Mike Evans, Bucs Negotiating In Harmony
February 19th, 2024
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
It seems Mike Evans’ agent or agency hit the “send” button on the email blast.
Just moments after Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report first reported that the Bucs and Mike Evans are “far apart” from meeting a soft deadline today, a deadline that if the two could agree to a contract, would save the Bucs some $7.8 million in cap space for 2024, Diana Russini of The Athletic noted this doesn’t mean the end of Evans’ days with the Bucs are near.
Instead, Russini suggested otherwise. The Bucs and Evans are still negotiating “in good faith” and that the goal of the two sides is to get Evans back in the Bucs’ fold.
Will the Bucs have to overpay to keep Evans from testing the free agency waters?
Of course, if Evans doesn’t return, will the ripple effect send Bucs free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield to look elsewhere?
Today is the day that could save the Bucs some money by resigning All-Pro WR Mike Evans. However, that deal won’t happen today. Look for the two sides to continue to negotiate in good faith as they work towards the start of free agency.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) February 19, 2024
February 19th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Go Bucs.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:37 am
Pleeeeeeeeeease 🤞👏👏👏
February 19th, 2024 at 10:39 am
overpay him for all i care. Hes a first ballot HOFer (top 7 WR all time in my opinion) Not many fans can say a guy like that is a member of their team. He just plain deserves it.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Here comes the Monopoly money crowd.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:45 am
If Mike reach free agency, look out for the New York Jets.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Next we will het the Mike is a punk and greedy crowd who HAVE to blame someone else for their own negative feelings.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:01 am
Do what it takes to keep him. If they let Mike walk my 16 years of season tickets are going with him.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Mike isn’t going anywhere. His agent is trying to squeeze every last penny from the Bucs the they can. I didn’t care for the agent when he put a deadline on a deal last season. I am not a huge fan of deadlines like that.
But am I the only one to think that it isn’t all doom and gloom if mike leaves? It’ll suck but eventually, he will be gone, whether it is retirement or moving on to another team.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Well over pay $30 million a year for our two CBs to sit in zone when they aren’t injured, over pay for Shaq to produce 4 sacks, but we draw the line on our homegrown HOF WR who’s been nothing but a professional his entire 10 yrs? Licht does some really boneheaded negotiations.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Mike Evans is our entire offense, without him defenses won’t respect anything we do. Running game? A joke, don’t even need 8 men in the box to shut it down. Chris Godwin? Just put your best corner back on him to neutralize him. Baker Mayfield? Trash without Mike Evans. Deep threats? Non-existent. We need Mike Evans
February 19th, 2024 at 11:13 am
Wonder if Mike and Baker talk at all about what they are doing and thinking concerning teams they are looking into.
I doubt it, but just wondering.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:16 am
The $7M is a number which is going to hit our books either way and shouldn’t make a difference big picture.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:16 am
It written in the tea leaves.
Sometimes it what people do say not what they don’t.
When Coen had his press conference he envisioned a BIG YEAR for GODWIN.
We know he will be here, but I’m also sure they told him we probably won’t have Evans back. Coen isn’t losing sleep and neither will I. What a great career Mike has had. Move on. Free up more money and INVEST in the trenches. It’s time to quit overspending on WRs for now anyway.
Once we shore up the trenches, the 1st round pick can be used ANYWHERE. EVEN QB.
Tell me that isn’t FUN.
I was watching Bo Nix tape and Troy Franklin is ELITE. i see him mocked after us all the time. Keon Coleman, Bryan Thomas etc. It’s NOT the end of the world.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Bye Felicia!
Now, replace him in the draft. Bake takes a team friendly vet or we get another cheap hired gun, start Trask and get someone else’s kyle trask + draft a mid tier QB and give them a shot. It makes ZERO since to spend 1/3 of the cap on 2 WR’s & QB when we are a run first team. No sense whatsoever!
Draft QB on brains, ability and character.
(yeah bake fits the mold, but he is no 30 mill qb)
February 19th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Jack Clark exactly!
February 19th, 2024 at 11:33 am
Jason Licht, why not bring Mike, Baker, Antoine and David into the same room saying, “We want to keep you all, longterm. Based on what we’re hearing, you all would like to keep the band together. Okay, knowing there is only so much cap to go around, let’s collaborate. Let’s figure this out together. We’ll spend everything we can to responsibly sign each and every one of you. So I’m bringing you together in good faith. Let’s do this!”
I know that’s a naive approach…wishful thinking. But, it would be interesting to witness how big of “team players” the all really are.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:45 am
Get it done Licht.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Rossini seems to be more plugged in than most.
