Mayfield said Friday negotiations with the Buccaneers on an extension are ongoing and he would "love to have a long-term deal" beyond 2026, but talks are currently "not anywhere close" and he considers the start of training camp a firm negotiation deadline, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mayfield suited up for all 17 regular-season games with Tampa Bay in 2025 despite playing through biceps, shoulder, knee and oblique injuries. The wear showed in his numbers: 3,693 passing yards and a 26:11 touchdown-to-interception ratio, down from 4,500 yards and a 41:16 mark in 2024. That kind of statistical step back tells its own story without needing extra explanation.
The numbers are doing most of the announcement work here, which is usually how teams prefer it.
The Buccaneers have added fresh pass-catching options in rookie third-rounder Ted Hurst and running back Kenneth Gainwell, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson could provide a schematic boost. Still, Mayfield will need to adjust to the departure of his leading receiver in 2026.
Mayfield is heading into the final season of the three-year, $100 million deal he signed in March 2024. If he hits the free-agent market in 2027, the 31-year-old would be highly sought after. For now, the ball remains in Tampa Bay's court until training camp arrives and the deadline he set becomes real.