There’s extra data concerning why some near Tampa Bay Buccaneers normal supervisor Jason Licht sound satisfied that the staff will signal quarterback Baker Mayfield to a brand new contract earlier than the window for groups to make use of their franchise tags closes on the afternoon of March 5.
“Issues ought to warmth up subsequent week on the mix in Indianapolis, the place the expectation is that Mayfield’s agent and the Bucs will meet,” Jenna Laine of ESPN mentioned in a chunk revealed on Thursday. “That is often the place the groundwork is laid for hammering out new offers with present gamers.”
Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians and Hall of Famer Ronde Barber are amongst people with robust ties to the group who’ve insisted this winter the membership will maintain onto Mayfield although Tampa Bay additionally wish to preserve potential free brokers resembling vast receiver Mike Evans, security Antoine Winfield Jr. and linebacker Lavonte David. It was reported earlier this week that Tampa Bay would like to make use of the franchise tag on Winfield fairly than on Mayfield or Evans, however logic suggests Licht is saving the tag simply in case he wants it for the signal-caller who guided the membership to a playoff victory this previous January.
Former agent and present CBS Sports activities NFL contracts and salary-cap professional Joel Corry mentioned on Wednesday that Mayfield’s camp might wish to higher the four-year contract that could possibly be price as much as $160M that New York Giants starter Daniel Jones signed final March. Laine urged Mayfield would decline a suggestion just like the three-year deal price as a lot as $105M that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith agreed to final offseason.
“Mayfield is 28, whereas when Smith signed his cope with the Seattle Seahawks final spring, he was 32,” Laine defined. “Mayfield’s additionally received two profession playoff video games now, which give some justification for driving the value up.”
The Giants went right down to the final minutes earlier than they signed Jones to a deal that allowed them to make use of the non-exclusive franchise tag on working again Saquon Barkley. Licht most likely would like to keep away from an analogous state of affairs, however the general level stays that he would not essentially must panic if Mayfield started the primary Monday of subsequent month on observe to achieve free company.