Jason Licht On Baker Mayfield
February 24th, 2026
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht was hit with the money question about his franchise quarterback today at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Joe asked Licht if the Bucs plan to make extending Baker Mayfield’s contract a priority for this offseason — whether that’s one year, two years or more. Mayfield’s current three-year contract expires after the 2026 season.
Licht wanted to profess his love of Mayfield but wouldn’t slap a timetable on talks.
“So Baker, our thoughts on Baker haven’t changed,” Licht said. “Baker has been with us three years, you see the competitor he is. Obviously, he’s got a lot of arm talent, but he’s a leader, all these things. Our plans with Baker haven’t changed. At some point, I don’t have a timetable, I’m sure we’ll be having those discussions.”
Licht was pressed to say if those discussions will happen this year and he wasn’t going there. “At some point, we’ll be having those discusssions,” Licht repeated.
Yes, one could certainly say the Bucs have greater concerns that the quarterback position. However, QB is the most important position and not many teams want their beloved QB entering a contract year, after which literally anything could happen.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
RIP to Ronyell Whitaker. He started out as a feisty defensive back and had a good game against the Saints on the road in 2003. Passes away at 46. Way too young.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
At some point, we’ll be having those discusssions
TRANSLATION: make the NFC Championship game or kick rocks!!!!
yeah he has arm talent, yeah he throws TD’s, yeah he’s a “leader” but do all those things produce WINS…..
GO BUCS!!!!
February 24th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
We’ll see.
If they aren’t pursuing Evans, it could signal a lack of enthusiasm to resign Baker. I’m guessing this is another prove it year for Baker. If he gets hurt, the Bucs will draft a QB next year.
You have to question if Baker can stay healthy for another 3 years.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Sure, he single handedly cost us the playoffs — but lets give him a huge extension despite his history of choking in the biggest moments. Oh wait, my bad, I mean ‘being injured’ in the biggest moments.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
I think Bakers cap hit is somewhere in the 52 million dollar range.
If the FO is serious about free agents – IMO Baker gets an extension to free up cap space. In the alternative, Tristan and Chris combine for another 70 million give or take this year – maybe their deals get reworked.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
I think they want to see how this season turns out. If Baker stays healthy and does well, and if we win enough, he’ll get a deal.
If we end up tanking, we’ll be drafting a QB next year.
For now, all I care about is dumping Teddy and replacing him. There are plenty of cheap options out there.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Lessismore, you may be right.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
I just looked. His cap hit is $52,975,000 this year. They may have no choice after all. Extending him a year or two in order to lower his number might be worth it. If they eat the contract, it will easy future years a LOT.
Wow. Tough call. Take the gamble to re-sign, or pay a huge salary for a year, freeing yourself to draft a QB next year.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Testing
February 24th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Baker better be ready to score fifty offensive points a game or Todd’s hapless defense will lose the next seventeen games.
February 24th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
So much talk about Baker and Evans.
We didn’t lose because of Mayfield, although a few fools might argue that.
We didn’t win because of Evans. Again, some may argue.
Our season was lost because we couldn’t rush the QB
We only have one NFL caliber defensive lineman. #50
When we drafted Hall, I said that day, that he was a tweener. Check.
When we drafted Kancey, I said, right here, that he was too small to ever play DL in the NFL. Check
How many years will we pay him to sit on the IR, before some of you agree with me.
We have wasted huge amounts of resources on horrible DL and edge rushers. We have signed guys that didn’t care about football, and hadn’t for years- if ever.
Our Linebackers and secondary look horrible. They aren’t that bad.
ANY QB IN THE NFL CAN SCORCH A DEFENSE, IF THEY ARENT PRESSURED.
The greatest Cornerbacks in league are only expected to cover their guy 3 seconds.
Our offense isn’t our problem. Our pathetic excuse for a pass rush is. Once again.
Joe made these same arguments, year after year, until they acquired JPP.
He can’t save us now. But someone must
Baker can win a Super Bowl with our offense.
None could win a SuperBowl with our defense
February 24th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
With Todd’s hapless defense Baker better be ready to score fifty offensive points a game or the Bucs will lose the next seventeen games.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
If you read between the lines, as Joe frequently does, it looks to me like JL said that Baker is the plan for the future but that Baker has the leverage (at the moment) to decide how this thing is going down. That being said Baker will play the same whether he’s making 3 million or 35 million. And he’d certainly work hard to make the deal right for JL and Tampa. I’m sure he’s more concerned with the team winning next year than how much money he’s making. He wants a Super Bowl. He has money.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
“He single-handedly cost us the playoffs”
Nobody can be this braindead.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
BucBoi, I understand your frustration with Mayfield, and a lot of it is deserved. The entire team had issues, but none more than the not so special teams. How did the special teams ruin the Bucs season?
Kick coverage team giving the opposition the ball at the 50-yard line. Think about it! If the D stops them, they punt the ball to the 5-yard line. Offense needs to drive 95 yards. Or the D gives up a score and we’re immediately down 7-0. Things got so bad we were ok with giving the other team the ball at the 35!
