Will The Bucs Make Mike Evans A Buccaneer For Life?
March 5th, 2022
Hearing general manager Jason Licht say this week, “Sometimes you bet on the guy” about Chris Godwin, got Joe thinking more about the Bucs’ desperate salary cap situation.
Desperate if they want to compete for a Super Bowl this year.
The comment from Licht was a great compliment to Godwin. The inference was that Godwin’s injury won’t stand in the Bucs’ way of giving him a new, long-term contract because they trust and admire Godwin after watching him grow the past five seasons.
Still, Godwin is coming off major knee surgery and the Bucs can’t go too crazy. But Joe is thinking they can go more all-in with Mike Evans.
As hardcore Bucs fans know, Evans has renegotiated his contract many times to give the Bucs salary cap flexibility. He also turns 29 this summer and has made Tom Brady-inspired changes to his body maintenance that should have everyone confident that he’s going to play at least another six seasons en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Evans is signed through 2023 and the Bucs have kicked dead salary cap money on Evans even further down the road.
While Joe is confident the Bucs will sign or franchise tag Godwin this month, Joe thinks it’s an even better gamble to bet on Evans and give him a Buccaneer-for-life contract. That would free up more cap room in the short term and likely represent a great long-term deal for the organization as salaries continue to rise.
Evans is a steal this season at a $14 million salary.
Of all the players under the contract the Bucs could extend to free up more salary cap room, Joe would be most confident in Evans being the best value.
March 5th, 2022 at 9:58 am
Restructure his contract or new contract 4 years 60 mil he makes more money and the Bucs get a break on the salary cap.
March 5th, 2022 at 10:00 am
Evans posted on his Instagram yesterday how he is better and faster than he was 8 years ago. He just keeps getting better. He said he wants a career like Larry Fitzgerald 17 years after playing with brady and learning from him.
March 5th, 2022 at 10:17 am
It would be a mistake for the team, and loss to the community, to not have Mike Evans lead as a Buccaneer until he announces his retirement. He is a great player but an even better person.
March 5th, 2022 at 10:18 am
I love this idea for so many reasons. Do it Licht!
March 5th, 2022 at 10:29 am
Evans one of the greatest all-time Bucs. He will be in the same convo as Brooks & Selmon
March 5th, 2022 at 10:39 am
14 mil as a bargain is a bit misleading of a statement. Bc of past restructures Evans cap hit is closer to 21 mil both this year and next. He also has dead cap money on the books for ‘24 and ‘25.
However, all of these facts actually bolster the case for needing to resign him. It just means another restructure without resigning him for additional years is likely off the table.
March 5th, 2022 at 10:45 am
You do not sneeze at a year end and year out a 1000+ WR. He’s one of the faces of the Bucs.
March 5th, 2022 at 11:04 am
‘But Joe is thinking they can go more all-in with Mike Evans’.
The term ‘MORE all-in’ has me curious Joe. If ‘all-in’ isn’t really ‘ALL-in’ then what is it? 50% all-in? 75%? 99%? Inquiring minds need to know.
BTW what happens to these long-term contracts (from a salary CAP Hit perspective) when a player gets injured in say Year 1 of the contract & can’t return? Is the team still on the hook for all that salary CAP money?
March 5th, 2022 at 11:14 am
DR – if it’s guaranteed salary, restructured bonus or signing bonus yes. If it’s non-guaranteed salary or unrealized roster bonuses then no.
March 5th, 2022 at 11:27 am
If Evans goes I go as a fan. I’ve been with this team since I was eight years old I’m 28 now. But if you let the face of you organization. You let’s us fans down completely .
March 5th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Rotten Amiigo, I felt the same way about lynch back in the day, but no one player is above the team.
March 5th, 2022 at 11:57 am
ME13 is arguably the best Bucs WR ever. His record continues to grow. This is a great idea to keep him in Tampa and I’d like to see his Jersey retired shortly after he does. Absolutely love everything about Mike. The consummate pro.
March 5th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Tampa today has one good weapon under contract Evans an amazing WR1. They need a hybrid RB, a QB1, a top WR2, slot vet WR3, true pass catching TE1, and a Kicker upgrade.
Then focus on replacing Jensen, and the defense.
If Evans is traded or left Tampa this year (he under contract) Tampa would have only two players of value in starting 11 on offense Wirfs and Donovan.
While there is still Free agency and the draft has yet to occur the offense went from all time great mid Fall 2021, to Chris FA and Hurt, AB cut, Brady Retire, Marpet Retire, Gronk (FA), Fournett (FA), Jessen (Cincinnati).
Of 11 starters QB1, WR2 and WR3 TE1 LG C and RB1 are all gone or may leave.
March 5th, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Thanks pat fan, this bucs site sure loves to.hear what you say, why don’t you go back and see if the Pat’s can win a super bowl without Brady.
March 5th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Few years ago without Brady he was talking bout wanting a trade if u buccaneers fans don’t remember lol
March 5th, 2022 at 2:32 pm
HOF? He has a really long ways to go before we even mention the hall.
WR is extremely difficult. That streak is meaningless.
There are a lot of guys coming up behind him or that are already in front.
5 years AFTER he retires he might not even be in the top 15-20 receiving yards.
And he barely got 1000 yards these last 2 seasons.
I’d hold off on the hall talk.
March 5th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
I thought they liked Mike, why would they do that to him? From Superbowl to toilet bowl.
March 5th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Evans absolutely must retire as a Buc.
Don’t start getting crazy on us and trade him to Houston as part of a package for Watson, you hear me Jason? (Lovie was his first coach)
March 5th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
SMH at some of the posts/posters on this site.
Talk about being absent the day they handed out brains!
March 5th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
He’s already a top 5 player in bucs history and easily the best receiver we’ve ever had. Would definitely be a treat if they gave him the Ronde treatment.
March 5th, 2022 at 8:35 pm
Slot: If we lose Godwin, (and if we DON’T lose Godwin) 32 year old Cole Beasley looks to be available, made $7 mil on an off/declining year, could be had for a couple mil less. Guy went in the 2020 playoffs with a broken fibula,,,can’t have too many dudes like him on your team
March 5th, 2022 at 9:38 pm
Who Dat Who Dat real 1’s don’t ask for a trade they ride it out
March 5th, 2022 at 11:18 pm
With Brown gone there will be no reason for Evans targets, catches and yards to go through the roof. He wanted to win and sacrificed a lot for Brown to get the ball. I’m really happy that Evans learned a lot from Brady about how to take care of yourself, imagine if it’ll stop all the hammy issues…. Dude could have a record year.
Give Evans the Bobby Bonilla contract and pay him small amounts for 15-20 years guarantee and it won’t hurt the cap! Haha 😂. All seriousness…. I’m on board that Evans a person you want around forever, playing and once retired. These type of receivers don’t come along everyday and you’re more likely to get a brown like diva WR then what Evans is.
March 6th, 2022 at 5:05 pm
Great idea Joe! He’s our second best offensive player ever behind Brady and deserves to retire a Buc unless some team throws a stupid amount of picks at us for him.