BSPN: Mike Evans Deal Blows Up If Baker Mayfield Doesn’t Re-Sign With Bucs
March 10th, 2024
How is this a B-?
While Joe really can’t find anyone who thinks the Bucs re-signing Mike Evans is a bad deal, Joe did find a guy who is very lukewarm on the re-signing.
Matt Miller, who otherwise is a mocker — you know the kind, has a new mock draft more often than he changes his underwear — believes the Bucs missed on an opportunity to get better and certainly stronger in the long run.
Miller, of BSPN, made it clear he really likes Evans and is happy he got paid. But Miller believes the smart move for the Bucs would have been to let Evans walk, tap the draft pool that’s loaded with stud receivers, and get [more] cap-friendly in the process. He said that would allow the Bucs to buy additional players in free agency.
With an expanding salary cap in the modern NFL, it’s possible to pay two receivers big money, and replacing a legend isn’t easy, but considering that the 2024 draft class is loaded at the position, a “run-it-back” mentality might be a dangerous one for the Bucs. Tampa Bay could have instead used this opportunity to get cap healthy and add a younger go-to target opposite Godwin. And so this is very much a boom-or-bust signing at this dollar amount, even if we’re happy to see Evans get the kind of per-year money his résumé suggests he should.
Miller added that unless the Bucs have a plan to get a veteran quarterback to take advantage of Evans and Godwin — Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said Friday that Kyle Trask is his “Door No. 2” — this Evans signing blows up if the Bucs cannot get Mayfield back.
… The Bucs are all-in on 2024 with this deal and must make sure Evans has a reliable quarterback getting him the ball.
Let’s be real: If the Bucs really believed Trask was the answer, they never would have signed Mayfield in the first place. That’s all you need to know.
So how did Miller grade this signing? He gave it a B-.
Ira Kaufman Dives Very Deep Into The Baker Mayfield Contract Status, Talks Mike Evans Misnomer, NFL Draft, And More; Special Guests Dave Canales And Tony Grossi
March 10th, 2024 at 11:10 am
I don’t think Baker would screw up Mike or Jason or the Bucs.. He’ll sign.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:13 am
I don’t think the Bucs believed Trask would work out prior to the signing of Mayfield. During last year’s offseason, Trask almost beat Mayfield, giving Licht and company more confidence if Mayfield does not sign.
In all fairness, Trask did not have a chance to succeed with Brady at the helm and last year Bowles did not want an inexperience QB starting with his job on the line.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:16 am
He has a good point on the draft. However I don’t see why it hinders the bucs from picking up one of those studs as well. IF the plan is to now not go for a WR because you re-signed evans for two years then yes that would be worse than lukewarm
March 10th, 2024 at 11:16 am
The plan is to let Baker figure out his worth in free agency, come back and negotiate a deal based off that information. He’ll sign with the Bucs on a 2 or 3 year deal with maybe a team option for an additional year.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:21 am
Read up to Matt Miller then put the article down. Don’t read what that clown thinks
March 10th, 2024 at 11:24 am
AlabamaBuc – these are my thoughts exactly. JL wasn’t confident with Trask, but he also wasn’t really given a fair shot, he was developed under BL while sitting behind Brady as we were ALL IN on the Super Bowl. Probably not the best pick at the time for JL. Canales helped Trask as well as Bake (and Geno) – I’d say the Bucs would rather have Bake back but the price has to be right. Eventually I think it will be right and all will end well.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:25 am
With the Patriots trading away Mac Jones to the Jags, I’m a little more concerned the Pats will take a run at Baker and drive up demand and his price. Of course the Pats will likely stay put and draft a QB at #3 – to sit behind Baker?
March 10th, 2024 at 11:25 am
To me Matt Millers point is just a point from a NFL talking head. The same ones that said Evans would hit free agency. 1st the 3 or 4 top 15 receivers will all be gone by pick 26 so the Bucs should be able to have their pick if the receiver crop is that robust With Evans you know you’re gonna get production and he’s gonna play at least 14 to15 games. His deal is only 2 years. Draft a rookie to be one of your top end receivers is a gamble. How well will he play his rookie year and adapt to the offense Just my opinion
March 10th, 2024 at 11:25 am
As has been stated before, he’s waiting for Cousins to make the first move. None of the other FA QB’s is relevant
March 10th, 2024 at 11:32 am
WAKE n BAKE is walking………
…..to another team for the highest payday
GO GIT YO MONEY BAKE!!!!
March 10th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Dear Lord, are we still talking about Trask?
Does no one actually watch the games?
Trask has a weak Arm. Cant throw sideline patterns. That means he eont play in the NFL. HE’l get demoted to 3rd string this year, finish out his cheap rookie contract, and get cut. If Mayfield doesnt re-sign, then the Bucs will scramble and find some bargain bin QB .
It will never be Trask. After seeing how they are afraid to put him in the game, you’d have to be brain dead to think otherwise.
Now that we’ve addressed the simpletons.