Get-r-done, Jason.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
Mike is a first ballot HoFer and top 7 WR ever?!? Geez can we keep some perspective here? I love the guy too, but that is some crazy talk. Even Ira has never mentioned Mike as a first ballot type guy, and there is NOBODY who I would trust more to know. If he was that guy, MAYBE you pay him $30M per going in to his age 31 season with a defensive minded coach that’s about to get fired and a QB nobody in the league wanted a season ago. Maybe. But even if you would, we can’t. Not without trading a major piece (somebody we don’t want to lose) or digging deeper in our salary cap hole instead of continuing to plug it up. Do we want to be like the Saints? People act like “just cut or trade Shaq and CDIII and give that money to Mike.” That’s not the way the salary cap works! A lot of the guys we WANT to get rid of would actually cost us more against the cap to do so. That’s why we’re in this mess. Licht and his team are actually great at the cap stuff, they’re not stupid.
This is just another reason we should’ve fired bowles after the season. If we lose Mike, we really shouldn’t tie ourselves to Baker for 3 years $75M+, but we probably will. Mike is THAT important that losing him should dictate our strategy towards a soft reset. It should lead us to roll with Trask (to save money, not because he’s the savior), resign our other cornerstone type players (AWJ & Chase), Lavonte sadly would probably retire rather than rebuild (although I’d keep him if he wants to play), and we’d take advantage of great draft position after we get murdered by our insane schedule next year. We’d come out of it with a new coach, high draft pick, cap in good position, and a third or fourth place schedule. If you fed our situation (post Mike) into an AI that took out emotion, this would be the best path forward it would lay out, guaranteed.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
I’m still stunned people don’t know the difference between resigning and re-signing.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
I have faith in Jason Licht and him getting Evans a new contract. Go Bucs
February 19th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Lol that’s my pet peeve as well
February 19th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
So much work, money and anticipation to keep the team average.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Allbuccedup Says:
February 19th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
So much work, money and anticipation to keep the team average.
^^^^^^^^^
If you think winning the division and winning a playoff game is “average”, you obviously haven’t been a Bucs fan for very long…I’ll give you a clue, since you don’t seem to have one…Look up how many years in a row the Bucs MISSED THE PLAYOFFS before Tom Brady joined the Bucs.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
If we lose mike evans this franchise would be considered one of the worst franchises ever. We were trash before brady….and we will especially be trash if evans is gone. This front office in this organization is a complete dumpster fire. Still wondering after 15 plus years of being a fan on why this franchise neglects going after a franchise qb…I don’t wna hear about this or that player. The fact that this organization thinks that they can win with anybody at qb just tells you all u need to know. How many years do we have to go without a franchise qb. This organization just messes around way to much…and if a deal can be done to save a little over 7 milly….why ain’t it done….we have crap for cap space as it is and u willing just to eat 7 milly….that money could be used elsewhere like free agency. Sad sad sad day. Hope mike signs back tho.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:03 pm
Nothing burger…
No info , no clue
Diplomatic speak
February 19th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
If Mike leaves I don’t see why the assumption is Baker will leave because he can’t go to the Texans and who else is really after Baker that has an offense that fits him? I see an argument that it helps baker if Mike leaves as he can say “well you aren’t paying 25 million to Mike so pay me more.”
February 19th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
I somewhat understand the Bucs point, you don’t want to get stuck with a bad contract like the Watson and Wilson one’s Both have not lived up to their bad contracts but, Evans played very well for a 30 year old. I don’t think he missed but like 2 games with injuries and as of now he is the Bucs franchise. If the Bucs don’t want to sign him well, Mike go made your money. I’ve been a Bucs fan every since they came into the league in 1976 and I still love my Bucs
February 19th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Just pay him.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
As I’ve said before, if Mike don’t come back baker is gone unless they overpay him to come back, if baker don’t come back Mike Evans is gone. They are a package deal
February 19th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
If Evans doesn’t resign then Mayfield should not sign and bucs shouldn’t sign him either. Mayfield without Evans would be a disaster. With Evans he had how many games under 50yds in the first half and the game was over. Good grief.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Evans has been underpaid his entire career. He is too important of a piece to allow to hit free agency. It could start a chain reaction. This is his final payday. Do whatever it takes to keep the band together. Don’t let this HOF’r escape us. He is still in his prime due to his conditioning and lack of injuries throughout his career. Please make him a Buc for life. And do it today
February 19th, 2024 at 1:45 pm
KIRK COUSINS TO THE BUCS!
