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!
â mean, heâs meant a lot to us.â
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 donât 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. đ¤Ł
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.
August 6th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
hey fat boy, why is Licht talking about it in the press, calling him a Franchise QB then comes with a dogsh!t offer of 2 years. Who is he, who does that? You Bucs fans are dumber than a bag of rocks to believe anything coming of the Glazers or Licht’s mouths.
August 6th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
SB~LV – See, that’s the thing and what I found to be the most significant past of Lichr’s statement … when Licht said “heâs meant a lot to us”.
Seem like he inadvertently let it slip that he is already thinking of Baker in the past tense. Otherwise, he would have said “he means a lot to us”
August 6th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
@chief
great minds thing alike ..Literally one minute between our posts so we were writing the exact same thing at the same time
August 6th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
âBut I can honestly say weâve always tried to deal with players professionally and honestly and in good faith, and weâll continue to do that in this case.â
I do believe – as much as can be in this business and comparatively speaking – those words from Jason Licht. Heâs been here a long time and I believe there is sincerity to those words coming out of his mouth. At the end of the day, and unfortunately though, itâs a businessâŚ.and the end result isnât always great for both sides involved and sometimes everyone involved doesnât agree.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Baker also thought he was going to get a lifetime top 5 QB deal after 2023 – Licht let him look for a better deal than the Bucs were offering, and there wasn’t anything.
Also, it’s a 2-year extension – so three seasons in total since we haven’t even started this year yet.
For a guy who just singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs with his awful play and was so bad he got the entire offensive staff fired, that seems pretty generous.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
You guys putting down Mayfieldâs offer are ridiculous đ¤Śđťââď¸đ¤Śđťââď¸đ¤Śđťââď¸!!!
That was a good offer for a 31 YEAR OLD QB THAT CONSTANTLY PUTS HIS BODY ON THE LINE!!! Are you guys forgetting this??
Baker got hurt so bad during the 1st half last year that he was a shell of himself in the 2nd half along with crappy guard playâŚ..
You canât shell out some ungodly contract to him due to his age, and lack of protecting his bodyâŚ.
The 2 year extension at over $50 mill a year in addition to the 2026 year at $40 mill is a GREAT offer!!!! He may regret not taking it..
August 6th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Once again, if you donât want baker here, thatâs fine, itâs a valid opinion. Who donât replace him with thatâs a) realistic and b) an unarguable upgrade?
August 6th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Baker fans, its really simple. If Baker is as good as people keep saying he is playing on the last year of his deal shouldn’t be a problem. Hes already a millionaire so don’t whine and cry about security. Ppl in media and fans say he’s ball out so some team will pay him. Yall sound nervous like he’s gonna look like he did last year.
Cousins plays on the last year of his deals and it hasn’t stopped him. Lamar did it and he was just fine. This is business and a player turning down $100 million coming off a bad year is definitely a decision.
A decision I truly appreciate and knew was coming months ago. Baker is too expensive for this team irregardless of what he does this season. He’s as good as gone.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
UKBuccaneer Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Once again, if you donât want baker here, thatâs fine, itâs a valid opinion. Who donât replace him with thatâs a) realistic and b) an unarguable upgrade?
———–
Once again, Baker is under contract – the Bucs do not need to make a move until after the season.
You Baker Boi(s) pretend as if the Bucs must make a decision right now. They don’t – which is why they went fishing, threw out a lowball offer, just to see if he might take it. He didn’t, and good for Baker betting on himself. Hopefully it pays off, since if it does, it means the Bucs won a lot of games – hopefully this time it’s games that actually matter, and he improves on his 2-11 record in primetime and playoff games in Tampa.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
There goes Munch with his asinine “singlehandedly” nonsense. White and Bucky singlehandedly kept us from making the playoffs by not running for 100 yards per. game and some untimely fumbles in losses. Diaby and Reddick singlehandedly lost a bunch of games by not getting enough sacks in every game the Bucs lost. Dean and McCollum singlehandedly cost us a bunch of losses by not getting nearly enough interceptions in those games.
And, of course, because we missed the playoffs by one game, we definitely cannot let the 3rd and 28/4th and 14 debacle slide.
Speaking of that, Mike Evans definitely cost three of games at the end by only averaging 3 catches per game, 57 yards per game in those losses and only one TD in those three games combined. You’d think a #1 receiver could get himself open and put up better numbers than that!
See Munch, all you have to do is hate a guy as much as you hate Baker and you can pick any guy on the team to blame and say that they “singlehandedly” cost the Bucs the playoffs.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Bucfan1988 Says
“That was a good offer for a 31 YEAR OLD QB THAT CONSTANTLY PUTS HIS BODY ON THE LINE!!! Are you guys forgetting this??”
31 is not old for a QB. And he doesn’t put his body on the line any more than Brett Favre did.
He wouldn’t even be considered a mobile QB…just a tough one…like Favre was.