Then throw in the blocked punts & field goals. I’m surprised more blame isn’t put on Bowles for keeping the Coach who already had a terrible record. Should have been fired week three!
February 24th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Draft Drew Allar penn state 6 or 7 round. Lots of talent bad coaching.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Capt. Tim, Great post and good to see an old-time poster still around. It has to be 15 years or so….time flies!
Kit, lol I completely agree!!
February 24th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
Joe Licht ( vs Joe Heavy ) must be the author of “Ring of Honor GM Jason Licht.”
I’d agree with a lifetime achievement award/ certificate of participation plaque though.
There’s no rush to extend Baker…if at all. If he earns it…the price increase will be worth it. If he belly flops…the team avoids a salary cap calamity.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
As long as Bowles is head coach, it doesn’t really matter who plays QB. Todd is a special coach who can get any player to the same level of performance we saw at the end of last year. Baker Mayfield or Rudy Carpenter, outcome is the same.
February 24th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
It’s definitely another “prove-it” year for Baker. There is NO-WAY you extend him now. It makes ZERO sense. You allow him to play-it out. And, I am NOT blowing up my salary cap on this season, either. The NFC ‘pecking order’ is crystal clear. I am drafting BPA at #15, too! It would be THE ‘dumbest’ thing EVER to reach for an EDGE or LB. The chances are extremely low that you’re getting much of a ‘difference maker’ there. That’s the last thing you want. I am drafting for the future and my future HC and GM, if it’s me.
If Love is there at #15, there’s NO-WAY you pass on HIM. Actually, I would trade up with the Cowboys at #12, if he’s still there. HE would make a MUCH BIGGER ‘difference’ anyway, than ANY LB you’re getting at #15 in this draft. THIS SEASON. He would help Baker drastically! Then, I’m moving off of as many players I CAN at the deadline, for as much 2027 (&/or 2028) ‘draft capital’ as humanly possible. If I can’t get at Top-2/3 QB in the 2027-Draft (actually I would prefer NOT to, but you might have to with picks 1-3 with THIS class), then I hope to pair Jeremiah Smith with Love (and Bucky for one more year), EE, JMac, & maybe Tez.
Next, I sign a ‘bridge guy’ until I can get myself in position with enough draft-capital/assets to make a move on drafting a QB on a ‘rookie’ deal, before the time comes to have to start PAYING Love & Smith (also JMac and EE). Take all those other draft-picks from THIS deadline, and wheel-n-deal on O-Line and on Front-7 Depth. And, all of that available cap $$$ on THE DEFENSE.
With the right HC and GM in place 2028 can be a GREAT YEAR, & before you know-it you’re going into 2029 as LEGIT “Super Bowl Contenders” for the next 7-8+YEARS. You don’t make a move on DRAFTING a QB, until you get the overall ROSTER overhauled FIRST. You put your young QB in the BEST position possible. You’ve got HIM on a ‘rookie’ deal for 5-YEARS, when it’s time to start having to PAY FOR everyone else. You’d have more than enough FIREPOWER on that Offense, to make A LOT of NFL QB’s look pretty damn good.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
They were talking about Love on the radio, but I don’t think this was ever brought up… Drafting Love would also tell us A LOT about Bucky! He then immediately becomes RB#2. It would force him to have to STEP TF UPPPP and raise HIS level of play! Would he take it like a Man, and be ‘the player’ we think he can be… Or, would he cry and just lie down like a DOG!?
February 24th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Capt. Tim… Ive said it before… why is always lines fault… why can’t we ever have a “coverage sack”…other teams have them… it’s quick slants across the middle and running backs out of the backfield into the flat that kills this team.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
5 years. $200 million. Done.
Superbowl, here we come!
B, B, Baker and the Bucs!
February 24th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Baker has been a GREAT player to replace Brady. We need a better backup QB to insulate him so he can still play freely and we have some insurance. The Bucs have a good streak of starting QBs right now, bit we need a guy who can play when Bake is hurt which he will be…
February 24th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Sbucs,if he did the 50 ,people on this sight would wine about he should’ve scored 51
February 24th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Extension incoming. Locks down a proven qb, opens up cap space for free agents. Helen Keller can see this coming…
February 24th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Jr i guess you can say the same about Bowles??..How about making a couple stops on defense maybe run it since baker sucks
February 24th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Don’t extend him. Let him test the waters and see if some team is willing to throw a ton of loot at him. If he plays next year like he finished this past season, the offers won’t be crazy. Then again, it could mean the mysterious injury that plagued all his poor performances this past year … continues.
Gotta love some of you. If Baker plays well, it’s Super Bowl bound best QB in the league. If he plays poorly it’s a mysterious injury or another player’s fault.
Perhaps he had the Target Flu, a mysterious malady that causes the arm to lose signals from the brain, especially when attempting to throw a football.
On the good side, at least we’re guaranteed two wins against Atlanta.
Baker guaranteed as much when he mocked the Stefanski hiring.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Baker is serviceable, even good at times. But last year’s finish was mostly on him, and until I hear the details of his mysterious injury you should agree.