Signing Mike first was strange., but I think its just more evidence that Jason Licht thought the Mayfield signing was in the book.
SURPRISE! Apparently Bakers agent didnt feel that way.
If we dont sign Mayfield, then The Evans signing makes Zero sense.
No Mayfield means we are tanking this year, drafting a rookie next year, snd building around him for the next 5 years.
Evans wont stay here for that. We’ll be trading him before the season starts.
Miller is right on this one. Why pay Mike that much, if we dont have a QB?
We could draft 2 great young WRs for less than we are paying Mike. Let them grow with the Rookie QB. Next year.
I really believe Licht got caught with his pants down, when Mayfield turned down that contract.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:37 am
Let’s not forget mayfield was never signed as a starter, he was signed to establish a competitive qb training camp. That led him to eventually becoming the starting qb.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:37 am
…..and the Bucs only signed Mike because he’s literally the 2nd greatest Bucs offensive player in Bucs History!!!!!
#1 Greatest player in Bucs History is MIKE ALSTOTT!!!!! 🔨🐂
March 10th, 2024 at 11:38 am
Evans is going to produce regardless of who’s throwing the ball. He said that himself.
Did the Bucs have confidence in Trask? All I can go by is what Licht and Canales said about him.
Bucs had two QB’s in the room and they got a great bargain on a 3rd. Their QB roster cost them 6.4 minimum, 8.4 max and ender up around 7.4 million. That’s basically what they paid Taylor Heineke at ATL as a back up. Why not sign Mayfield last year season?
Would the Bucs say they were 100% that he would have had a career year? I’m sure all the folks piled into Capt Tim’s dinghy would say yes but then it is the lying time of the football year.
Daniel Jones would probably get Evans the Grand but I doubt Bucs would want to pay 40 to do it. Hell they are looking at a Veteran at Trask money to come in and take the sting out of their Big Blunder.
Evans will come in a work and give what he does every year and in two seasons the Bucs will decide if he is a ‘Buc for Life’. Historically it’s more than 400 to 1 odds or +40000. Carolina Panthers are +25000 to win the Super Bowl and I doubt that gets much action if any.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:38 am
Also signing Mike first gives to Bucs more leverage on negotiations with mayfield since they have a bond and he wants to play with Mike
March 10th, 2024 at 11:40 am
I agree with most of what he said.
I’m not unhappy ME is still here but I think we missed out on a lot of draft picks this year by not trading him before the deadline last year.
I’m more of a long term/big picture fan.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:43 am
They have a point. If we don’t sign a guy that can reliably get the ball to Mike, his talent won’t be less. But his effectiveness will be lessened. And by signing Mike, we are saying we are going for it this next year. Do we toss the dice on Trask? Or do we get the band back together?
March 10th, 2024 at 11:43 am
If the Bucs really believed Trask was the answer, they never would have signed Mayfield in the first place. That’s all you need to know.
——————————
Let’s be real. If the Bucs believed Mayfield was the answer the would never have let him hit free agency. So currently it looks as if the Bucs like Trask more than Mayfield
March 10th, 2024 at 11:45 am
Baker is dragging discussions out because he believes someone will offer him the money he’s looking for in the tampering period.
Someone will.
Door #2 springs open and Trask c-walks into the starting job.
Joe cries about it but it doesn’t matter because the Bucs build around Trask with the extra cap space and put together a great roster. The Bucs win 11 games and Trask solidifies himself as the franchise QB.
March 10th, 2024 at 11:57 am
I don’t have a very high opinion of a lot of sports writers and for that matter the news media in general either. Facts don’t matter and miss information (lies) seems to be their resume
March 10th, 2024 at 11:58 am
I’m SOOOOO glad Jason Licht understands his job duties are to attempt to build a BETTER overall team than the previous season and keep the franchise in position to achieve the ultimate goal of winning a championship REGARDLESS of the noise around him!!! 🚩☠️!
March 10th, 2024 at 11:59 am
Capt Tim is talking out of his backside.
Click link – shows Trask throw accurate 35 yard sideline strike while on the run.
You have no clue.
March 10th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
If I’m Baker o don’t want to go to New England. If they draft a quarterback at #3 he will be holding a clipboard by the end of the season. The only way I got to NE is if I know they plan to trade that pick and get some offensive talent. I think Baker want a place he can be the guy, not a placeholder while a young guy develops.
March 10th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Trask will do fine if given the chance to play.
March 10th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Trask should have been allowed to play some in regular season games. As it is, no one knows how he would perform in a real game. Looks like Mayfield has the Bucs over a barrel now ?
March 10th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Really-
It’s all about money he’s got his ring its reality. Just ask Russell
March 10th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
No it does not! There are plenty of QB that could play for us that are BETTER than Baker
March 10th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
listen-these GM’s all talk to each other , if you think Licht has not talked to many GM’s about what they think Bake is worth and drawn his line in the sand at around 28 mil per-you are using too much airplane glue. Baker is slightly above average and that is it. Licht is confident that if he cannot sign Bake that Trask can do the job.