Speaking of Bret Favre, Andy Reed has said he wanted to bench him many times because of the mistakes he often made.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Bucfan1988 Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
You guys putting down Mayfieldâs offer are ridiculous đ¤Śđťââď¸đ¤Śđťââď¸đ¤Śđťââď¸!!!
That was a good offer for a 31 YEAR OLD QB THAT CONSTANTLY PUTS HIS BODY ON THE LINE!!! Are you guys forgetting this??
Baker got hurt so bad during the 1st half last year that he was a shell of himself in the 2nd half along with crappy guard playâŚ..
You canât shell out some ungodly contract to him due to his age, and lack of protecting his body
……………………
It is up to Licht to put a decent line in front of him to him protect him…. about every 9/10 dropbacks had pressure right up the middle, right in his face that is why he had to scramble around, but that is Baker’s fault also. Geez you guys all talk in an echo chamber. The question is why was Baker having to run for his life. Could it be the offensive line was in shambles??? Could it be his receiving corp was in shambles? Could it be his running back corp was not that great and an OC that was over his head?
August 6th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
ScottyMack – Meanwhile, how many times have you said Baker “won the game all by himself” — I’m going to guess it’s in the single digits. Would be higher, but he really hasn’t won that many games, at least ones that matter.
2-11 in primetime and playoff games since 2023.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
ScottyMack Says:
Mike Evans definitely cost three of games at the end by only averaging 3 catches per game, 57 yards per game in those losses and only one TD in those three games combined. Youâd think a #1 receiver could get himself open and put up better numbers than that!
————
Considering Baker was throwing for 122 yards, and 145 yards in that stretch, it’s pretty amazing Mike averaged that much. Shows why he’s a future 1st ballot HOF’er that he could be that productive when Baker was playing like complete trash.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
@ Rod Munch – “For a guy who just singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs with his awful play and was so bad he got the entire offensive staff fired, that seems pretty generous”
The scary part to me is you really believe what you write here.
It was Baker’s bad play that cost the D-Line coach and the Cornerbacks coach their jobs, and the Safeties coach retired, plus the Special Teams coach. Did you ever consider that maybe, just maybe, the coaches weren’t any good? Like the HC?
And I know it was Baker’s bad play that had the D with the 24th ranked Opponent Average Team Passer Rating at 97.5. But wait, down the stretch in the final three games, it got even worse with a rating of 104.6. But you of course are right, those had nothing to do with costing even one game, which would have put the Bucs in the playoffs.
As long as we are looking at numbers, the points/game on offense was not good, ranking 18th. Too bad the points/game allowed on defense ranked 20th. Last time I checked, being ranked 18th is better than being ranked 20th.
I think Baker’s agent should have told him not to play on both the offense and defense because if he did he could singlehandedly cost the Bucs a playoff berth.
There are a few things you can certainly pin on Baker from last year, but I think you may have overreached just a bit here.
August 6th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
Let’s do a 5 year 1 billion dollar contract!! Let’s goooo!!! FFS… take a hike, bro.
August 6th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
Critmark Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
@ Rod Munch â âFor a guy who just singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs with his awful play and was so bad he got the entire offensive staff fired, that seems pretty generousâ
The scary part to me is you really believe what you write here.
———–
Baker had 4 chances in a row to win a game, if he gets a single win in any of those, the Bucs make the playoffs.
Let’s recap, shall we…
vs Saints.
Baker, 14/30, 122 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
122 yards… enough said. But wait, there’s more. On the last offensive drive of the game, on 4th down, he’s got a wide open Cade Otton for the 1st down, and instead, Baker throws it at his feet – Otton has to come back to catch the awful thrown ball, and then is tackled short of the 1st because of the awful pass.
vs Atlanta
Baker, 19/34, 277 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Baker proceeds to do something that Winston never did, and that is to throw an INT in the 4th quarter of game where the Bucs have a double digit lead. But not just any INT, literally the worst INT I’ve ever seen. But that’s not how Baker singlehandedly lost the game – no, it was on the last offensive series of the game. The Bucs HAVE to get a first down, everyone in the world knows if they punt, they lose the game, and Baker has a wide open e2 for a first down – again, this is a throw that even I can make, that any middle school QB is expected to make – and Baker misses it. Not only do the Bucs not get the 1st, the clock is stopped. Those two inexcusable mistakes is why the Bucs lost that game. Not to mention Baker should have had a monster game as Mike Evans was wide open every single time he got single coverage, and Baker kept missing him. On the one deep pass that Evans caught, it should have been an easy walk-in TD, but Baker threw such a poor pass it turned from an easy TD instead into Evans having to make a circus catch just to get to it.
