Report: Bucs Are (Currently) Not Shopping Mike Evans
September 9th, 2023
Trade not in the works.
So what are the Bucs going to do about Mike Evans? Will they sign him sometime between now and when the free agency dinner bell rings in March? Will the Bucs trade him to stock up on draft capital to go get a quarterback?
How about the franchise tag? It’s all a mystery. To a degree.
Today is the deadline, set by Mike Evans’ agent Deryk Gilmore, that the Bucs must come up with an agreeable contract offer — or else!
Earlier this week, Evans said if the Bucs don’t cough up a contract, he looks forward to a great 2023 season. Per Jeremy Fowler of BSPN, at least as of Sept. 9, that great season will be with the Bucs.
Fowler reports the Bucs currently have no plans to trade him.
I’m told the Bucs also do not plan to trade Evans, general manager Jason Licht’s first draft pick nine years ago. But Tampa Bay has cap constraints after spending big the past two years, and it needs to see what it can be as a team this season. The Bucs also have several young players to consider — linebacker Devin White and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. are set to become free agents in 2024, and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs has two years left on his rookie deal. So perhaps a deal can be reached down the road, even as far down as Evans testing free agency, where he’ll inevitably have a strong market.
Well, Joe will go ahead and type it. Unless Devin White blows up this year and plays like he did in the 2020 postseason, if you are asking Joe who he would keep between White and Evans — provided he doesn’t play like he’s 30 — it’s a no-brainer. You stick with the future Hall of Famer.
Joe isn’t convinced the Bucs are going with a youth movement, or at least they don’t appear to be. If a team was going to a youth movement, then they wouldn’t re-sign a 33-year old linebacker (Lavonte David).
Joe wonders if the Bucs are delaying any movement on the Evans front because they want to use him as bait in the chance there is a coaching change in January.
There are a helluva lot of offensive coordinators who would drool at the chance to work with Chris Godwin, Evans and a first-round quarterback the coach likely would get to choose personally.
If it comes to that.
September 9th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Joe, OF COURSE we’re going with a youth movement. We’re now THE YOUNGEST team in the league. Already. Since this offseason.
We resigned Lavonte David because you need good veterans too, to lead them.
September 9th, 2023 at 3:07 pm
They should trade Mike Evans, the question in my mind is “when”?
Perhaps Licht is waiting for a contending team to lose their WR1 to injury. That would help maximize the return. If that’s the case, cross your fingers and hope that Evans stays healthy and productive.
September 9th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
Trade deadline
And depending upon how the Bucs are doing
September 9th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
You just reinforced what Joe wrote.
September 9th, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Also they won’t trade Evans unless we’re really that bad (Which I’m still sure we won’t be)
– No team interested will be willing to take his contract and thus cap hit.
– No team will offer him the *security* he’s looking for. He wants to retire a Buc and is more than willing to wait till 2024, despite deadline. No push for a trade.
– There’s no benefit to us. No we’re not getting the picks for a 30+ year old receiver people are fantasizing about.
Unless we’re absolutely tanking and its some *whatever* move it ain’t happening.
September 9th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
so mike has been pulled off the marshall’s clearance rack, and now placed in the new arrivals and hot items section of the store…
#PumpUpThatValueBeforeTheDeadline
September 9th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Lukrass 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯
September 9th, 2023 at 3:24 pm
@joe can we still tag him at the end of the year? If so there’s your answer
September 9th, 2023 at 3:30 pm
This is the type of deal that doesn’t get done until the season picture clears up. Strong playoff teams will not be able to resist adding a big talent like ME heading into the playoff side of the season
September 9th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Too early to be shopping alot of teams figuring what they are including the bucs, can’t wait until the season starts tomorrow cant come soon enough.
September 9th, 2023 at 4:07 pm
No a dam reason to shop him around
Mike bluffed and lost simple you under contract
Shut up and play
September 9th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
#paymike needs to be trending this season.
September 9th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
Btw @Lukrazs you’re 100% spot on
September 9th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Herbiebuc:
Yes. And for those who say Jason Licht won’t do that, consider he tagged Chris Godwin (twice).
September 9th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
can we keep mike evans and trade jason licht. the cheezy bumpkin has to be worth a mascot
September 9th, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Anyone know how it would work with the cap if we traded him?
September 9th, 2023 at 4:17 pm
@Lukrars you are 100% spot on.
September 9th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
I’m betting the Chefs are interested. NFW are we trading though.
September 9th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Might be one of Licht’s best moves
September 9th, 2023 at 4:38 pm
I have to believe that somebody had a talk with him, and said we appreciate you, we value you, but the timing just doesn’t work. Hold on until after the season and we will get this done right.
Otherwise, it’s just a slap in the face. He’s been a good man. He’s been a great player. He’s been a great community member, and he deserves to finish his career in Tampa. And this community deserve that, too.
