Baker Mayfield has never been one to suppress his emotions. So with training camp underway, the quarterback shared with the media just how he felt as contract talks have stalled with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Disappointing in that regard ... you know, to feel disrespected a little bit, and that's really the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after thinking you've earned it," Mayfield said at a news conference Thursday, July 30.
The 31-year-old former No. 1 overall pick said he had set a deadline with the front office to reach an extension on the three-year deal he signed in 2024 after his first season in Tampa. He told the team he would focus on football once that deadline passed without an agreement, and for now it seems his future in Florida
is in the air until the offseason.
Mayfield had an up-and-down year in 2025 as he battled injuries, putting up far lower numbers than his career year in 2024. His 3,693 passing yards and 26 touchdowns were the lowest of his three years with the Bucs, though his 11 interceptions were down from the previous season. After a hot start, the Bucs dropped seven of their last nine games and finished in a three-way tie for the division lead at 8-9, losing out on a playoff spot to the Carolina Panthers.
"I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and peers and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories, and I deserve to be compensated for that," Mayfield said. "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, so to not have a deal done is disappointing. But I said the deadline was the deadline, and I addressed the team to let them know that."
"To feel disrespected a little bit, and that's really the disappointing part."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 30, 2026
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield's full statement on not having a new contract heading into training camp ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wIRBMuHVCj
Since joining the Bucs in 2023, Mayfield has the third-most passing yards in the NFL (12,237) behind only Detroit's Jared Goff and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. He also has thrown the second-most picks (37) behind Geno Smith, now with the New York Jets.
Baker Mayfield contract
Mayfield's career appeared to be in jeopardy when he first came to Tampa in 2023. The Cleveland Browns, who drafted the Heisman winner first overall out of Oklahoma in 2018, traded him to Carolina before the 2022 for just a fifth-round pick. After another trade to the Rams midway through that season, Mayfield came to the Bucs the year after Tom Brady retired on a one-year deal worth $4 million.
That signing helped turn things around for both parties. Mayfield passed for 4,000 yards for the first time in his career as Tampa held onto the NFC South title. The comeback season earned Mayfield a three-year, $100 million extension that expires after this season. The Bucs won the division again in 2024, in which Mayfield threw for a career-high 4,500 yards and 41 TDs.
With a $33.3 million annual salary, that deal ranks 16th among QBs in average annual value, according to Spotrac. That's behind the likes of Deshaun Watson, for whom the Browns traded in 2022 that led to Mayfield's ouster. Watson has played in just 19 games across three seasons shortened by injuries and plagued by poor play.
If the Bucs let Mayfield walk after the season, they would look to the draft or free agency to add a new quarterback. Their current backup is former Bengal Jeff Browning, who started in spots for Joe Burrow when the franchise QB was injured. The others on the roster are Connor Bazelak and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Baker Mayfield feels 'disrespected' over Buccaneers contract talks