at Carolina
Baker, 18/26 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Right off the bat, 145 yards rarely beats anyone. But on the final offensive drive, MVP Baker has the ball in his hands, the Bucs are already in FG range, all he has to do is not lose the game and Baker… throws an INT. BTW for the low IQ dopes who blame Evans for cutting off his route, the tape clearly shows he had already take nearly 2 full steps up the field before Baker released the ball. BUT, I don’t even blame Baker for that – and said so at the time. However, what I do blame Baker for on that play is the fact that when you see the ALL22, you see a wide open Cade Otton to his right for about 10 yards, and a wide open Godwin for about 20 yards. Both guys have no one around them, an easy big gain – but Baker instead tried to make a short contested throw.
at Miami
33/44 346 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
The garbage time stats inflated his numbers, but make no mistake, this might have been Baker’s worst game since he’s got to Tampa when you consider how he played, the opponent, and what was on the line. Baker was terrible in this game, with three TOs, and never gave the Bucs a chance in a MUST WIN game Vs a terrible defense, and facing a 4th string rookie QB. His repeated turnovers, when it mattered most, along with his complete lack of production, when it mattered most, tanked the season for the Bucs.
There’s the facts – explain to me where I’m wrong, and how nothing is Baker’s fault. Make sure to throw in how it’s a team game, while ignoring all the times you said Baker “won the game by himself” in weeks 1-6.
August 6th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
Baker SUCKS
August 6th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
Glamour Boy
You’ve been Tops for a While
With a Million Dollar Smile…
Don’t You wanna take time to sing and play an honest song for the people tonight
– The Guess Who
August 6th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
Most JBFers remember what went down with Ryan Jensen back in 2022. Ryan was critical to the Bucs’ offense during our 2020 & 2021 ‘Super’ years, but after signing his 3-year $39 mil contract in the Spring of 2022, he busted up his knee in training camp. Never played again (except for 1 game that he shouldn’t have played).
But he did get paid. And his $39 mil ‘Dead CAP’ impacted our salary CAP for 3 years. Now imagine IF that same scenario happened to one of these ‘franchise QBs’ with a 3-year contract for say $165 mil. Should he get seriously hurt early-on like Ryan did, and never play, the Bucs would still be on-the-hook for $165 mil in Dead CAP. They’d lose $55 mil a year of their salary CAP for 3 years. The NFL’s rules covering that scenario are barbaric IMO, but they are what they are.
I’d be willing to bet that the Bucs see Baker as a long-term RISK. He’s got beaten up pretty badly twice now in his career, but sucked it up and toughed it out. Whoopee; both times his team struggled with him in there hurt & had losing records. Personally I’d much prefer that we have a quality backup QB on the roster who could take his place while he heals up. I got a hunch that Jason’s thinking ‘IF we pay Baker this monstrous salary for many years, is that an acceptable risk given the way Baker plays?’ Baker’s already shown us what the answer is.
August 6th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
@ Rod Munch
You continue to look at just the offense like the play of the defense had nothing to do with any outcome. Post the bye week, both sides of the ball slipped by four points. The offense scored 4 points less and the defense allowed 4 points more. So if EITHER in just one of the games they lost down the stretch by 4 points or less had played like they had before the bye, the Bucs are in the playoffs. EITHER the offense OR defense.
And for the record, I have NEVER said that Baker âwon the game by himselfâ. NOT EVER. I have NEVER said that nothing is Baker’s fault. NOT EVER. Sorry my friend, that is a FACT!
August 6th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
It’s hard for me to believe that BM6 would turn down $ 100 M. Ok I don’t care if it’s only 2 years. For me that’s several lifetimes of cash! Of course I completely understand him being pissed that they only offered an additional 2 years! Of course if BM6 balls out this year he could demand a 4 or 5 year deal from the Bucs or somewhere else too.
I believe…The Buc’s 2 year extension offer comes from the insecurity JL and the Glazers have for the HC/DC Bowles. After last season they decided to give Bowles one final chance to right the sinking ship. Most people here wanted him gone after last season! But NO!! If this season looks like the last, Bowles will be gone!! A new HC will be brought in. He may want a different QB, a rebuild, or just a retool. Because of these facts they won’t sign BM6 to a longer extension.
I hope BM6 takes the offer and balls out!!
August 6th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
What is this alienation of Baker garbage talk.
Bake was offered Generational wealth, 100 million for 2 years,
the disrespect is talking the way he did after the offer.
What an ignorant way to start camp by Bake.
Boy that “Generational wealth” is some kind of disrespect.
Remember the NFL is the “Not for long”
So to be offered 100 million with or without extra years is not disrespect.
That is generational wealth.
Generational Wealth is not disrespect, people need to step back and think for a moment.
GO BUCS!!!!
August 6th, 2026 at 7:24 pm
wait…there are adults that still read Munch?
August 6th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
@Defense Rules says… about BM6 “Heâs got beaten up pretty badly twice now in his career, but sucked it up and toughed it out. Whoopee; both times his team struggled with him in there hurt & had losing records.”.
