“I’m Really Looking Forward To Mike Continuing His Great Career Here In Tampa”
October 31st, 2023
Not shopping Mike Evans.
Well, as Joe types this here post, it is 68 minutes before the trade deadline (and still no running back). But Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht made one thing clear this morning.
Appearing on “Good Morning Football,” seen weekday mornings on NFL Network, Licht was pimping the team’s new coaching academy announced today.
However, closet Bucs fan Peter Schrager did squeeze in a trade-related question. Is Mike Evans involved in any trade talks?
The best Bucs receiver in franchise history has made it known he will shop himself to this winter if he doesn’t have a new contract from Tampa Bay. Evans and the Bucs couldn’t come to terms on a new deal before the season kicked off.
Licht made it clear he has no intention of sending Evans to another team today.
“I’m really looking forward to Mike continuing his great career here in Tampa and extending his streak of 1,000-yard seasons here with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Licht said.
Well, there is no need to interpret that response. Pretty straight forward.
Of course, Licht may be confident he can get Evans to re-sign or sign a franchise tag. But all it might take is one owner or general manager to drop an offer on Evans that he can’t refuse.
Joe sure hopes Evans stays.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Evans will stay with the Bucs after this year. Mike’s play has dropped off, and his price has come way down. There’s no way that a team values him more, and pays him more than the Bucs will. Even if he tests the water, I bet he comes back with no income tax and familiarity during FA
October 31st, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Crickets for the Bucs before the deadline.
It’s all smoke and mirrors by the coaching staff and front office.
It’s funny they don’t even know how to collapse for Caleb or any other top tier QB next year. They are literally doing the worst possible thing. Not shedding talent for pics, and then being too mediocre to gets too pick in the draft.
How typical of this organization. They are ensuring we remain trash for a few years now instead of just this one. Sick to my stomach how this organization is managed
October 31st, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Very glad if he stays, same as Winfield Jr and Tristan Wirfs…..
Not a problem for me if Devin White goes…
Not a problem either if we can trade next year CDIII and Dean…
October 31st, 2023 at 3:10 pm
@CTBucs You’re saying Mike’s play has dropped off, but he’s on pace for around 1200 yards and 10+ TDs… The only thing hurting his value is his age, and most certainly not his play.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Licht should trade him while he has some value. Keeping players past their prime is a recipe for a losing team. Licht should be traded for a 4th round pick, if some team wants him. See what Seattle did with their all star quarterback. They picked up some needed value with the trade.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Evan’s play hasn’t really dropped off. He went through the same thing in his second year, and came right back bigger and stronger. Fans wanted him traded then too.
Just goes to show…we fans are not always right.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Hun..De.Dum..De..Doo
October 31st, 2023 at 3:14 pm
Texasbucsfan Says
“Licht should trade him while he has some value. Keeping players past their prime is a recipe for a losing team.”
Not exactly right. I can name several examples: Tom Brady, Lavante David, JPP, Suh…etc.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:15 pm
@CTBucs
Also…he’s had a few drops this year, and those are being focused on. But when the pressure is on, he produces.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Mike Evans is still a hall of Famer and most of his career had bums throwing to him with the exception of Tom Brady.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Been saying for days and now one last time: they won’t make a trade
October 31st, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Rookie QB will need veteran receivers.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:33 pm
Meanwhile, that franchise tag is just sitting there on the table, waiting…
October 31st, 2023 at 3:37 pm
The other takeaway is those calling for tanking to get a very high pick can now hang that up
You have to continue to play through if you are looking to get mike his numbers. Tanking increases the likelihood he walks.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Instead of $20-$25 for one or two years, the bucks could maybe sign him for 15 to 18 million for 3 years, I think it’ll go something like that
October 31st, 2023 at 3:42 pm
There was never a chance Evans was being shopped. Any talk of this was 100% ginned-up rumors by the NFL wild-ass media speculation industrial complex.
October 31st, 2023 at 3:52 pm
No RB for Joe
*sad trombone*
October 31st, 2023 at 3:55 pm
There’s no point of even mentioning this team during the trade deadline because they never do anything. Every other team will pretty much do whatever to help improve their team while the Bucs just do nothing. Maybe we could trade away our coach GM & owners for some new ones? Can we do that?
