NFL training camps are just around the corner, and while every team believes it’s starting the season with a clean slate, several of the league’s biggest stars still have major contract questions hanging over them. None are bigger than Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield.
As players prepare to report for training camp, two franchise quarterbacks are chasing lucrative new deals that could reshape the NFL’s quarterback market before the 2026 season even begins.
For Baltimore, extending Lamar Jackson feels like a matter of when—not if.
The two-time NFL MVP remains under contract through the end of the 2027 season, but after Patrick Mahomes reset the quarterback market with an average salary of around US$64 million per season, Jackson is widely expected to seek a deal that reflects his status as one of the league’s elite players. Reports suggest Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti remains committed to getting a long-term extension completed, although negotiations have historically moved at Jackson’s own pace.
Few quarterbacks have earned that leverage.
Since entering the league, Jackson has transformed Baltimore into a perennial Super Bowl contender while redefining what a dual-threat quarterback can achieve. Despite injuries interrupting parts of recent seasons, he remains one of football’s most valuable players and is coming off another outstanding campaign.
Tampa Bay’s situation is far more complicated.
Baker Mayfield has reportedly given the Buccaneers a clear deadline—get a new deal done before training camp begins or contract discussions will be put on hold until after the season. The former No.1 overall draft pick is entering the final year of his current contract, worth an average of US$33.3 million annually, and believes his recent performances warrant a significant pay rise.
It’s difficult to argue with his reasoning.
Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Mayfield has revived his career, led the Buccaneers to multiple playoff appearances and established himself as one of the NFL’s most consistent quarterbacks. However, both sides are reportedly still a long way apart on contract value, leaving open the possibility that Mayfield could enter one of the strongest free-agent quarterback markets in years if no agreement is reached.
The quarterback market isn’t the only storyline worth watching.
San Francisco wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s future remains uncertain after another turbulent offseason, while Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson are both expected to become the next running backs to challenge the league’s salary ceiling at their position.
Meanwhile, veteran stars including Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel and Taylor Decker are still searching for new homes, ensuring free agency remains active despite the regular season rapidly approaching.
As always, training camp has a habit of creating unexpected headlines.
Holdouts, contract disputes, surprise trades and breakout stars are all part of the annual build-up to the NFL season.
This year, though, the spotlight firmly belongs to the quarterbacks.
If Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield land new deals before camp opens, the focus can finally return to football.
If they don’t, two of the NFL’s biggest franchises could be facing months of distractions before a single regular-season snap is played.