DR, BM6 has been a QB 3 seasons for the Bucs. The last one was their only losing season. Just sayin’. One season. Not both. Please correct me if I’m wrong. ’23 9-8, ’24 10-7, ’25 8-9
August 6th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
I do agree that the team did struggle with him playing injured. But most QBs do that. They get hurt and they play.
August 6th, 2026 at 7:44 pm
As I said “they” think he is a franchise quarterback and “they” are all that matters. So he IS a franchise quarterback. And the $50+ offer they made says “they” consider him ELITE. So he IS ELITE. We are so lucky to have an ELITE FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK!!! Can’t wait for this season. Let’s get it on!!!
August 6th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
infomeplease … ‘Please correct me if Iâm wrong.’
OK. I wrote that he’s been beaten up TWICE in his career … once here in 2025 (we went 8-9) AND once in Cleveland in 2021 (they went 6-8).
So beaten up TWICE; losing records both times. THAT’s what I was referring to.
August 6th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
@ Defense rules
“Iâd be willing to bet that the Bucs see Baker as a long-term RISK. Heâs got beaten up pretty badly twice now in his career, but sucked it up and toughed it out. Whoopee; both times his team struggled with him in there hurt & had losing records..”
This silliness again?
you can’t get on the field if the coach says no. so thats all on the organization and their backup plan. Plus to your other point “how he plays” argument . Theres no evidence he was hurt running but instead being plastered with a make shift line.
Still if you even think that then you have no need to tell a QB who doesn’t play the way you want a franchise QB to play – he is your franchise qb. I\
bunch of you want to let the organization off the hook for lying to a player. Franchise Qbs don’t get just two year contracts (that we don’t even know was guaranteed for two years). Issue is saying one thing doing another.
Booo Hooo. “Its life changing money he should take it” says another poster.
A) Why? to save Billionaires money? lol .. the money isn’t going to feed the poor otherwise
B) No its not life changing. Baker already is a tens of million millionaire. Welcome to the NFL kids. Most players are millionaires.
August 6th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Ya’ll don’t worry, the haters will shut their mouths when the season starts as they always do when Baker is playing MVP ball and I guarantee you he will not get hurt this year and he is going to ball out. They won’t be heard of as soon as September is here. We will have 6 months of no haters!! Thank goodness.
August 6th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Well well well Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Yaâll donât worry, the haters will shut their mouths when the season starts as they always do when Baker is playing MVP ball and I guarantee you he will not get hurt this year and he is going to ball out. They wonât be heard of as soon as September is here. We will have 6 months of no haters!! Thank goodness.
————–
I hope that does happen, since it means the Bucs are winning, and unlike the Baker Boi(s), I’m an actual Buccaneers fan.
Anywho, if that does happen, and Baker is more than week 6 MVP, and a season-long MVP candidate, then he’s going to get paid way more than anything he’s going to get paid right now.
Since, as you said, you know this is going to happen – what exactly is the issue? He’s going to lock up to huge deal, probably be the 2nd or 3rd highest paid player in football, and from the teams standpoint, if he’s played that well and the Bucs win meaningful games, they’re going to be more than happy to pay him.
Not sure I see the issue then – you should want Baker to prove he’s the best in the game, so he can be properly rewarded.
August 6th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
By their actions, the Bucs have tipped their hand. They have no intention of re-signing Baker or Vea this year or next. The rebuild is starting now. The cap for ’27 is already maxed out if you allow for just resigning the FA. There is no room for resigning either of those guys, much less after significant increases in salary.
The ’27 cap is already at 296 million or so. Remaining cap space is 26.5 mil. Those numbers include the 30 mil dead cap for Baker, but NOT the 50 mil for the tag. It also includes a 30 mil cap hit for Godwin who is on a club option for ’27. The Bucs can opt out for about only an 8 mil dead cap hit. If you FT Baker and cut Godwin and Vea, that puts you 4 mil over to start with. BUT:
Mauch
Diaby
A’Shawn
Chase McLaughlin
AQM
Tucker
Nelson
Rozeboom
Dennis
Godwin ?
Are all still UFA and none of their new salaries have been counted against the cap. And they may still want to resign CG for some more reasonable price. That’s going to be conservatively 80mil. for the group. Bucs may not want all these same guys, but they will need either them or their replacements. Even if Baker walks they’re 35 mil over the cap. This is the work of ROH GM JL while losing 2 of our best players.
Enjoy ’26. GO BUCS!!!
August 6th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
Badbucs Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
By their actions, the Bucs have tipped their hand. They have no intention of re-signing Baker or Vea this year or next. The rebuild is starting now.
——–
OR…
The Bucs just want to see what Baker does this year before making any big moves, like starting a full rebuild.
If Baker performs like an MVP like the Baker Boi(s) say he’s going to do, then the Bucs are winning and competing and the Bucs give Baker a huge new deal.
But if Baker is the week 7+ pumpkin he was last year, well, the Bucs don’t have much of a chance, will look terrible, and everyone is getting fired and Baker is told to hit the bricks.
