Those negotiations have ended now.Mayfield imposed a start-of-training-camp deadline to bring them to a close and he's sticking to it.But the weeks of negotiations and offers the Bucs made before the deadline have left him in an unhappy place.
And that's not a good place for any player, much less the team's starting quarterback, to be to start training camp.BAKER MAYFIELD'S SELF-IMPOSED CONTRACT DEADLINE ARRIVES AS BUCCANEERS AND QUARTERBACK FAIL TO AGREE ON DEALTampa Bay Buccaneers newly signed Quarterback Baker Mayfield addresses the media on March 20, 2023 at AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa,FL.(Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"It's disappointing in the regard to have, you know, to feel disrespected a little bit," Mayfield told reporters.
"And, um, that's really the disappointing part to feel undervalued after, you know, thinking you've earned it."This is not a poor-me thing.There's a lot other people that have it way worse off, but I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and peers and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories that I deserve to be compensated for that."And I think I'm a franchise quarterback.
I've been told I'm a franchise quarterback.It's been said publicly from ownership down here.
And so to not have a deal done is very disappointing."Mayfield told ESPN the Bucs didn't offer anything beyond a two-year deal.He actually wanted a longer-term deal that would have kept him in Tampa into his mid-30s.Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) is congratulated by quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, Oct.
12, 2025.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)There are currently 10 NFL quarterbacks who make between $51 million and $55 million per season on an annual average basis.
Mayfield wants to be part of that group.Mayfield instead will collect up to $28 million in the final year of his three-yea...