Jason Licht Labeled A Face-To-Face Contract Guru
July 27th, 2026
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
One NFL insider who did not hold hands with the Patriots head coach was talking about the Baker Mayfield contract extension negotiations today.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the pride of Seminole High School just west of Tampa, was almost regular at One Buc Palace and at Bucs games during the Tom Brady years.
Darlington had an in with the Brady camp and had the attention of the Bucs’ movers and shakers.
Today, prior to the news that defensive tackle Vita Vea wants to be traded from Tampa Bay, Darlington was on NFL Live talking about how Licht isn’t the typical general manager and his ways could seduce Mayfield.
“There’s some nuance in play here that makes this [Mayfield negotiation] especially interesting,” Darlington said. “Jason Licht, the general manager of the Bucs, is one of the few GMs in the NFL who’s really good at getting deals done in person. I think this is a little bit of behind-the-scenes type of stuff. He’s one of these like authentic guys. When he gets the room with a player, he can really show him what he means to the organization and how he’s going to fit, with the money obviously being critical.”
Obviously, Licht didn’t have that magic touch with Vea, at least not yet. But will he with Mayfield?
Joe thinks the somewhat mysterious ways of Team Glazer play in Licht’s favor. It’s safe to say Mayfield isn’t pounding beers with Team Glazer, hitting golf balls with them and sharing Morgan Wallen tracks. They’re not those kinds of owners. Notice Team Glazer in Quarterback on Netflix? Joe didn’t.
So Licht is well positioned, Joe believes, to shower endless love on Mayfield in person and make ownership the bad guys when it comes to however many millions the Bucs and Mayfield’s camp are apart with his extension.
Licht can play all kinds of mind games with Mayfield as it relates to pleading with Team Glazer for more money in Mayfield’s proposed contract. “Let’s talk again tomorrow, Bake. I’ve got a call tonight with Team Glazer and I have a new angle to squeeze another $10 million guaranteed.”
It could all be a BS setup, but Licht is primed for winning a game of good-cop/bad-cop with Mayfield. In person, with cold beer and his agent on FaceTime.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:35 pm
What’s he going to do? Play AC /DC? Jump in his pool with a a suit on again? The smoldering dumpster fire from last January is going to start burning visibly again really soon. Welcome back everyone.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Same deal with Vea. Heard him earlier today. The man wants to stay.
July 27th, 2026 at 9:49 pm
18 million dollars!? I’d be set for life if I played just one year for that amount. It is staggering how elitist these guys have become.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
The conspiracy theorist in me says the Glazers have gone back to being cheap, and the documentary was a weak attempt to placate the fans as they’re moving into the cheap phase.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Last Tuesday this Okie flew into Seattle and with my better half we bought a new hybrid car and drove it back to NE Ok. We made 4 National Parks, a day with family in Colorado golfing, and got home Saturday night in time for me to sit with my best buddy- scheduled for a hospice house this week- for a few hours. Got to StLouis last night and had my grandson for the day at his baseball camp. Friday I’ll head home and pick up the wife and we’ll trek east, some golf, and family in Freeport, Florida. Tom passed on an hour ago. He was at peace. What a life. A Marine Corps veteran from Viet Nam. We rode our motorcycles together, and helped each other and many others through the years. I’m gonna miss my good friend. Life’s for the living, that’s very true. All I can hope for my favorite team is just what I would hope from my family and loved ones. Are they good people and good friends to each other. I think Jason Licht is good people. And our coach and our players. Let’s get behind this football team. Football isn’t the most important thing in life, but it can bring joy. Especially if we let it.
July 27th, 2026 at 10:24 pm
The snake oil salesmanship doesn’t fix the cap mismanagement. Lichts blown all the money overpaying mediocrity. The contract guru went Vegas. Licht has dug a hole he can’t get out of without cutting some fan favorite quality players. He’s not fooling Baker with flattery after beating down his price dogging him for last year’s performance. He already drove off white, Dean and Evans, now Vea wants out and he’s screwing with Baker’s head. Whatever goodwill was gained from the SB magic is gone. It will be a miracle if he wiggles his way out of this disaster about to unfold.