The Bucs did give Baker a low-ball deal, I have zeroed doubt of that. They just wanted to see if he’d take it. Based on the lack of years, and guaranteed money, there really wasn’t much risk to the Bucs since Baker would still have some trade value – or worse they could him if he’s a pumpkin again, where as if he was the 2024 Baker, then they’d have a bargain at QB. Keep in mind, this is how the Bucs won a SB with Brady, because Brady played on a cheap deal, it gave the Bucs a chance to spread that money around and beef up the rest of the team. It’s pretty clear Baker isn’t Brady, and isn’t going to shortchange himself a few dollars to do the same, and that’s his right, but the Bucs were kicking the tires to see if the might be that guy.
August 6th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Rod Munch, this is just for you and all the other haters. It is not the critical who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is ACTUALLY in the arena. Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. Cold and timid soulsđ¤
August 6th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
@ RodMunch,
Your OR theory is possible, but to pay Baker (and or Vea), after a good season, will force a rebuild regardless. JL has so mismanaged the cap we will be forced to cut several good players just to get under the cap. OR head back down the cap hell road again. JL doesn’t have the presence of mind to trade guys while under contract. He’ll have to out bid for them in FA. Maybe he surprises us.
August 6th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
Seems-like, theyâve offered him something similar to the same framework as the âDaniel Jones Deal,â BUT worth more money. Which is more than FAIR, since BOTH QBâs were âWeek-6â MVPâs last season. Though, Jones (just turned 29) is YOUNGER (of course he is, because Baker is OLD), I felt that the Colts were forced into having to pay him a little bit more than they wouldâve liked, coming fresh off a very bad injury. It was a âGIFTâ for Jones⌠2-years, and $88-MIL, up to $100-MIL in incentives, with about $60-MIL guaranteed. Anything more than that, wouldâve been a another fricken âGIFTâ for BAKER (again), too. Heâs had âONEâ GOOD SEASON in Tampa Bay, out of THREE. With the COEN year, being an âoutlierâ now, as far as we know. And, it was FAR from âperfectâ after LEADING the entire LEAGUE in Turnovers. He was SO BAD in 2023, that over 90%+ of the âBucs Fanbaseâ were all âshouting from the rooftopsâ wanting to SEE what the hell âTRASKâ could do. And, HEâS gonna cry like the spoiled, and entitled lil beach that HE IS⌠After LAST SEASON!? REALLY!? It was a FAIR OFFER⌠3-FULL SEASONS in total, for an âundersizedâ 31-YEAR OLD, who is injury-prone. đŻ
August 6th, 2026 at 9:55 pm
@Defense Rules
I think you are right that Baker is likely considered a âlong-term riskâ by the team with his play style. Baker is too old to run when itâs a regular season game and be injured for the rest of it. Either consistently get the ball where it needs or throw it away. Put your body on the line for playoff games not game 2. Baker isnât âyoungâ enough or big enough to absorb those hits. Then having him gut it out and play instead of resting and healing was a bad move not having a competent back up. If baker rested 2 games (we lost them anyway with him playing) and came back healthier and won one more game we would have made the playoffs.
@Rod
Baker is just inconsistent and I think the Bucs are smart to see how he plays next year. Not just wins but staying healthy and be consistent. Even if he does well but the Bucs do poorly and get a good draft pick then I would not be shocked if they draft a qb.
August 6th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
@ BadBucs Says: âJL doesnât have the presence of mind to trade guys while under contract.â
As Iâve been screaming for years now⌠ZERO Instincts, Lazy, Weak, Scared, and CONTENT with his good-ole âBuddy-Buddyâ system. The top modern day NFL, with these young and aggressive HCâs and GMâs, keep the roster churning and hungry, while making STRONG âAGGRESSIVEâ moves, and POUNCING. Theyâre always âTRYINGâ to get better and improve.
August 6th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
They will have to offer at least another year of guarantees to get it done. So a three year deal for 150 million with at least half guaranteed. Third year would be a Bucs option. If they do, I think Baker would sign. Iâm guessing their last offer was for two years with only one fully guaranteed.
August 6th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Getting a deal done with Baker and Vita is the key to capitalizing on this very promising season. All of these great reviews coming out of camp could be the real deal. I would wait until after the second preseason game to get more evidence that these rookies are who we think they might be. If they look good, then do it.
August 6th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Badbucs Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
@ RodMunch,
Your OR theory is possible, but to pay Baker (and or Vea), after a good season, will force a rebuild regardless.
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I’m not saying to pay Baker AND Vita after the season. Vita has more than proven himself, and I’d extend him now. You can do so, using void years, and signing bonus trickery, to make his cap hit basically nothing in 2027, which gives you more room to deal with having to franchise Baker if you had to.
If the Bucs aren’t going to extend Vita now, then they should trade him, since right now he is at his peak value as teams would be paying a full season of production price for him (likely a 2nd, possibly more if the Bucs can whip up a bidding war).
