​We are at the stage of the NFL offseason where contracts are the name of the game, and the league’s No. 1 insider gave updates on two of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ best players.ESPN’s Adam Schefter updated both situations on a recent appearance with the Pat McAfee Show. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield said he wouldn’t negotiate with the Bucs unless the sides got a deal done before training camp. Schefter said both sides “had talks before” but Mayfield “said they weren’t close.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I think you’ll see a bunch of extensions get done here in the coming weeks for players that are worthy of them, for teams that want to keep certain guys,” Schefter said. “I would think the Buccaneers will definitely be working to try to get a deal done with Baker.”Star defensive tackle Vita Vea isn’t among one of the 15 highest-paid players at his position. Entering the final year of 4-year, $71 million contract, Vea would like that situation to change, either in Tampa or somewhere else.”I think there’s somebody on every team just about where the team wants to get that guy off the market, under contract, and there’s this window here,” Schefter said. “I think we’re about a week away from some of these talks heating up.”The Buccaneers need to solve both expiring contracts before the start of the season. They don’t want to be looking for a new quarterback in 2027, and without Lavonte David, the Bucs would like to turn to Vea as their defensive leader.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEven without a deal, there is virtually no chance of the Bucs trading Mayfield. However, without an extension, Vea could be a trade chip. He has been linked to trade possibilities, and the longer he goes without an extension, the longer those ideas will persist.In any case, the Bucs need both Mayfield and Vea if they are to reclaim the NFC South in 2026. Mayfield hasn’t been perfect, but statistically, is one of the best QBs in franchise history. Vea is a big reason (both figuratively and literally) why the Bucs have had one of the league’s top run defenses over the past several years.Schefter’s words don’t confirm anything one way or the other of what will happened with Mayfield and Vea in the future, but they do signal that the Bucs are trying to get deals with both of them, and it shouldn’t be a surprise if those deals are reached soon.Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It’s free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!