Jon Gruden didn’t waste much time getting to the point when asked about Baker Mayfield’s future in Tampa Bay.
The former Buccaneers coach, who led the franchise to a Super Bowl title in January 2003, made it clear he believes the team already has its answer at quarterback. In a recent conversation with Buccaneers reporter Ira Kaufman of the JoeBucsFan website, Gruden sounded like someone who sees Mayfield as too valuable to let drift into uncertainty.
"I think he’s the leader of the team," Gruden said about Mayfield. "He can make all the throws, and he proved he can play in bad weather [when with the Cleveland Browns from 2018-2021]. I’m an owl - who, who, who are you going to get if you don’t have Baker Mayfield?"
That question hangs over a situation that still hasn’t been fully resolved. Recent reports from NFL insiders have suggested people inside the Buccaneers organization and Mayfield’s camp expect the sides to eventually work out a contract extension. For now, though, Mayfield is still in the final year of the three-year deal he signed in March 2024.
Tampa Bay does have a path to keeping him beyond this season if needed, since the team could retain his rights for 2027 through the franchise tag.
Gruden also pointed to the way Mayfield plays as a big part of what makes him so hard to replace.
"He’s a fireball, man," Gruden added about Mayfield. "I mean, how do you not like Mayfield?
He brings it on the practice field, and he brings it on Sunday. In the most horrific of situations, how many times have you seen this guy scramble and sell out to get a first down?"
There has been some concern inside the Buccaneers about the toll that style can take. A June report said people within the organization were "concerned" that Mayfield may continue "to neglect" his health through the way he plays. He has not missed a start since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023, but he has been banged up along the way.
Last season, he played through a sprained MCL and PCL from Week 2 before later suffering a significant injury to his non-throwing shoulder in Week 12. He also dealt with a bad biceps contusion that "affected his velocity" during the year.
Gruden said he understands why Mayfield would want clarity on a new deal.
"I think you’ve got to put yourself in his shoes," Gruden said about Mayfield’s desire for an extension. "How would you like it?
You’ve been to the Pro Bowl, you’ve played magnificent football here, and the Browns haven’t been very good since he left. Where are we going without Baker Mayfield?
I’m hoping it will all work itself out. My advice?
Take one snap at a time, just play good football down to down, stay healthy and great things are going to happen to Mayfield."
Mayfield has already made his preference clear: he said he doesn’t want contract talks dragging past July 28, when Buccaneers players are due to report for training camp. Whether that date is a true hard deadline remains to be seen.
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Why The Bucs Suddenly Have A Real Shot At The South
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That matters because the South does not have a clear front-runner, with Carolina, Atlanta and New Orleans all part of a division that feels open heading into the season. If Mayfield can push closer to the level Tampa Bay expected when it brought him in, the Bucs will not just be in the conversation again, they could be the team everyone else is chasing. [Read more 🡒]