For Baker, as I said, he’s under contract, lets see what happens. If he performs, the Bucs can franchise tag him – but I highly doubt it would come to that. If he performs well enough to be franchise tagged, the Bucs would give him a new long term deal. The Bucs don’t have a track record of letting guys they want to keep walk over money – and Baker is all about the money (nothing wrong with that to be sure).
August 6th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Theyâre looking for ANY and EVERY advantage they can squeeze by, while in constant search for that one little EDGE. Head-on-svivel, and looking to POUNCE and to cut your THROAT. And, very little loyalty, if and when the âopportunityâ presents itself. Willing to take BIG-SWINGS. Confident and Shrewd. SHARP and Impressive. A CLOSER.
August 6th, 2026 at 10:22 pm
@ Usfbucs – We will be in BIG-TROUBLE, if itâs âTomlin.â And, HE will keep BAKER, no matter what⌠Hell, HE doesnât know what to do. I SWEAR⌠Itâs like, HE is the ONLY HC you people must know of, or something. Him and Gruden. There is a REASON for WHY he was run outta town in Pittsburgh, and according to OVER 80% of their fanbase, came about 2-3 YEARS TOO LATE. If we donât chose a modern day HC who is âoffensive-mindedâ AND can call his OWN plays, then I am seriously, going to absolutely LOSE IT. đŻ
August 6th, 2026 at 10:23 pm
Paratrooper Buc Says:
@Rod
Baker is just inconsistent and I think the Bucs are smart to see how he plays next year. Not just wins but staying healthy and be consistent. Even if he does well but the Bucs do poorly and get a good draft pick then I would not be shocked if they draft a qb.
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I agree completely on team just wanting to be smart, and see what Baker they get in 2026, and if he can stay “healthy,” etc. He’s under contract, won’t take a lowball deal, so there really isn’t much benefit to paying him now when they don’t have to. Right now he probably wants around $55M I’d guess, and if he has a monster year, he’d probably want around $60M I’d guess. With the ever expanding NFL salary cap, and the fact it probably goes up another $22M or so next year, there’s no real downside to waiting and seeing what happens unless the Bucs get a deal they can’t resist.
If the Bucs are talking about a top draft pick at the end of the year, outside of something really fluky, I can’t see a situation where they’d be worried about giving Baker a huge new deal. If they’re in that situation, in a weak NFC South, they’d certainly be firing Bowles and cleaning house, and I doubt a new coach is going to want a QB who in the previous two years got his offensive staff fired, followed by getting the entire staff followed. The only real situation I could see of that combo of things happen would be if Baker performed like Joe Borrow, and the defense was Cincinnati bad – possible, but unlikely. This Bowles defense in the 3 years Baker has been here has been 7th, 12th and 20th. I don’t see it falling to 32nd, but who knows.
August 6th, 2026 at 10:41 pm
@ George Says: âMy question to JL would be, what team offers a franchise QB a 2 year extension? Not sure I have ever seen that.
Herbert â 5 years
Lawrence â 5 years â
Dak â 4 years
Purdy â 5 yearsâ
So, YOU think that you really came across something there LoL, DIDNâT YOU!? Lmao. Now, for the 18-MILLIONTH FREAKING TIME⌠WHY is that so impossible for some people to COMPREHEND!? It is because, BAKER will be 32-FRICKING YEARS OLD. I mean, are YOU a little âslowâ or something, GEORGE!? Every single one of âthose guysâ that YOU have listed (outside of DAK, and there were some very âspecificâ many other âcircumstancesâ involved in HIS negotiations (after playing on the âfranchise tagâ being one of them, AND was tagged TWICE), PLUS HEâS BETTER, AND IT WAS THE TEAM THAT âDRAFTED HIMâ)⌠They are ALL âYOUNGâ and were ALL â2nd-CONTRACTSâ (again), with the team that âDRAFTED THEM.â Only Russell Wilson, was signed to a contract worth OVER 3+YEARS (true) at âtop-of-the-marketâ type money, with a team that did NOT âDRAFTâ THEM. The ONLY ONE. IN HISTORY (at least recent). That means NO ONE ELSE. Now, WHY is this just sooooo freaking HARD to be able to UNDERSTAND!?
August 6th, 2026 at 10:48 pm
Aspect I find interesting is how much the evolution of media in play here. How much an elaborate self funded documentaRy by the Bucs to cultivate a certain image plus an extremely sympathetic Netflix doc portrayal of Baker is being leveraged to fight contract negotiations in the court of public opinion.
August 6th, 2026 at 10:53 pm
@ George – Russell Wilson, the only one over 30-YEARS OLD. And, NOT DRAFTED by their current team. I left out the 30-YEAR OLD part, since I assumed it was obvious⌠But, THEN I realized that if âYOUâ didnât understand ANY of the other details or history involved, that YOU more than likely, were NOT comprehending and figuring-out this part, either. It. Is. Because. HE. Will. Be. 32. Years. Old. To. Begin. His. New. Deal. This is the reason WHY heâs NOT getting 4 or 5-YEARS. Unless, he turns into Brady, Mahomes, or Sam âThe Damn Manâ Darnold THIS SEASON.
