get to watch another ex-Buc QB win a Super Bowl: Williams, Young, Dilfer.
July 30th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
“But I’m at the point in my career and understanding what I’ve brought to this franchise.”
Not trying to sound like a d–k, but what exactly has he brought to the table? 1 playoff win?
July 30th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Good, let him play angry.
July 30th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
I love the honesty here. I would feel the same way in his shoes.
It sounds like the Bucs really tried to low ball him. It seems that the team is definitely take a wait and see approach with this entire team and season. If things go well, many new contracts will flow in 2027. If it does not, there will be a rebuild, not a reload.
I thought heading into the offseason that an average deal of $55 million per year was the right number. Now it is the starting point based on what he will get under the franchise tag for 2027 and 2028 should the Bucs exercise it.
Light misread the deadline. The Glazers misread the financial committment.
July 30th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
BucsFanNJ
Don’t forget the Bucs GOAT QB, Doug!
July 30th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
bucsfan951. “what exactly has he brought to the franchise”?
How about more respect among the league than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ever had.
Average national fans know what happened in the Brady years. Brady punked this team for every one of his desires. Disgusting and Bucs fans who enjoy the feeling it brought them are pitiful. My opinion.
Sit back and enjoy this season. Tampa won’t have Mayfield next year. Somebody will though. I promise.
July 30th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
My win total prediction just went down from 8 games to maybe 5 or 6 games. To many disgruntled pissed off players on this team with there contract situations and Bowles sucks as a coach and leader. The house is pretty much already on fire from how the end of last season went. It is just a matter of time before it all burns to the ground.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
I’m a baker fan but after 3 seasons baker has not bin consistent. Even his 2024 season his best one yet we saw inconsistency. Then the melt down last year which hey it wasn’t just baker it was everyone but he’s the QB. Don’t have those type of games and you would have your contract end of story. Glazers and licht would be a fool if they gave him a big extension and he shat the bed again with the whole team. If he has another year like 24 then yea maybe extend him but I wouldn’t till the end of the season. Same with vea. Bucs are at a tipping point vea isn’t the same as he was a few years ago and he won’t be ever again Father Time has never lost. Only hand out contracts to young core players on the rise for either the coach now or new coach next year. Plain and simple.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
This convinces me even more that last years collapse has a huge front office component. It looks to me like most of the things we have been seeing that we dislike are font office related. All the drama will trickle into the locker room and affect some fans loyalty. The fan support is already below average. This front office is loyal to no one including the fans. They are the cause.of milk toast support. Our trajectory is headed in the wrong direction.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Not a good look
Vita has a hurt back which is why he’s not practicing lol
vita didnt come out and say the bucs disrespected him..baker did…the same team that gave him a chance when no other team would
baker is full of himself…glad the bucs are humbling him
GO BUCS!!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
July 30th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
bucsfan951. “what exactly has he brought to the franchise”?
How about more respect among the league than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ever had.
*********************************************************
you call 1 playoff win 3years ago respect? 🤣🤣🤣👌
baker will be holding a clipboard next year if he doesnt WIN!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 30th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Baker came in here right after Tom Brady, led the team to the playoffs and nearly made it to the NFC Championship game. He followed that up with a 41 TD season, 2nd best to none other than the GOAT, while completing 71% of his passes. Last season he was in the MVP conversation until the entire team fell off.
On the flip side, Bowles may be gone at the end of the year and if that’s the case, the next coach may want his own QB.
July 30th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
What he said isn’t that bad. He’s just being honest but I don’t think he was going off on the franchise. He’s trying to put pressure on.
July 30th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Baker is an undersized quarterback, who is prone to injury. He’s right, he’s been fun to watch. Tampa Bay welcomed him with open arms and really likes him. I think he likes it here as well.
But the facts are the facts. The problem is that he has one playoff win and he is just not a phenomenal quarterback. He’s a very good quarterback.
I agree with Jason White and I believe the Glazers are correct also. We do not want to be stuck with him forever. He was a great bridge after Brady, but that’s it. This year won’t be any different.
I believe that JASON and company already have their replacement quarterback lined up. I agree with the writer above that they are not going to bring this guy back.