Baker Mayfield’s new deal with the Buccaneers came together after a clear sticking point: years.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times said on Bucs Collective that Mayfield wanted a four-year contract, while Tampa Bay’s first offer was only two. The sides eventually landed on a three-year, $165 million agreement ahead of the 2026 season.
“He felt like they should give him three years minimum; he wanted four. Quite frankly, he came down to three, and they offered two, and that was really the sticking point. You figured they could work the money out,” Stroud said.
Elsewhere in the division, the Falcons have officially handed the Week 1 starting quarterback job to Tua Tagovailoa, and he said the news felt “very refreshing.”
“ It’s very refreshing,” Tagovailoa said, via FalconsWire. “It’s a blessing. That’s the best way I can describe the position I’m in.”
Tagovailoa also made it clear he isn’t carrying a chip on his shoulder heading into 2026. His focus, he said, is simple: helping Atlanta win.
“The expectation that I put on myself is to go out there and score one more point than the other team,” Tagovailoa said. “I don’t have anything to prove to anyone on the outside.”
In Carolina, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said outside linebacker Patrick Jones II will miss Week 1 and is week-to-week after aggravating the surgically repaired back injury he dealt with a year ago.
Bryce Young also addressed his future when asked about his contract situation entering the fourth year before his fifth-year option in 2027. He kept the answer centered on the field.
“For me, it’s just about football. All that stuff happens, it’s outside for my control. All that stuff is other people, and upstairs, and agents an all that.”
Panthers owner David Tepper, meanwhile, said he believes Young can keep producing at a high level on a consistent basis.
“You saw it: he can and he has performed at a high level against high-level competition. It seems to bring the best out of him.
Bryce is sort of a guy that doesn’t feel the pressure, right? You saw it against the Rams twice.
When you have that kind of performance you know it’s there. Can he bring it every single game?
I believe he can. It’s there.
I’m a believer, hopefully it comes true.”
In Other News...
Panthers Pass Rush Takes An Early Hit Before Week 1
The Panthers are already having to adjust their edge-rush plans before the 2026 season even begins. Head coach Dave Canales said starting outside linebacker Pat Jones II will miss the opener against the Bears because of a back injury, a setback that lands less than ideal for a defense trying to get its rotation settled early.
Jones issue is being described as an aggravation on the opposite side of his back from the injury he dealt with in 2025, which only adds to the uncertainty around how quickly he can get back. In the meantime, Carolina will lean more heavily on Princely Umanmielen, Trevis Gipson and Thomas Incoom, all of whom are in line for larger snaps as the Panthers try to piece together pressure off the edge without one of their expected starters. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Kuechly Just Gave Panthers Fans A New Reason To Watch
Luke Kuechlys latest act pulled him back into the NFL spotlight in a different way, and Panthers fans had a familiar face to latch onto. The former Carolina linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer made his debut as a color commentator for Netflixs broadcast of the 49ers-Rams game in Australia, stepping into a booth role with far less broadcasting experience than most of his peers but drawing immediate attention for how naturally he handled it.
The early reaction was strong enough to make this more than a one-off curiosity for Carolina followers who still know Kuechly best as the centerpiece of those defenses. Viewers and analysts praised the way he sounded in his first game, and Netflix has him slated to call three more NFL games this season, giving Panthers fans another reason to tune in and see how his second career keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Rookie Tackle Is About To Face A Brutal Early Test
The Panthers got real mileage out of their 2025 rookie class, and now the spotlight is shifting to the next wave. Right tackle Monroe Freeling has already been singled out on a preseason All-Rookie team, and with injuries thinning the offensive line, he is expected to be in the starting lineup sooner rather than later. For a team that watched Tetairoa McMillan emerge as the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, there is plenty of reason to believe Carolinas young talent can matter quickly.
Freelings first big chance comes with a difficult assignment waiting on the other side. Montez Sweat is the kind of edge rusher who can make a rookie tackle earn every snap, especially when the protection around him is still getting sorted out. The Panthers do not need perfection from Freeling right away, but they do need him to hold up in a test that will say a lot about how ready he is for the NFL pace. [Read more 🡒]