October 31st, 2023 at 3:57 pm
no trades in this economical season…
put an “H” on ya back and handle it…
we were forewarned, so don’t throw a hissy fit 🙂
October 31st, 2023 at 3:58 pm
So this off season we will have Wirfs, Winfield and Evans to resign. Wirfs will command at least $25 million/yr. Winfield $20 million. And Evans $22 million. Good luck signing someone who can rush the passer or o-line help. I like ME13, but what good is having two WRs making close to $50 million when you can’t protect the QB and you can’t rush the QB? Oh yeah, and the running game suck too.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:00 pm
49ers just got better on Defense.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Brace yourself for another lost decade with a mediocre defensive head coach who only wants to play it safe and kick field goals. If it wasn’t for Bowles calling an all out blitz against the Rams the Bucs would have appeared in two Super Bowls. What happened on that play? Oh yeah, communication issues. It’s interesting that communication problems are still the go-to response when things go wrong with his defense.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:07 pm
At least the jaguars make changes to win. It’s hard to back a team that doesn’t try to improve anyway they can.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:08 pm
I mean duh, you don’t trade your most talented offensive weapon unless you’re tanking, and this team would not have resigned LVD and Dean if they were tanking.
Sorry haters, Evans will be a Buc for life.
Meanwhile, Chase Young was just traded for a 3rd rounder… I think we could have afforded that.
Unless Bowles and Licht are enjoying our non-existent pass rush…
October 31st, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Yeah chase young would’ve been awesome to get.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Staying pat with this roster is a joke. Even should we back into the division title we get destroyed our week 1 of the playoffs.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:13 pm
If Trevor Lawrence had Mike Evans he’d be unstoppable why haven’t we addressed our own quarterback situation
October 31st, 2023 at 4:23 pm
I agree with the above comments…
Let Mike Evans test free agency then sign him a team friendly deal. He probably has 2-3 decent years left.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:36 pm
Adam from ny is correct.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Bucs are so lost. Burn this sorry excuse for a team to the ground and get some draft capital. Evans and White should’ve been traded. Team is simply not serious about winning.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:52 pm
You never get value back for Evans. He is a bunch of the scoring and offense on this team. Not noticing any kind of drop off. He is not worth Cooper Kupp money, but neither is Cooper Kupp. I think he still has a few years left in the tank and see no reason why the team would look to move on from such an important contributor.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:58 pm
Joe(s) you’re the best but shouldn’t this article been posted this morning so readers didn’t spend all day waiting wondering?
October 31st, 2023 at 5:01 pm
I knew they wouldn’t do anything at the trade deadline. You’re going to see a lot of pieces move during the offseason. Hopefully it starts with Bowles being fired. Us fans shouldn’t settle for this team going back to bottom dwellers of the NFC south for the next decade.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Chase Young will be a UFA in 2024. Last thing the Bucs can afford in another $20 mil signing on top of Wirfs & Winfield & probably Evans based on JL’s comments. Todd Bowles isn’t going anyplace next year because no experienced HC will be willing to suffer through 2-3 bad years to clean up this mess. And that’s what we’re facing … 2-3 lean years IF we do everything right (like drafting well & making sound financial decisions?).
October 31st, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Mike is gone!!!!! After playing with Brady he should not wanna play with a QB that do not have Super Bowl experience.. jets broncos chiefs
October 31st, 2023 at 5:21 pm
They’ll get a deal done with Mike.
It’s business, people, calm down. You’ll have a high draft pick next year, certainly in the top 10, and you’ll get a QB even if you’re reaching for one, and you want that young QB to have to wide receivers – with an ‘s’. Evans still has 3 more all-pro seasons in him, and a 4th year where he’s going to be at worst at average starting WR, so just get a deal done, and if you’re overpaying on that last year, whatever, deal with it. You’ll have a cheap QB in that time to make up for it.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Defense Rules Says:
October 31st, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Chase Young will be a UFA in 2024. Last thing the Bucs can afford in another $20 mil signing on top of Wirfs & Winfield & probably Evans based on JL’s comments.
————
You have to get Wirfs and Winfield done, and if you’re firing Bowles, which they should, then keep White and make sure the new coach is running an attacking defense that uses him. As for Evans, per above, you keep him as he’s got at least 3 more all-pro seasons in him, and when you draft your new QB next year, you’ll want that young QB working with quality WRs. Plus, Godwin only has one year left after this year, if you don’t keep Evans, in two years you could have complete trash at WR when you’re trying to groom your franchise QB.
