Despite a late-season collapse, the Buccaneers GM is committed to securing Baker Mayfield and Yaya Diaby long-term, building a new core.
Despite a mid-season breakdown that caused the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to miss the playoffs, general manager Jason Licht is confident in extending quarterback Baker Mayfield and linebacker Yaya Diaby.
Both are entering the 2026 season on the last year of their contracts -- Mayfield at $10 million and Diaby at $3.6 million. Tampa Bay handing them extensions creates a new core for the Bucs following the departures of longtime legends Lavonte David and Mike Evans.
Licht did not entertain questions about Mayfield potentially playing out his contract for more money; instead, he praised his franchise's quarterback and left extension talks for later down the line.
"He's one of the toughest guys on the team," Licht told the media in March. "He's a great leader. Everything kind of revolves around the quarterback spot. At some point, we'll figure something out. There's no timetable on that.
Mayfield's three years with Tampa Bay show he is a reliable starting quarterback who can help a team win games. He threw for 12,237 yards, 95 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in his three seasons with the team.
The 6-foot-1 quarterback led the Buccaneers to a 6-2 start last season and earned some MVP recognition from the fans and media. Mayfield averaged 239.9 yards, 1.5 touchdowns and only threw two interceptions in that eight-game stretch.
One of his best performances came against the Seattle Seahawks in the Bucs' close victory, 38-35. Mayfield threw for 379 yards -- his highest passing game of the season -- and two touchdowns.
The momentum rose as Tampa Bay won game after game, only losing to the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. However, it all came crashing down after the bye week, when the team finished the season with a 2-7 record (8-9 overall).
As for Diaby, Licht believed he had done enough to warrant a second contract after his rookie deal. The Buccaneers picked Diaby with the 82nd pick in the 2023 draft out of Louisville.
He is coming off a season where he replicated similar numbers to his rookie year. Diaby totaled 50 tackles (29 solo), seven sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defended. Licht said he wants the 6-foot-4 linebacker back long term because the team likes him a lot.
"I'd love to have YaYa here long term," Licht said. "He's a very good, young player that's probably a little bit underappreciated, I think, overall for what he's done. He's a good, young player."
Extending Mayfield and Diaby for the foreseeable future isn't much of an issue. The Bucs make them their new core of the future. Mayfield finds a staple home for himself and Diaby continues to develop under coach Todd Bowles.
However, investing in Mayfield and Diaby for the long term means they must produce at a high level to help Tampa Bay become a consistent playoff team.
Last season ended horribly for the Buccaneers, and they cannot have that type of end under the new era of Mayfield and Diaby if they sign new extensions.
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