February 19th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Is it that Evans want to hit free agency just to see what his market value is so he don’t get underpaid by the Bucs? Evans did a couple of restructuring and extensions of his contract over the pass few years to help the Bucs keep key players So why is it taking both sides a year to figure things out that work for both side
February 19th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Since76
No doubt.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:05 pm
B/R thrives on negative feedback articles. Should never use as a source.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
You all need to get over it. The Bucs are willing to let Evans walk
Agents don’t go running to the media and demand deadlines if they sense the team is fully on board but facing cap issues. All indications are Evans got the cold shoulder to the demand and baker as much as said i – Mike was offended.
just on principle mike is going to free aency and someone is going to make a very compelling offer. “Far apart ” means money and /or years . Again the Bucs are confirming they are not prepared to break the bank for an over 30 receiver
great year for licht to have a good draft too. while everyone is obsessed with Qbs some other gems might be avaialble.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Q: Name all the Bucs free agents Licht wanted to resign that got away?
A: None. Zero.
In fact, Licht is the only GM in history to resign all 22 starters after winning a Super Bowl. I’m just not concerned. Licht has the highest resign rate (drafted players) of any GM in the league. He’s got this.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
He gone.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:48 pm
Since76 Says:
February 19th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
If Evans doesn’t resign then Mayfield should not sign and bucs shouldn’t sign him either. Mayfield without Evans would be a disaster.
—
eh its you so what else are you going to say?
If Mike wants north of 30 million at multiple years He NEEDS to giddy up. I wish him the best. Would he be missed? Yeah but is he irrepaceable? Nope
As a mtater of fact there are ways in which the offense would be even better if we could have four designated good receivers. Last I checked four is better than one and so often last tseason it seemed like we only had one or none when mike had the dropsies.
Mike is a fantastic reciever but he was also a distraction in that everyone around him play callind and throwing the ball over relied on him and felt obligated to make sure he got his 1,000 yards.
The ball needs to move around to be a dynamic offense. All this talk about what a disaster it will be if mike isn’t paid the moon is driven by the blather about “buc for life”
Well thats rich. We rented a Qb to get a super bowl who will enter the hall of fame as a Patriot but now its essential that our key players be a “bucs for life”? Aparently not.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:08 pm
Let him drop passes and tip passes for ints for another team. Half of Evans catches have come in garbage time throughout his career. Most overrated Buc of all time. Draft a WR in the first round and then the trenches and apply the crazy amount Evans would have been paid to Winfield, Wirfs, LVD, the kicker and Baker(on a short term deal). KC did just fine without Tyreek Hill.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Mike Evans will be a first ballot HOFer. Especially if he racks up another 1000 yard season or two.
Top 7 WR ever? That’s a stretch. He definitely has that potential. Personally my big 4 are Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Terrell Owens. There’s a bunch of guys that come after that.
Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Brown, Tyreek Hill… hell, Tim Brown in every regard was a BETTER WR… just didn’t have the same physical intangibles.
The best part about Mike Evans is that he’s relatively young in the modern athletic science era, and he can still get better. If he fixes his little drop problem he’d probably have 200-400 more yards per season.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
@big red – Thank you. Mike is elite for sure but that streak is so overrated. His TDs are not though. We had to feed him for at least three of those seasons just to hit 1k yds. He’s not even a top ten WR of all-time.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:32 pm
I would put Evans on the level of Calvin Johnson. They have a similar catch radius. It looks like Evans has gotten faster over time. I know he dropped weight and it seems like he can still get separation when he goes deep. I was at the Carolina game last year when Brady hit him in stride for 3 long TD passes. For a minute we were given hope that our offense had turned the corner. It wasn’t so but Evans impressed the he!! Out of me that day as he blew by those Carolina corners all day long
February 19th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
This is the contract that Evans has to take care of himself. Can’t blame him if he chases the money. Hope than can work it out. He deserves it.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:25 pm
Winfield and Evans are the two FA’s that matter.
Then David.
Then Mayfield.
In that order.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:27 pm
Mike will get paid very well somewhere….if the Bucs let him go I trust that they do what they believe is best for the team – – I pretty much ignore the “keyboard GMs” that think they know more than Jason and Todd.
Also, why do we need somebody freom the Athletic telling the Bucs what they need to do??
Don’t the LOCAL media that cover the team every day have all the info that we need??
February 19th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Chad they are. Not a package deal. What are you thier agent? Big time BS
February 19th, 2024 at 4:57 pm
@Pelsbuc61
“Most overrated Buc of all time”
You are seriously mental af. Like do you wear a helmet when you go outside?
February 19th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
This fan page is quite comical with the things people spill out. So glad none of you idiots have anything to do with what Tampa actually does.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
@ I remember 21 –
What Ira actually said is that Evans needs a few more years with same production to be a 1st ballot HOFer…
Fans seem to have forgotten that Mike is STILL like 65% of our offensive production.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:34 pm
Mike and Baker in Carolina?
