Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said Friday that he is "very optimistic" about quarterback Baker Mayfield playing in Tampa beyond the 2026 season despite Mayfield saying he felt "disrespected" by what the Bucs initially offered.
"I'm very optimistic about it," Licht said during the WFLA broadcast of the Bucs' third preseason game at the Jacksonville Jaguars. "He wants to play. He wants to prove to us that he is the franchise quarterback that we said that he was. So, we'll just have to see how it plays out. I'll never close the door on anything in the short term, but right now, he's focused on football."
The Bucs offered a two-year extension, but the two sides could not reach an agreement before Mayfield's mandated training camp deadline. Mayfield said he would not continue negotiating until after the season because he wants to focus on football. He said his agent knows not to approach him unless it's an offer within his desired salary range.
Licht said previously that the Bucs are open to using the franchise tag on Mayfield, an option Mayfield is open to, although it limits contract flexibility.
Licht also expressed confidence that wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, who suffered a toe sprain Aug. 12 at joint practices with the New York Jets, and Jalen McMillan, who suffered a knee injury Aug. 2 and did not return until Aug. 18, will be ready for the start of the regular season. Both are expected to help carry the passing game for an offense trying to navigate the loss of franchise scoring leader Mike Evans.
"Well, the injuries that we've had like with Meca and J-Mac, we're just being very cautious and smart about it and not rushing them back out here for this preseason," Licht said. "And we're pretty sure that we're going to have them back Week 1, and everything's trending that way."