NFL training camps are officially moving, but across the league, several front offices are still sorting through major contract business before the season gets closer.
On Thursday, negotiations and new deals took center stage in NFL headlines. Baker Mayfield is not staging a holdout, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback made it clear he is frustrated by how extension talks unfolded during the offseason.
Around the league, one standout wide receiver landed a massive extension that places him among the highest-paid players at his position, while another familiar name at receiver agreed to a deal that brings him back to a former team.
Those developments highlight some of the biggest NFL news items to emerge from Thursday’s training camp cycle.
Mayfield disclosed that his contract extension discussions with the Buccaneers have fallen short of what he expected heading into camp.
The Tampa Bay quarterback, who is entering the final season of a three-year, $100 million contract, said he was disappointed after the Buccaneers presented a two-year offer. Mayfield indicated he is looking for a longer commitment from the franchise.
Mayfield also said the two sides are still separated by a significant financial gap. With training camp underway, he is targeting an extension in the range of $50 million per year, but told ESPN the Buccaneers were “pretty far” from reaching that level.
In New Orleans, Chris Olave’s rise as the centerpiece of the Saints’ passing game has led to a major payday. The Saints and Olave have agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension that includes $90 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
The payday comes after Olave flourished and became the go-to target in first-year head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. Olave was able to haul in 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns to secure his third 1,000-yard season since entering the league.
Olave, 26, was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He has yet to play a full season, but a lot of his recurring injuries appear to be behind him as Olave is heading into training camp fully healthy.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to work his way back from injury following the torn ACL and LCL injuries he suffered last December.
Cleared for full participation ahead of training camp, Mahomes appeared to be able to scramble without issues during Thursday’s practice session. He made multiple throws on the run and even scrambled downfield as he progresses toward potentially playing in Week 1 of the regular season.
Mahomes is coming off a 2025 campaign where he threw for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 14 games before his injury.
Back in with the old?
That’s how it is in the Bay Area, at least for Thursday. The San Francisco 49ers are reuniting with Deebo Samuel, reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million.
San Francisco’s decision to bring back Samuel came a day after the team’s concerns about wide receiver Ricky Pearsall’s knee became public. Pearsall is dealing with lingering knee swelling connected to the PCL injury that limited him during the 2025 season, and the Niners are concerned that he could miss the entire 2026 season, NBC Sports Bay Area reported Thursday.
Pearsall, who the 49ers took in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has been an asset to the team’s offense when healthy. He’s logged 67 receptions for 928 yards and three touchdowns, but has only played in 18 games over his career.
Now, Samuel becomes the third notable addition the 49ers have made to their wide receivers room this offseason. They made one of the biggest splashes in free agency when they signed former Buccaneers star Mike Evans and used their second-round pick on Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.
Samuel, who played six of the first seven years of his career with the Niners, put up a respectable stat line with the Washington Commanders in 2025. He had 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns with starting quarterback Jayden Daniels out for much of the season.
Now, the 30-year-old Samuel will look to make some magic happen in San Francisco again. He was a key part of four 49ers teams that reached the NFC Championship Game, earning an All-Pro and a Pro Bowl nod during that time.
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- Panthers rookie WR Chris Brazzell will undergo season-ending surgery on his torn lateral collateral ligament in his left knee, the team announced Thursday.
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