The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are running out of time to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield before NFL free agency starts Monday.
Both sides have made it clear publicly that they’d like to keep a good thing going after last season, but on the eve of the “legal tampering period” opening up, there’s still no long-term deal in place between Mayfield and the Bucs.
So, what’s the latest on the negotiations?
“As of late Saturday, the Buccaneers and Mayfield remained in talks but hadn’t progressed toward a deal,” says ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “Multiple teams I’ve spoken to over the weekend predict Mayfield and the Bucs will land on a three- or four-year deal at some point in the next few days. But this is a budgetary concern for Tampa Bay. Will the Glazer family, which paid the great Tom Brady $97.8 million over three seasons, be willing to pay Mayfield that kind of money … or more? Tampa Bay also has to pay left tackle Tristan Wirfs eventually, and possibly at a market-resetting clip. Either way, the Bucs’ front office appears motivated to do this, as it sorted out Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. (franchise tag) with thoughts of focusing on Mayfield the rest of the week.”
If Mayfield does hit the open market this week, the Bucs will have plenty of competition for his services, which could add to the urgency to get something done before those other clubs have a chance to negotiate with Mayfield’s camp.
“Mayfield is going to have a market if Tampa Bay doesn’t sign him before free agency opens,” says ESPN’s Dan Graziano. “The fact that the Bucs haven’t re-signed him yet is a strong indicator that he doesn’t believe they’re the only team interested at his price point, which could exceed $40 million per year. If Cousins does stay in Minnesota, I believe the Falcons would look at Mayfield, and I don’t think they’d be alone.”
If the Bucs want to build on last year’s success and keep Mayfield as their starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, they’d better make it happen fast.
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