Also if they did somehow not fire Bowles then you can make up a lot of cap space by moving Dean and Davis as you just don’t need them in this sloppy soft zone defense that Bowles has decided to run. And, again, while I hate Bowles as a head coach, as a DC he’s fine, and even if this defense is frustrating to watch, it is limiting points, so he does get credit for that, even if teams move the ball at will until they get to the redzone.
Oh, and for White, his value is being destroyed by the week as he just sits back in this soft zone and wastes away, so he’s not getting $20m from anyone, and he gets cheaper by the week. Frankly I’m shocked he didn’t demand a trade again – maybe they’ve told him behind the scenes to hold on, they’ll get a deal done and Bowles will be gone.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Mike is still an elite player. The problem is he doesn’t have a QB who gets him the ball. Period. This offense could be so much better with an average QB.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Since76 Says:
This offense could be so much better with an average QB.
————–
You mean down by two scores with 7 minutes left, and throwing 3 yard passes over and over and over again after running the clock down to 1 second doesn’t do it for you?
What’s a shame is that Mayfield got lucky and bounced a ball off a defenders head for a TD, if that doesn’t happen, if Buffalo doesn’t commit 17 dumb penalties on that 2nd to last drive, if the Bucs only TD of the night is on a short field after an INT, then all the talk this week is about Mayfield getting benched.
Instead we’re stuck with this loser for another few weeks now and won’t see any change until the team is 3-9 or, if they get some breaks, 4-9.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
If you’re going to be a proponent of tanking, can you give us ann unarguable example of tanking working in the NFL? Manning’s unjustly gave the colts Andrew Luck, sure. But that was brought upon them. Any others?
October 31st, 2023 at 5:43 pm
Ali is saying that the Bucs wanted 2 First rounders for Trask.
Then they signed Wolford.
If true Baker better have the game of his life this week.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:46 pm
They got absolutely nothing for ME, DW, and Winfield and others that are bouncing after the season. Sheety management and sheety coaching equals Sheety team
October 31st, 2023 at 5:51 pm
Most fans want him to stay, me included. I think the Glazers will push Jason if they need to but they won’t need to.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:51 pm
So u trade Evans for a fourth rd pick and hope that pick turns out to be Mike Evans!? Got it
October 31st, 2023 at 5:51 pm
2 first rounders for a second rounder who hasn’t started a game? Cool story, bro.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:53 pm
UK LOL We’ll find out if it is BS. Baker bois would be absolutely shattered.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:56 pm
Get mike evans off the team. He is a distraction and the offense plays better with him on the bench. Send lovie and half baked with him. Start trask, make Canales HC and give the play calling to some 13 year old madden kid.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:57 pm
UKBuccaneer Says:
October 31st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
If you’re going to be a proponent of tanking, can you give us ann unarguable example of tanking working in the NFL?
———-
Here’s one.
Jameis Winston.
The Bucs tanked to get Winston. Because of that investment at QB, the Bucs spent money and picks to build a powerful offense around him – and Winston set every offensive record for the team before Brady got here. If the team had stuck with Mike Glennon, they would not have drafted and spent the same, and Brady wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with this team. But since Brady could walk into the top passing offense in the NFL, with an up and coming defense, that’s what convinced him to choose Tampa over the Chargers.
So no Winston, then no Brady, and no 2nd SuperBowl.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Mostly Peaceful Trask Fan Says:
October 31st, 2023 at 5:43 pm
Ali is saying that the Bucs wanted 2 First rounders for Trask.
——–
LOL! No one was offering the Bucs anything for Trask.
The nonsense talk about the Bucs turning down a 1st for a guy who was 3rd on the depth chart is one of the dumber rumors ever circulated. If the Bucs got offered a 5th rounder for him I’d have been shocked.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:03 pm
So the bucs tanking was a success because they won a SB without the guy they tanked to get?
Forgive me for thinking that’s a reach.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Keeping Bowles leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Lombardi Lenny Says:
They are doing the worst possible thing. Not shedding talent for picks, and then being too mediocre to get good picks in the draft.
^^^^^^^^^^
I agree and I don’t get it. Licht went all in on the Super Bowl and attempt #2. I’m surprised he’s not embracing a fast-tracked rebuild by trading aging talent that won’t be around when the Bucs are competitive again. We don’t know what the conversations with Evans’ agent look like but what’s the point of resigning him?
October 31st, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Rod yeah it is a bit far fetched. Even a blind homer like me can see that.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:22 pm
Hopefully Evans doesn’t drop his next contract.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:35 pm
UKBuccaneer Says:
October 31st, 2023 at 6:03 pm
So the bucs tanking was a success because they won a SB without the guy they tanked to get?
