Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield still unsigned as camp opens

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has set the opening of training camp as a deadline for a new long-term contract, but with the team reporting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a deal remains elusive. Negotiations between Mayfield and Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht have been ongoing for months, with the central issue being the quarterback's desire to join the growing ranks of NFL starters earning over $50 million annually.

Mayfield, 31, is entering the final season of a three-year, $100 million contract signed in 2024. He is scheduled to earn a base salary of $10 million and a $17 million roster bonus this year. Reports indicate the two sides have not been close to an agreement, with Mayfield believed to feel he has outperformed several quarterbacks already commanding that salary tier. At least 11 quarterbacks currently make $50 million or more per year.

Despite the impasse, there is confidence a deal will eventually be reached, as both sides have repeatedly expressed a mutual desire to continue their partnership. A significant factor is Mayfield's reported willingness to play under the franchise tag in 2027 if a long-term extension cannot be finalized now or...