February 19th, 2024 at 6:41 pm
He wants to go to FA. He wants to know the top dollar he can get. He’ll probably then give the Bucs an opportunity to match. But he’s going to go to the money.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:48 pm
Don’t let him go like the Bucs did with Lynch. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, not a Diva, a great teammate and human being. Pay the man. Get it done.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:57 pm
Hmmm The comments are interesting Today.Most are good and make sense. Some are downright stupid.I hate to see mike leave for sure.Those of you saying he is overrated dont know anything about football. Mike makes this offense go.Teams have to game plan for him.If he leaves its rebuild time.I guess Im ok with that.We just won a SB.And longtime fans(me since day one) know Super Bowls dont come easy for this franchise.If this is the case start with the trenches.I have to ask myself this. If we werent planning on keeping Baker and Mike would Bolwes still be here?I love those guys But we cant overpay them. I think Jason has earned the right to be respected. I will trust his decision Oh god PLEASE dont leave MIKe lol
February 19th, 2024 at 7:57 pm
He’s all the great thing everyone said above, one of my top 5 favorite players of all time but his case of the dropsies has to lower his value. I know the period passed to save 7.5 million today, but licht knows what he’s doing. Either they’ll let him go or they know the loophole that’ll save the 7.5 million when he does sign.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:15 pm
KC needs him BAD
“Patrick Mahomes average length of TD passes:
2019: 17.3
2020: 13.0
2021: 8.5
2022: 4.5
2023: 3.9
(in avg air yards/TD)
In the last two years, Mahomes has thrown a total of two TDs which traveled 20+ yards in the air.”
February 19th, 2024 at 10:13 pm
Talking loud and saying nothing. Typical low energy article from Joe.
Whatever happens it isn’t worth a second of your time to care about it.
Superbowl 59 has already been decided.
Chiefs will win a 3rd title in a row.
T-Swift will be on TV more than the players.
Vegas and the NFL rake in the profits from brainless rubes.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:25 pm
How do you keep coming up with these wanna be sports/NFL analists Joe!
Geezz! CAn I apply as a senior analist?
Go Bucs!
February 19th, 2024 at 10:30 pm
Well Licht this is the price for “value” deals. Last time he told his agent to just get a deal done. He wasn’t a diva who took to the airwaves or social media. He’s played out his contract knowing he wasn’t getting fair value you do pay that man what he is owed.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
I agree with a lot of you. This is a tough business, winning means just about everything but some decisions have to be about more than just that. A franchise isn’t doing their job properly if they eliminate the entire human element from the business. Evans means a ton to the team, city and fans. He’s a HoF we want to watch play his whole career in Tampa. That’s worth a lot of money, on top of his on field production which also is worth a lot of money. I don’t believe a SB will be won or lost on this decision, it’s very hard to watch games while expecting wins all the time. It’s very easy to watch Mike Evans every week. I won’t turn in my fan card if he leaves but I will be devastated.
February 20th, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Jack Clark says well what about all the games won where Mike was not in the picture for the wins so those were my imagination he also lost a couple games this year with his drops don’t get me wrong but I like Mikey just sayn there are 10 others on that field with him that is a stupid quote which is common from clark u remind me of clark Griswold with stupid stuff
February 20th, 2024 at 10:43 pm
For those of you that would actually like to see Evans catch his 100th career TD and break the ALL TIME record for 1,000 + yard seasons in a different uniform , you are not real Bucs fans ! This isn’t Keyshawn Johnson or even Chris Godwin for that matter , it’s our first offensive HOF player ! He’s a top 5 WR of all time ! Shame on you who are willing to see him suit up elsewhere. Go Bucs and future HOF WR Mike Evans
February 20th, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Glad to see most want him back ! If Evans leaves, I don’t think you fully understand the ripple effect that it will have on our Bucs. Yes , 1 player does hold that much power on the teams future on many different levels. From fans not showing up to the games because we won’t have a QB or our HOF WR , because the 2 are connected regardless of Baker. No QB will come to the Bucs if Evans is gone. And the guy above saying that Evans didn’t have an impact on a few games , that’s because the other teams were triple teaming him , which led to others having big games. He does it all , block , catch. And then I read from one of you that he dropped a few balls this year ? So did a lot of top WRs this year. Why don’t you go look up how many times Evans has fumbled the ball ? Twice, 2 times in his entire career that he has lost the football, and the last time was 6 years ago. Davante Adams fumbled more than that just this year ! No other active player has the YPC as Evans. Career 15.9 ypc !! Yeah, a lot of players caught 110+ balls this year, with a 10 or 11 ypc average. This is not a debate, the facts and stats don’t lie. Sign him and let him retire a Buc…