Forgive me for thinking that’s a reach.
———-
Not being a smarta– here, but do you think if the Bucs kept Mike Glennon and built on defense (which was the other option at the time), that they’d have won a SB? I do not.
Meanwhile, they did tank, and they did build around Winston, and that is why Brady came, which lead to a Super Bowl.
For this year, if you believe Mayfield is the answer, then I understand you not liking the idea of tanking. But my point is that Mayfield has been the worst QB in football over the previous 2 seasons, and the Bucs have lost 4 of 5, and Mayfield has been terrible lately, and the offense isn’t doing anything, and the team is collapsing. Mayfield is what he is, and that is a bad QB.
Also making a change at QB doesn’t necessarily mean you’re tanking – it just means you’re at least giving yourself the opinion to have a different outcome. With Mayfield, in my mind, there is no hope. You’re going to win 5 or 6 games, pick #7-9 overall, not get a future QB, and be stuck on the wheel of losing for a long time.
In any case it doesn’t matter what I think since Bowles is going to start Mayfield until the Glazers tell him they’re going to fire him if he doesn’t make a change. And we’re still weeks away from that.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:44 pm
So now Wolford is on the active roster, wonder what this means for Baker?
October 31st, 2023 at 6:49 pm
Some really ungrateful people down here in the peanut-gallery, that call themselves, Bucs fans.
One of the best players Bucs ever had, is Mike Evans.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:51 pm
As usual Licht does nothing at the trade deadline I guess we are so loaded with talent we are on the way to the superbowl NOT!!!!!!!
October 31st, 2023 at 6:55 pm
It would be a shame for Mike Evans to wear anything, but a Bucs jersey.
October 31st, 2023 at 7:01 pm
In my worthless opinion. Why would Jason Licht waste the time, money, or energy, bringing players in, with this coaching debacle. That says a lot, to me.
October 31st, 2023 at 7:41 pm
@ Buc4evr
Not much.
Mayfield is playing with a slight knee injury and the Bucs just wanted to protect John Wolford from the Rams.
Mayfield will remain the starter and trask is the #2 still.
October 31st, 2023 at 8:28 pm
Brady came because Bucs had a good O-Line, and 2 good receivers. Plus we had a GM and a coach who would let Brady have some say in personnel. Brady gave us Gronk, AB, and Fournette. Arians held Leftwiches hand in play calling and game planning, Bowles focused on the defense. It was a perfect marriage for 2 seasons. And it had nothing to do with tanking for Winston.
October 31st, 2023 at 8:31 pm
People crack me up with all these off the wall trades and last minute player pick ups. Because of the Super Bowl sell out we are now the NFL homeless. Nothing to give, nothing to offer, NO MONEY, Little talent and stuck in these dire circumstances. Sorry, but I for one am good with the Brady sell out to win a Super Bowl and have a chance at another. We are now paying the piper! Like it or not this is where we are as a team. You can spin it any way you like but these are the very simple facts.
October 31st, 2023 at 8:37 pm
Bucnjim, we had draft picks to offer. Draft picks are used to better your team either through the draft or trades. Bears got Montez Sweat for a 2nd rounder, 49ers got Chase Young for a 3rd rounder.
October 31st, 2023 at 8:42 pm
We have no one worth a first or second rounder. Evans with his age maybe a late second early third but it would have to be the perfect scenario of need by a Super Bowl Contender no one else.
October 31st, 2023 at 8:51 pm
If you’re talking about giving up draft picks for players that doesn’t make sense either because players like Derrick Henry & those like him have to be paid. Again for those of you not paying attention the BUCS HAVE NO MONEY…..at all!
October 31st, 2023 at 8:52 pm
I don’t understand the love affair that fans have with players. The Bucs are a billion dollar corporation and have to make money in order to be solvent. If they don’t make money, they will move the team. Players will come & go over the years. ME has been a very good player for the Bucs. He may have a couple of good years left or he may not. Trading him would have meant getting some value out of the trade. Winning brings in money for this corporation. Losing games will cost the corporation money. Plain and simple. Fans want a winning team. Winning teams make money & keeps the team in Tampa..
