Baker Mayfield hopes to have a new contract extension finalized with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the start of training camp in July.
Mayfield is set to play on the final year of a three-year contract worth $100 million.
During an interview with JP Peterson of FanStreamSports.com on Thursday, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht made an interesting comment on where things stand with Mayfield in negotiations.
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Licht wants to have “closure one way or another” with Mayfield, suggesting the team would like to know if the quarterback will stay with Tampa Bay for the long term or if the team needs to plan for a new signal-caller.
“We’ve had some discussions and we’ll continue to have some internal discussions and see, and try to bring this to closure one way or another,” Licht said, via JoeBucksFan.com. “But no one wants to see Baker go anywhere, and no one’s worried about how Baker’s mindset is going to be.
“I’ve had conversations with him about that. He’s all about wanting to win. So he’s in a good place.”
The difference between the Buccaneers and Mayfield could be in the millions of dollars this summer.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested Mayfield could look for a deal that pays nearly $50 million per season.
An anonymous general manager told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom that the Buccaneers shouldn’t pay more than $30 million per season.
“No one is looking at Baker Mayfield and saying that guy is taking us to the Super Bowl,” said the GM. He’ll be 32 (if he hits free agency), he’s been injured, this will be his fifth team, is it? If he can get a coupla more years at $30 (million a year), he should take it.”
The Buccaneers and Mayfield should meet somewhere in the middle. The No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft has had some of his best seasons with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have remained in playoff contention with Mayfield.
Of course, Mayfield could become more attractive in the market if he leads the Buccaneers to a deep playoff run.
For more on the Buccaneers and the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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