Bowles Has ‘Absolutely No Question’ on Baker Mayfield as Buccaneers Long-Term Starter

Todd Bowles stepped to the podium Thursday after the Buccaneers finished another OTA session and delivered a direct message about his quarterback. Baker Mayfield is the guy. Long term. No hedging.

“Absolutely no question,” Bowles said when asked about keeping Mayfield as the starting quarterback well beyond the 2026 season.

“Baker’s all business. He’s all about business. The contract stuff takes care of itself. That’s the business side of it that you don’t see, that everybody has to deal with, and I’m sure he’ll take care of it, but it doesn’t affect his play. … Baker’s a true pro. I don’t think there’s any disappointment whatsoever. I mean, he loves it here. We love him here.”

The words landed with the same steady weight Bowles brings to most topics. Contract noise swirling in the background? Irrelevant to the daily work. The coach sees a quarterback who shows up ready, stays locked in, and has earned the trust of the room.

Mayfield’s Side: Roots in Tampa, Deadline Approaching

Mayfield signed his current three-year, $100 million contract in March 2024. That deal carries an average annual value of $33.3 million, which ranks 16th among NFL quarterbacks. He enters 2026 as the final year on the deal.

On June 5, Mayfield told reporters negotiations have started but remain far from where he expected. He set the start of training camp as the hard deadline for serious progress.

“I think first and foremost, regardless — we’ve built roots here in Tampa. We love the community. We love to be here. They’ve embraced us, and we enjoy being here and obviously going to raise kids here. But yeah, contract stuff — it’s happening, it’s starting, the talks and whatnot, but not anywhere close to what we were thinking.”

Mayfield has been clear: once camp opens, the focus shifts entirely to football. No more contract discussions. He remains under contract for 2026 and would hit unrestricted free agency in 2027 if nothing gets done.

Production That Earned the Backing

Mayfield has delivered consistent results since landing in Tampa. In 51 starts across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons, he has averaged 4,079 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and a 66.3 completion percentage per season.

The Buccaneers reached the playoffs in each of Mayfield’s first two seasons as the starter. They finished 8-9 in 2025 and missed the postseason after a late collapse. Through it all, Mayfield has started every game and maintained the same daily approach that Bowles praised Thursday.

Business Side vs. Football Side

Contract talks between the sides have not produced a breakthrough yet. Bowles made it plain that those discussions belong in another room. On the practice field, the only thing that matters is preparation and execution.

That separation shows in small moments. During Thursday’s OTA work, Mayfield connected with Chris Godwin Jr. on back-to-back touchdown passes in 7-on-7 periods. The routine continues. The quarterback keeps throwing, the coach keeps coaching, and the team keeps grinding toward training camp.

Mayfield has also stayed visible in the community, including recent participation in the team’s annual “Color & Cut Funds the Cure” event supporting pediatric cancer research. The personal investment in Tampa runs deeper than the field.

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

Bowles’ public endorsement sets a clear tone heading into the summer. The coach believes in the player he has. The player has made it known he wants to stay and build on what the group has started.

Whether the front office and Mayfield’s representatives close the gap before camp remains to be seen. If they do not, Mayfield will play out 2026 under his current deal and then test free agency. Either path starts with the same daily standard he has held since arriving in Tampa.

The contract will get handled one way or another. The football, as Bowles noted, stays the priority right now.