October 31st, 2023 at 8:56 pm
Trade Evan’s or Godwin. Both very good receivers BUT not together. Teams are jamming them as neither have good speed and plays just take to long to develop. You can blame offensive line but let’s face, Bucs lack team speed. That simple.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Caption of pic: B.A. & Brady bought me another decade of Glazer loot! Now what big haired, undersized DL can I pick at or near the top of the draft in ‘24?!
October 31st, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Nice job shoreing up the O line!!!!! No interest in winning ng I guess!!!!
October 31st, 2023 at 9:23 pm
Wasn’t Mayfields fault when he threw a perfect pass to a no name tight end and bounced right off his hands.
And Rod, the idea that your saying running the football is meaningless in today’s in NFL is NONSENSE. When the Bucs get to 3rd and 2 it mights as well be 3rd and 42 cause we have 0 backs who run through contact.
Obviously the NFL is pass first , but absolutely need quality running backs to keep the chains moving. Right now the Bucs have 1 quality pass catcher whos listed as a RB.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:31 pm
Jahmyr Gibbs just ran for 156 yards against the Raiders last night alone. Raschad White has 305 rushing yards in SEVEN GAMES.
Not having a running game to open things up puts quarterbacks at a severe disadvantage. Mayfield can’t do everything.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:40 pm
Not one move today to improve the team now or in the future.. piss poor decisions from Jason light
October 31st, 2023 at 10:03 pm
The only flaw in Evans’ game is the occasional crucial drop that seems to always kill us when they happen.
Evans is faster than he’s ever been and at the top of his hand and in his prime for another couple seasons at least.
Sign him! And please, Mike, hang onto the dang ball. We need you, bro.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Top of his *game, that is.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:10 pm
No offers for D White , he crushed his own market ……. Won’t sniff 10 mil per year as f agent …….. shame his play prob brought no offers as I hv said for years .
October 31st, 2023 at 10:40 pm
Marine Buc Says
“Let Mike Evans test free agency then sign him a team friendly deal. He probably has 2-3 decent years left.”
Mike will not do a team friendly deal. The market for him will be there if we let him get that far. He deserves this last chance to get paid. He has restructured nearly every year to help the team.
Count on $22-25 for the first year of a new deal. Numbers will be inflated by milestones that he won’t reach in years 2-3. Team will have an option after year 2.
That is more than fair. We know he won’t loaf if he gets paid. And treating him right will be an example for Godwin.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:01 pm
Best WR in Bucs history was Kevin House for those who can remember. Evans dropped too many passes during his career. He should’ve been traded today.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:09 pm
@buccaneer bonzai – Restructuring a contract doesn’t mean they he took LESS money. It is converted to an INSTANT bonus that is given out to the play. That allows the team to spread out the money over more years opening up cap space. You might be thinking of deferment? That is actually monies owed.
“A Player Contract may provide for deferral beyond the payment dates specified in Section 5 of this Article of no more than 50% of the player’s Salary up to and including a total of the first $2 million, and may provide for deferral of no more than 75% of the player’s Salary in excess of $2 million.”
Tom did this to help. Evans? I cannot find any record of salary deferment.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:11 pm
If it makes financial sense to keep Mike? Sure but anything over $15 mill is an overpayment at this stage.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:31 pm
optimisticbucsfan Says:
October 31st, 2023 at 11:11 pm
If it makes financial sense to keep Mike? Sure but anything over $15 mill is an overpayment at this stage.
——
Meanwhile Christian Kirk is making $20-mil a year. Maybe you should update your info on what WR’s are being paid.
But thanks for sharing your special ed opinion. LOL!
November 1st, 2023 at 7:05 am
Not going anywhere
November 1st, 2023 at 7:39 am
Trading picks for people is sacrificing your future and throwing away cap money. Jalen Hurts was making something like $2 million when he played in the Super Bowl. If Trask starts next year, he’ll be doing it at $1.7 million (as opposed to Desean Watson who’s making$40-$50 million)
November 1st, 2023 at 8:23 am
Cobraboy Says:
October 31st, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Keeping Bowles leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
———————-
Why? You a Bucs fan or not?! This is Bowles’ first year actually HCing without BA and TB running the show. Were you around in the 1980s? HOFME13 will retire a Buc. Licht will see to it. Now GodzillaCD14 already has a SB ring, and he’s younger. So, we’ll see.
November 1st, 2023 at 10:48 am
Two 1st rounders for Trask??? Get off the meth son
November 1st, 2023 at 11:02 am
ME-13 is becoming the “GOAT”… Let him do it as a BUC-4-LIFE. Stop with this BS!!!