The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not close to contract extensions for Baker Mayfield or Vita Vea, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. With the team set to report for training camp on July 28, the lack of progress adds another layer to a situation that has already stretched through the offseason.
Garafolo said Monday on The Insiders that there is no rush for the Buccaneers to get new deals done for either player. That does not mean talks are finished, but it does suggest Tampa Bay is not facing an immediate deadline to strike agreements before camp opens.
Mayfield's deal remains a talking point
Mayfield has already said twice this offseason that his side and the franchise were not in a strong place on a new contract. In early June, he said the two sides were not anywhere close. Later in June, he said they needed to find middle ground.
The quarterback is entering his ninth season and his fourth year with the Buccaneers, and the conversation around his future comes with real context. He is on a four-year, $71 million contract, while the broader quarterback market keeps moving. Twelve quarterbacks now make at least $51 million annually, and that backdrop makes any delay more noticeable even if Tampa Bay is not currently treating it as urgent.
Vea's status adds to the storyline
Vea is also entering the final season of his current deal, a three-year, $100 million pact. The 31-year-old is one of the club's remaining pillars, along with players such as Mike Evans and Lavonte David, and his contract situation has already affected his offseason participation.
Unlike some veteran holdouts that become louder as camp nears, Vea did not take part in offseason practices, including mandatory minicamp, because of his contract situation. That makes the July 28 reporting day more relevant, even if the Buccaneers are not close to a breakthrough right now.
What it means heading into camp
For now, the Buccaneers appear willing to let the situation breathe. Garafolo's report points to a team that is not in panic mode, even with two important veterans heading toward the final year of their deals.
That could change once camp begins and the pressure of the calendar gets tighter. But at this stage, the clearest takeaway is simple: the Buccaneers are not close on extensions for Baker Mayfield or Vita Vea, and July 28 could become the next meaningful checkpoint.
