Jason Licht Talks “Strong Offer” To Baker Mayfield
August 6th, 2026
At a news conference late this morning, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht said he wasn’t talking about the Bucs’ contract-extension offer to Baker Mayfield.
Licht loosened up on that later in the afternoon.
He hopped on WDAE radio (where you can hear The JoeBucsFan Show on Saturday at 11 a.m.) and referenced the Mayfield offer.
“We do not expect every player or every agent to be on the same plane and agree with offers and things like that,” Licht said. “But we felt on our end it was a strong offer that represented a franchise quarterback. We do feel that he is a franchise quarterback.
“These things over time tend to work out. We’ll get to it when that time comes. But in the meantime, our feelings for him haven’t changed. I mean, he’s meant a lot to us. He’s entitled to his feelings. I respect that. But I can honestly say we’ve always tried to deal with players professionally and honestly and in good faith, and we’ll continue to do that in this case.”
Licht added, “there’s mutual respect between the team and Baker,” noting he’s talked to Mayfield after Mayfield lashed out to media seven days ago.
It’s significant that Licht said he thinks the Bucs made a franchise-QB-worthy offer to Mayfield. It could be a tipoff that the Bucs are willing to negotiate more but have no plans to hand Mayfield a deal for the 2029 season.
August 6th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Give it a rest Joe…. Lashed out to the media. He was asked the question he gave the answer and anyone with a brain knows that players want guarantee years. Has he said anything about it since that day?
August 6th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Bake… Just take the 50m a year. It’ll keep you sharp and you love Tampa.
August 6th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Meant
Or
Means
Mrs Majors RIP red pencil would have corrected that sternly!
“ mean, he’s meant a lot to us.“
August 6th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
If the Bucs have a good season then the deal will get done. I expect at least 3 years with a chunk of guaranteed money. Total compensation will be around 55-60 per year.
If the Bucs don’t have a good year they will wait to see if Mike Tomlin wants Baker as his QB before making another offer.
August 6th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
Baker, don’t listen to these idiots. You’re worth $100M a year! OR MORE!
Don’t take a penny less. You show the team who the boss is!
August 6th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
My question to JL would be, what team offers a franchise QB a 2 year extension? Not sure I have ever seen that.
Herbert – 5 years
Lawrence – 5 years ‘
Dak – 4 years
Purdy – 5 years
August 6th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
Give it a rest moisty boyy, he didn’t have to answer so he cried out for his fans and so made their dealings public as all me 1st players always do. Your heart throb does not deserve a long term contract because he is not a consistently good qb no matter what you people say. He’s consistent at doing good one year and not so good/ bad the next only two seasons of back to back goodness and choking at crucial times and in the playoffs. Why should the Bucs saddle bag themselves with a qb who might not even be worth the 3 years their offer would tie them to him?
August 6th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Baker did the right thing by not signing. I agree with Rod, he obviously worth $100+ million per season and he shouldn’t play a down until some team pays him that. Just like the defense without Vita, the Bucs offensive can be great without him this season. 🤣
August 6th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
These soy boy Baker and Vea haters reliving the anguish of their teen years when their girlfriends broke up with them….and now, years later “Grrrrrrr” I’LL SHOW YOU, GRRRRRRRR”…..too funny lol.
August 6th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
A strong offer? You sound like a used car salesman. Pull out your Marlboros and have a warm Bud Light.
August 6th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Here’s the truth:
Regardless what Licht says, the money is what talks.
Offering a 2 year extension to any player says “we don’t believe in you”.
His numbers over the last 3 years when healthy is top 5 at the position. Last years debacle was due to injuries and the defense sucked. Plain and simple.
Baker is not looking to be the top paid guy. He knows, as do the Bucs, that $50 to $55 million/year is a a cheap deal next year and only gets cheaper as these other QB’s get their new deals and the cap goes up.
The truth of the length of the contract is measured in guaranteed years, and ONLY guaranteed years. We all know anything not guaranteed means nothing.
By alienating Baker, we risk a one pass to the cellar when he leaves and it shows other free agents Tampa doesn’t take care of their players. Regardless of anyone’s opinion here, that’s what the players think.
Those that scream about the Franchise tag no nothing about football. Baker will carry an $80 million cap hit next year. It would be roster suicide to franchise him.
Unless they trade him and sabotage the season before the 1st game, Baker has 100% of the leverage.
These are all 100% facts that you cannot dispute.
August 6th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
If you are new to these comments you can mark the village know nothing Football dunce caps by their Mayfield Derangement Syndrome
One who rhymes with what you can SEE can barely write a post without mentioning his name and another actually begs we had a solid defense last year and you don’t need a running back in the modern NFL.,yep that level of stupidity
If it was a two year contract with no guarantee on the second IT WAS NOT A FRANCHISE QB offer. PERIOD
it was an attempt to average 45 mill over the next two years. People can day dream all they want about the upcoming draft but very very unlikely Tampa will get a shot at the top qbs in 2027. So you give Baker a three year 50 million per contract knowing you are going to need two years even if you pick up a Qb for him to be total NFL ready.
for everyone claiming Bucs hold all the cards. do the maths. Its an 80 million cap hit the first year invoking the franchise tag ( because 30 million on the present contract hits).
If you don’t think its super bowl contending team this year it sure won’t be next year when you have that hit on the books
Sounds like this was an OBVIOUS escape hatch offer that is NOT what you offer a QB you SAY is a franchise Qb and Baker and his agents saw right through it.