August 6th, 2026 at 10:53 pm
@Rod
I see the biggest issue for Baker is that even if he does top 10 QB performance next year, the Bucs will not give him a 4-5 year deal but only a 2-3 year one. I just donât see any better than 10 win ceiling and a basement of 7 wins. If Bucs miss the playoffs then Bowles is gone and I agree with the argument that a new coach may not be enamored with Baker. So Baker is told to pursue a better elsewhere or take a 2-3 year deal.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:04 pm
@ ModHairKen Says: âA strong offer? You sound like a used car salesman. Pull out your Marlboros and have a warm Bud Light.â
That actually sounds SO AWESOME, right now!!!! Reminds me of my youth. MAN, that is LIVIN⌠While, out on the golf course, the family farm and fishing, out on a boat on Lake Cumberland, or Jeepinâ down at the creek and catching crawdads. I wanna go back NOW. I would seriously go and do some of that stuff, if I got to go back home to Kentucky more often. No, Iâm sure I wouldnât. But, it all âsoundsâ NICE.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
@ CHIEF – You are DELUSIONAL. Pure FANTASY.
â100% facts that you cannot dispute.â
August 6th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
Rod: Come on, Baker didn’t get the offensive staff fired. The offensive staff got themselves fired.
Nothing personal against Josh Grizzard, but he went bush-league after the bye. My guess is that he had a lot of talk from Todd that pressed him into that super-predicable conservative mode.
You had to be glued to the screen watching the way I was. Did you actually think that the run-run-pass thing was going to produce with a patched-together offensive line?
And — DO NOT tell me I’m not a “real” Buccaneers fan! I haven’t missed a minute since ’23. I do not have your tenure, but that does not make me less of a fan. Thank you.
August 6th, 2026 at 11:42 pm
@ Bucfan1988 Says: âYou guys putting down Mayfieldâs offer are ridiculous.â
Yeah đŻ, theyâre all FRAUDS. Not Bucs Fans. They are BAKER FANS. And, theyâre ALL âthin-skinnedâ and freaking-out SCARED TO DEATH right now, because they have been EXPOSED and PROVEN SO WRONG about everything, when it comes to all-things BAKER. Itâs some REAL WEIRD stuff. And, they have literally made it freaking IMPOSSIBLE to even try âlikingâ the guy. Itâs the ONLY âarticlesâ they ever comment on, and half of them just completely disappear entirely, on a ânegativeâ titled Baker-article. Heâs had âONEâ GOOD SEASON HERE, and they continue to paint ONLY an ALL ârainbows and lollipopsâ argument, WHEN âtheir ownâ CONSTANT EXCUSE is that he is âHURT.â Then, just conveniently dismiss and fail to EVER mention HIS AGE (undersized and injury history, & etc.)⌠But, THEY ARE BEGGING for the Bucs to just hand âHIMâ a blank fricking CHECK. Itâs all just SO ABSURD. Itâs RIDICULOUS. And, PATHETIC. Seriously, I have NEVER seen ANY other player or âprofessionalâ ATHLETE before, with such a SICK WEIRD bunch of little âadultâ FAN BOIS⌠EVER. And, towards a player of HIS CALIBER⌠Think About THAT. A childish, immature, little PUNK⌠Who is SELFISH (historically, that is âwhoâ HE IS). âHeâs a LEADERâ – Uhhhh, NO HEâs NOT. He âelevatesâ NO ONE, and only cares about HIMSELF. Itâs all just soooo ABSURD. Mind-Blowing. And, with HOW âMILITANTâ and âDEFENSIVEâ they are⌠Guess, theyâre all just like HIM, and have weak insecure EGOS. They see âthemselvesâ in HIM.
August 7th, 2026 at 12:16 am
Melvinjunior-subjective folks view the world believing their opinion super-cedes the opinion of others often followed by a diatribe of condescending words! On the other hand, objective folks see the bigger picture way the positive/negative of the issue but respect the opinion of others. From the wording of you last post, I have a concern that your objectivity left you a long time ago!
August 7th, 2026 at 12:23 am
@ exBROWNSfan Says: âDO NOT tell me Iâm not a ârealâ Buccaneers fan! I havenât missed a minute since â23.â
Yes, it DOES. Because, your next username WILL BE âexBUCSfanâ the very SECOND, that Baker goes to another TEAM, and when YOU then adopt THAT âNEWâ TEAM. You are a âBaker Fanâ FIRST. YOU choose HIS longterm âwell-beingâ OVER THE BUCS.â Andy that is some REALLY WEIRD stuff. You just follow him around, like a lost little puppy dog. And, you know itâs đŻ THE TRUTH, or you wouldnât have gotten so defensive about it.
