Just a few moments after his press conference announcing the re-signing of Bucs Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, general manager Jason Licht was already fielding questions about the contract talks with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

On Wednesday, Pewter Report reported that the Bucs and Mayfield’s camp were not close in terms of reaching an agreement on a long-term contract extension. At the beginning of contract talks, both sides were about $19 million per year apart. Mayfield and the Bucs have made progress since then, but no deal appears to be imminent.

Licht didn’t reveal too much about the progress of contract talks on Friday other than to say: “We’ve had good conversations.”

While the Bucs would like to get a deal done prior to the start of free agency next week, Licht did indicate that Mayfield could actually hit the market.

“You just have to remain patient,” Licht said. “You can’t panic and you’ve got to know sometimes you’ve got to let some of them go into free agency and then come back. So hopefully they come back. You don’t want to do something that puts your club in a bad position. And at the same time, you also want to do everything you can to put your club in a good position.”

Bucs, Jason Licht May Let Baker Mayfield Hit Free Agency

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Adam Slivon/PR

Jason Licht and the Bucs have had previous success retaining a few of their own free agents that have hit the market. Two years ago it was cornerback Carlton Davis III, and last year cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Lavonte David each hit free agency and ultimately returned to Tampa Bay when they found out their market was not as robust as they had hoped.

Licht was asked if those previous scenarios with prior Bucs free agents give him the confidence that if Baker Mayfield hit free agency he would return, too.

“The confidence comes from that we’re in a great organization, that this is a great place to play, we’ve got a great team,” Licht said. “You don’t ever take it for granted and think of how they’ll come back because you never know. Every situation is different, but the fact that we have the ownership that we have, the players that we have, the staff that we have, the coaches, then that gives you some confidence that they’ll make the decision that you hope that they make.”

Pewter Report has previously reported that Mayfield could have at least two suitors in the NFC with the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings possibly showing interest if he hits free agency. Mayfield had a career year in Tampa Bay in 2023 after signing a one-year, prove-it deal with a $4 million base salary and incentives that pushed the deal close to $8 million in total.

Mayfield, who turns 29 in April, threw for 4,000 yards for the first time in his six-year NFL career, as well as throwing a career-high 28 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. The former No. 1 overall pick helped the Bucs win the NFC South for a third straight season and beat Philadelphia in the Wild Card round of the playoffs before losing at Detroit in the Divisional round of the postseason.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

While Wednesday, March 13 is the official start of free agency in terms of players being allowed to sign contracts with new teams, the open negotiating period begins at noon on Monday, March 11. Of course teams and agents meet secretly at the NFL Scouting Combine to have conversations to gauge a player’s worth and perhaps indicate interest in the club’s behalf, as Licht hinted at on Friday.

“Well a lot of them know what the market is at this point,” Licht said. “I think the start of the negotiation period is really almost the same as the start of free agency because they’re already talking and negotiating.

“So, as we get to Monday, any of our players aren’t signed – it doesn’t mean they’re not coming back. It just means that maybe we’ve got an agreement that hey they’ll see what [their] worth [is]. We have a disagreement right now and then let’s just try to work it out. We don’t want the player to be unhappy, either.”

Does Mike Evans’ Return To The Bucs Signal A Return For Baker Mayfield, Too?

Now that Mike Evans is back in the fold, re-signing with Tampa Bay for two more years, does Jason Licht see a link between Evans and Baker Mayfield? Does the star receiver’s return help Mayfield decide to remain in Tampa Bay?

“I see a link between the two because they like each other, they played well with each other,” Licht said. “But it’s not, once again, it’s doesn’t make it automatic. I’m not taking it anybody for granted here. So it’s a good start. [Evans is] a good player to throw to. Who wouldn’t want to throw to him? But Baker’s got to make a decision for him – for himself.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Licht has some confidence that Baker Mayfield will return to the Bucs but revealed that the team has some backup options just in case it doesn’t work out.

“You always have to have, as Bruce [Arians] would say, look behind door two and three and four and five. So yeah, we always feel like we need options.”

During Friday’s press conference, Evans expressed his desire to have Mayfield re-sign with the Bucs so they can pick up where they left off in 2023.

“Me and Baker talk,” Evans said. “I just want what’s best for him. I think what would be best for him would be to play with me and Chris [Godwin], but there’s a lot of great receivers in this league that could use his services as well.

“But you know I can play with whoever is at quarterback. Obviously, I hope it’s Baker, but if not I can make it work. Hopefully, we get him back – he’s a hell of a player. I appreciate [him]. They’re going to handle their process and I trust Jason and the front office no matter what happens.”