we franchise tag him
Great.
So now, we’re roughly $12M-$15M over the cap.
And, YOU are also banging the drum to re-sign Vea.
Then, factor in 2027 FA and draft class.
Now what?
Yeah, obviously nobody on either side wants the Bucs to use the Franchise tag. But the fact remains that they do have the option to do so. It's always a possibility, and that should factor into the negotiations - for both sides.
unreasonable would be not countering
agreed
But I would also say its a bit of a shell game. Baker says his negotiations are over now the TC is underway. He was never negotiating anyway. His agent was negotiating. Baker says thats fine going forward, just doint ask him about contract stuff during TC. Um, okay sure.
In all of that posturing back and forth publicly he still referenced offers (plural) from the Bucs, so most likely both parties have moved off their starts, communicated offers and counters and positions. They just didn't get it done by Mayfield's fake "dont ask me questions about it" deadline.
They didnt get Wirfs done until training camp, I think? Mayfield would know better than most.
we franchise tag him
Great.
So now, we’re roughly $12M-$15M over the cap.
And, YOU are also banging the drum to re-sign Vea.
Then, factor in 2027 FA and draft class.
Now what?
the end result is obviously not to have him play on the franchise tag but you eliminate other teams from entering the negotiating table
we've seen it before where the franchise tag is used and then ultimately the parties agree to a deal
one would think the Bucs and Baker can do this...but not if their intention is a 2 year deal
unreasonable would be not countering
agreed
But I would also say its a bit of a shell game. Baker says his negotiations are over now the TC is underway. He was never negotiating anyway. His agent was negotiating. Baker says thats fine going forward, just doint ask him about contract stuff during TC. Um, okay sure.
In all of that posturing back and forth publicly he still referenced offers (plural) from the Bucs, so most likely both parties have moved off their starts, communicated offers and counters and positions. They just didn't get it done by Mayfield's fake "dont ask me questions about it" deadline.
They didnt get Wirfs done until training camp, I think? Mayfield would know better than most.
all depends
if the Bucs only think of him in terms of the next 2 years, they probably bruised his ego a bit. Baker being an emotional guy went public but probably a 50/50 split of fans that A - wanted him to play out this year on existing contract versus B - wanted him extended prior to the year. More heavily waited to " Get Baker signed now" on this board versus X being more evenly split.
I think the Bucs are perfectly content with Bakers arbitrary deadline as there was very little upside to extending him prior to the season anyway. So they "have the utmost respect for Baker" all fine and dandy but they essentially got what they wanted. There wont be much movement in average value per year on the 2026 season.
i know im murdering that dead horse, but pewterreport echoed the same on one of their videos, what Baker are the Bucs committing too...the 2024 guy or the 2025 guy? the 40 Touchdown guy or the 25 TD guy. those are two entirely different QBs
Baker's camp is certainly pointing to the playoff win, life after Brady and the 40+ TD top 5 offense of the first 2 seasons. He most likely wants that 5 year deal like others in his tier have gotten
the Bucs, whether you want to admit it or not, pumped the breaks a bit after his 2025 play and thus thought enough of him to guarantee money, albeit, a 2 year deal. Not much of a commitment when you are talking about a supposed franchise QB.
I actually adore that Baker is betting on himself. Just think if he would have accepted a 2 year deal (coming off a 3 year deal) at an age where he still has some run way on the career. That would have signaled to me that the guy doesn't even belief in himself. So this is all good news at least on the Baker front.