August 7th, 2026 at 2:53 am
IN fact it’s very simple. Baker has played well, those who cut his easons into halves should also look at other qbs, like Allen and turnovers. Jackson and his reduced running. Mahomes not even playing hurt, Stafford and age, etc. Moreover, the same vioces act as though Baker should be honored to play for the Bucs. Yes he likes the town and wants his family here. But to give him a two yea offer screams “go see what else you can find”. So Vikings, Jets, Steelers, Falcons, Dolphins, probably Houston, even the Sehawks and more all know Baker is better than what they have. Paying him $55M is flat out guaranteed if he leaves. Good luck Bucs pseudo-fans-more-interested-in acting-like-experts-than-living-in-reality in bringing in anybody close to as good. JL knows he insulted Baker and will have to live with it. So will those living in the alternate world.
August 7th, 2026 at 6:16 am
Since 2023đ¤Łđ¤Łđ¤Ł I have socks older than that and Im not that connected to them. Im not saying transplants can’t be converts, but come on. A fan boys still riding his pony is hardly worth puffing up over. Sit down and be quiet. As a 3 year convert, you’re still a toddler in your Fandom. Just curious, do you own any merch that does NOT have the name Mayfield on it?
August 7th, 2026 at 6:17 am
Love the Baxster. However, we have so many needs and we are so far from championship contention that it’s important to allocate money wisely where we need improvements. An overly generous contract hurts the rest of the team and affects cap space in the long term. If the Bucs offer the Baxster a lucrative, long-term contract and he doesn’t perform to expectations or even declines, then the Bucs will be stuck with a lot of dead money long-term. Lichtenstein and the Glazed donuts in One Tampa Place need to be very careful about where they want the Bucs to be in 5 years. The Superbowl doesn’t appear to be on the horizon and we were spoiled by the GOAT who won us a championship just a few years ago. Such a gift horse falling into our laps may not happen again, but consistently winning the division would definitely keep the fans coming back, including me. Go Bucs. Go Canes. Cheers.
August 7th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Rod Munch Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Once again, Baker is under contract â the Bucs do not need to make a move until after the season.
You Baker Boi(s) pretend as if the Bucs must make a decision right now. They donât…
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Baker has more leverage to screw the team in the long term than you think he does. There’s $30 mil in dead cap space coming due if he (a) gets to free agency and they tag him (meaning he’s count around $80 million toward the cap instead of $50-ish), or b) they let him walk in free agency.
That money will be paid and we will see a salary cap related affect on the team next year if either of those two scenarios play out.
The only way to avoid it is to get it done before the end of the season, and even that kicks the can down the road to the end of the new contract. One way or another, there’s still a dead cap hit on the way.
August 7th, 2026 at 9:19 am
Baker was offered double what Brady played for and turned it down.
Let that sink in. A guy that canât sniff the SB wants more than double what the GOAT was paid.
The only disrespect is from Baker Mayfield. He doesnât want to win, he just wants the bag.
Trade him and be done with it. 8-9 can be done achieved with a lot less money.
August 7th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
I wish I had Baker Mayfield-John Gruden Superbowl winning coach
But I’m sure Gruden doesn’t think he could win a superbowl with Baker. What was it the haters said: Mayfield will never win a superbowl. Well I hate to tell the haters but those that know disagree with them yet again.đ
August 7th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
I didn’t think old hater Rod wouldn’t have much to say about that.
August 7th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
exBrowns02 Says:
August 6th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
Rod: Come on, Baker didnât get the offensive staff fired. The offensive staff got themselves fired.
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If the Bucs make the playoffs, it’s highly doubtful they fire the 1st year OC.
And the Bucs missed the playoffs because Baker couldn’t hit some middle school QB level throws in crunchtime.
With that said, I have no issues with firing the man from Lot Lizard. I hate the pick after the first interview with him when he had a chance to say nothing was going to change from the Coen offense, and instead talked about adding in more college concepts, and throwing deep more often. What a moron – all he had to do was be a clone of Coen, just call the same plays in the same situations (something I could have done from home, something AI could do, something apparently anyone but Grizz could do) and the guy is probably getting head coach talk this offseason. Instead he got fired.
But make no mistake, if Baker doesn’t play so poorly when it mattered, then he’s not fired, and we’re talking about some offseason “adjustments” and maybe a tutor to help him mimic what made Coen so successful.
August 7th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Well well well – Gruden won the SB with Dungy’s team, which literally had the best defense in the history of the NFL, a defense that gave up 3 net points in the playoffs, and outscored the opposing offense in the Super Bowl. But yes, if Baker was on that team, he wins a SB. The same thing Trent Dilfer would have done. Heck, in 2002-03, Shawn King, on that team, wins the SB. Pretty much anyone wins the SB when your defense is giving up 1-point a game in the playoffs.