Don’t give me this business BS because we’ve just seen for the last two years that they haven’t handled their business or they wouldn’t have left that Troglodyte as their offensive coordinator.
September 9th, 2023 at 4:54 pm
They never planned to trade Mike Evans. His agent started up the talk and the media ran with it.
The ‘currently’ in the title of this same article says it all…media has to bait fans to generate fan talk.
Barring injury, Mike Evans will retire a Buccaneer.
September 9th, 2023 at 4:58 pm
The Bucs have the youngest roster in the NFL, that’s surely a youth movement no? I hope for the best this season .. But I’m not so sure Evans is in Tampa past the trade deadline.
September 9th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Thought for the longest time that not re-signing Evans yet was about his age and about his ‘fit’ in this new Bucs’ offense. It’s not … it’s strictly about money. Mike wants (and deserves) a bunch for his talent; we don’t have it right now. Not now, MAYBE not in 2024, MAYBE not in 2025 even. And Jason Licht & Mike Greenberg know it.
September 9th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Joe considers a “youth movement” as a purge of everyone on the roster over 28. The Bucs have not done that (yet). Have they gotten younger? Yes. Is that a youth movement? See what Joe wrote in the post.
Joe has a hard time believing a team is in the middle of a “youth movement” when they re-signed a 33-year old linebacker. Heck, 6 weeks ago they hoped Jensen would be the starting center and re-signed Will Gholston. Don’t believe they are youngest NFL roster now.
September 9th, 2023 at 5:08 pm
Man I wish all this Evans crap would stop he is on the team he is going to play and he is not going anywhere. At the end of the season we will see where he lands. Enough already.
September 9th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
It woukd be a slap in the face to offer him less than what they know he is worth. He’ll play his ass off he’s a stand up guy. I suspect we trade him but hopefully sign him in fa or before next season
September 9th, 2023 at 5:25 pm
This is a story that writes itself week to week as the success of the team and/or ME13 pans out. If I were Evans I would bet on myself and just play out the contract. I think Diva is overpaid at his current pay, and not confident Winfield can even play a 17 game season. Excellent point that a player like Evans will draw a better coach. Hoping that if heads have to roll after the season, Licht will take a good look at the defensive side.
September 9th, 2023 at 6:05 pm
This LB core scares me. Lavonte is getting old and if we let White walk we might quickly become one of the worst LB groups in the league.
September 9th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
“Evans’ franchise tag number for the next offseason will be more than $28 million, given that his cap number for this year is $23.6 million.”
September 9th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Thank you for the memories Mike! You are a buccaneer man(Schiano’s true definition of one) forever! You are a top 5 Buc in my book. You sacrificed going through the lost decade, and have always been a team first guy! No matter what these other idiots say, you are a true buccaneer great! I will take pleasure in enjoying your last season as a Buc!
September 9th, 2023 at 8:14 pm
I figure Evans to get 1300-1500 yards this year providing no significant injuries.
Way more than over under. Way way more.
September 9th, 2023 at 8:42 pm
My guess is Bowles, Licht, white and Evans are gone by kickoff 2024. Hope I’m wrong.
September 9th, 2023 at 9:36 pm
I also don’t think the Bucs have a “youth movement”– it’s merely an acknowledgement that players over 30 have to be vetted carefully. Julio, Hicks, Rudolph, Sherman, etc, should not have been added to our roster. OTOH, Fitzgerald, EVANS, and a few others, are assets well into their 30’s. I believe they are making VERY sure Evans is in the 2nd group and not the first
September 10th, 2023 at 12:05 am
Trade?
Unless Jason has some dirt on another GM We most certainly would not get as much draft capital as some think. Best case scenario would be to sign him to an incentive laden deal after the season.
Go Bucs!
September 10th, 2023 at 12:24 am
That’s what every team says right before they trade someone.
September 10th, 2023 at 12:25 am
Thats what every team says right before they trade you.
September 10th, 2023 at 6:42 am
We resigned David because the numbers worked for both parties. Hopefully the Bucs, and Evans come to an agreement. If it works for both it’ll get done. If not oh well it’s been great. Nothing lasts forever.
September 10th, 2023 at 9:21 am
Yeah, lets resign him so he can eat cap space while sitting on the bench after he suffers a cooper kupp hammy. The dude is 30, love him but have to know when to sell to maximize value. And personally, I don’t want to watch him hobbling around on the field years from now, aka DB55, because he stayed too long.
September 10th, 2023 at 10:01 am
No Company wants to trade an asset while your getting or can get a big return BUT as the team builds if their is only 2 stacks of bricks 🧱 on 9 week process say 2-7 then if his word is your gonna lose that asset and it’s non negotiable ..like Evans said ….then you have to trade him for something vs nothing.
September 10th, 2023 at 11:03 am
Buffalo, Jacksonville and Kansas City are all good fits for Mike Evans