Jason Licht: Bucs & Baker Mayfield Were “Pretty Close” When Talks Broke Off
September 10th, 2026
There wasn’t much heavy lifting done to pull Baker Mayfield over the finish line with a new and fat contract extension.
That was the message delivered on SiriusXM NFL Radio by Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
“You know we were pretty close actually when things broke off. We were pretty close — pretty close to where we’re at right now,” Licht said with authority yesterday.
Then why did Mayfield speak out right before training camp to say he felt disrespected and undervalued?
Licht explained that was about Mayfield’s passion for his job and a desire to stay focused.
“I think it’s because he really truly just wanted to not worry about [the contract extension], not get worked up over it, not let it be a distraction for himself,” Licht said. “He had a viral moment there; Baker’s not afraid to express his feelings. That’s one of the things when he first got here that Todd [Bowles] and I both told him, ‘You be you.’ So [I] can’t be upset about it.”
Lost a bit in all of this is Licht’s strong relationships with players. That’s not the case on every NFL team. He doesn’t treat players as commodities and considers some to be personal friends.
That kind of leadership goes a long way when stressful, big-money situations arise. If Licht and Mayfield didn’t have a strong connection, a volatile personality like Mayfield might have gone off the rails when the Bucs dared to only offer him $100 million+ for 2027 and 2028.
September 10th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
I was saying 51-54….somewhere there, 4 years….I remember posting 52/4
It was a fair deal imo, for both sides. We know what he CAN do when healthy and properly protected by the O line. But man, our depth there is not looking good. If we lose a starter, its gonna hurt……and Luke, please stay healthy and keep fighting.
September 10th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Just happy it got done Baker is Damn Good enough to win a Super Bowl with an for the is Team Go Bucs I love Baker I love his Attitude I Love what he’s about
September 10th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
on to Cincinnati!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
September 10th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Id rather had Mayfield last night in NE…Simple
September 10th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
That was definitely my read on Baker’s motivation. It wasn’t a bargaining ploy; he just wanted to stay focused on the job, not the contract.
September 10th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I think Jason Licht does a great job of communicating with players and Glazers in contract management. There’s a way to communicate… a GM’s professional opinion can be different from his own personal opinion. Not to mention just being wrong… which Jason has been historically honest about. Seems he’s very good how to express those type of conversations with ownership and players and has the trust of all involved. Best GM the Buccaneers have ever had methinks!
September 10th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
For all those that said Mayfield made a mistake not taking the 1st offer, you guys look like fools. Save your foolish talking about Kyle Trask or the New Kyle Trask who both are better than Baker.
September 10th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Daniels doods,have gone off the rails. HeavyF is making ethnic slur nicknames for Baker. He is trashing Irish Americans.
September 10th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
In Light We Trust.. Go BakerBucs
September 10th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
^ never heard of him….and trashing Irish Americans? lol, of course….Bloats already know it comes with the territory….all good, everyone hates us, always and forever
September 10th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Well as more info has come out, the deal the Bucs did does not give them even a trade out option after this year – the cap hit would be around $60M, even in a trade. It has something to do with the fact the deal was done after the last preseason game, which then puts a cap hit on next season somehow – which changed the structure of the deal. Anywho, the Bucs are basically stuck with Baker for the next 3-years, so hopefully he’s “healthy” and can turn around that 2-11 primetime and playoff record. If he does, then people will be OK with his cap hit of $61M next year, then the following year, and then the year after that. It’s not $48M or $55M, it’s $61M because it includes money due next year as part of prior cap trickery. I assume, after this season, if Baker plays well they’ll redo his deal to free up money next season and kick the can down the road – which I’m fine with so long as Baker performs, which I hope he does.
September 10th, 2026 at 11:54 pm
What’s the point of Licht saying this? To try to save face?
I don’t buy this Love Fest BS. Licht is mad that Baker played him.
September 11th, 2026 at 6:54 am
what if baker goes from a prince to a frog overnight, after hitting the lottery…
imagine that… 🙁
how crazy would that be