Jason Licht didn’t dance around the obvious on Wednesday: the Buccaneers had to keep Baker Mayfield.
Speaking alongside the quarterback for the first time since Mayfield signed his three-year, $165 million extension, Tampa Bay’s general manager made it plain that the organization sees him as much more than a short-term answer. The deal ended months of contract tension and closed the book on a negotiation that had hovered over the team for much of the offseason.
Licht pointed to the way Mayfield carries himself and the effect that has throughout the franchise.
“The players here feed off his energy, toughness, his style of play, his leadership. But the building feeds off it too, and so does the city and fan base… It’s just an awesome thing. It’s a no-brainer to want to have him locked up for as long as we can… We’re just so excited he’s going to be here in the future," Mayfield said.
That public back-and-forth earlier in the process had raised some eyebrows. When the two sides couldn’t get a deal done before training camp, Mayfield openly said he felt disrespected by the Buccaneers and took issue with how the negotiations were handled.
Licht, though, said he never viewed that as a personal issue. He even laughed about it while reflecting on the process.
“One of the things I love the most about Baker is you never have to question or wonder how he feels. Got an example of that last month… I think we both knew deep down that at some point we’d get something done.”
Mayfield and Licht clearly have the kind of working relationship that can survive a messy negotiation and come out stronger on the other side. Mayfield said that sort of bond between a player and a general manager is rare, and that he doesn’t take it lightly.
For the Buccaneers, the result is simple: their franchise quarterback is locked in for the foreseeable future. Mayfield has been one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks since arriving in Tampa Bay, and now the contract matches the production. If anyone in the building sounds especially pleased about that, it’s probably Jason Licht.
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Now the question around Garnes is no longer whether he belongs in the conversation, but how soon the Buccaneers might need him to be more than depth. A player who impressed enough to make the team after entering as an undrafted rookie naturally carries a different kind of intrigue once the season begins, especially at a position where opportunity can appear fast. For Tampa Bay, Garnes has already gone from camp story to rostered defender, and the next step may be just as revealing. [Read more 🡒]