March 10th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Signing an All Pro and future HOF player that are still playing at a high level to short term deal is very rarely a bad idea. Overpaying for average QB play like the Saints and Giants did is though
March 10th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
That is still playing at a high level*
March 10th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Mostly Peabrained Trask fan.
I dont have the time it takes, to watch one of trask balloons slowly drift to the sideline. Acurate, sure, eventually.
But if was a real NFl defensive back on that play, instead of a 6th string scrub,
That pass woulda been picked and in the Endzone.
Coen watched 10 minutes of Trask tape, and forgot he was on the team.
The only way ole Noodle arm ever sets oot on a field, is if we want to lose!
March 10th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
let’s talk mike evans 1,000 yards years and longevity…
say he plays out his contract for 2 years and retires, and in that time he gets exactly 2,000 yards total for the 2 years…
he finishes with 13,680 yards and is #17 in career yardage history…good but a little meh for mike…
so let’s say he signs another 2 year deal after that, here or elsewhere, and once again gains exactly 2,000 yards in the 2 seasons…
he finishes there with 15, 680 yards and really bump up big time…and is #4 all time…ahead of moss, and with only owens, fitz and rice ahead of him…
and lastly lets say he then signs another 2 year deal and once again gets exactly 2,000 yards…
he then finishes in a total of 6 more seasons with 17,680…and that moves him into the #2 all time spot ahead of fitzgerald and still behind rice…
that would be my goal if i am mike…
6 more years with 2 year contracts…and hopefully finishing with about 18,000 yards…
i thinks that’s the goal and when big money mike should attempt to hang ’em up because he will still be behind rice by about 5,000 yards…
so there you have it
March 10th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Does Miller realize Mike Evans can make any QB look good? He should take a look at all the QBs that Mike has played with and still got a 1,000 yards with. Don’t forget to go back to college too and how he helped create the Johny Foosball mystique.
March 10th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
No team is going to draft a QB in the top ten and then sit them. I don’t think the Ne patriots were ever a contender for BM’s services.
March 10th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
If Trask was as good as some fantasize he would be the starter.
March 10th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
odell fleekman really got baker to completely lose his frame in cleveland…
he’s finally getting his sh!t back together right about now
March 10th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
If the Bucs don’t sign BM, they will either trade for Fields for a mid round pick or draft a QB. Then they will use the rest of the money to add FAs to put us in a SN window.
March 10th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
SB window
March 10th, 2024 at 1:56 pm
Ramblin_Man Says:
“The plan is to let Baker figure out his worth in free agency, come back and negotiate a deal based off that information. He’ll sign with the Bucs on a 2 or 3 year deal with maybe a team option for an additional year.”
I don’t know man. I got all my fingers crossed you are right. I got a bad feeling about this. Minnesota could be tired of Cousins getting paid top 5 dollars for little playoff success and is old. Don’t underestimate the ability of Kevin O’Connell sweet talking Baker with offensive scheme discussions, passing the ball to those two star receivers and TJ Hockensen in a dome. Giving Baker flowers for all he accomplished against tough situations. And it was time Baker found a team that wants to invest in him instead of test him out yet again. They already got $40M set aside for Qbs. They know they got 10 wins in the bag in 2024 with their schedule and the right QB. KOC may have to win a playoff game in his 3rd year to stay off the hot seat. I don’t see him doin that with Dobbs, Fields or any of the 2024 draftees.
If the Bucs drew a line in the sand between $28-35M for 2 years, Bake’s not going to let them match. Being told someone believes in you long-term versus familiarity from someone who needs to you to prove it yet again unless some else wants you may not be worth ME, CG and Coen for 2 years.
All these comparisons to Geno Smith is funny. Geno never won a playoff game in many more seasons and is much older. Bakers is a gamer. He’s proved that in the playoffs. He proved it with clutch play against the Vikings and Green Bay, last minute game winning drives against Atlanta and Houston. Except Winfield and the defense couldn’t stop Stroud from driving the length of the field and scoring a TD in 47 seconds. They barely stopped Ridder and the Falcons from screwing up another Baker special with a tackle 4 yards short of the end zone as time expired. It’s a team sport but man Baker needed this team and they needed him. Trask would have gotten Bowle’s fired and Canales
sweat for a job this offseason.
March 10th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
🙂
More like “Odell Fleeceum.”
March 10th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Adam from NY, a more realistic take on Mike Evans
Next 2 years, 2500 yards and 20 TD.Likely in HOF but might have to wait awhile.
2 more additional years, 2000 yards and 15TD. In HOF but might not be first ballot.
2 final years, 1000 yards and 10 TD. First ballot HOF.
Mike Evans is not going to HOF for explosive stats but for consistency and longetivity. Thus, the longer he plays the greater the chance he gets it. Imo, 3 more years and he’s guaranteed in.
March 10th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
If Evans were to have left his dead cap hit would have been bigger than his last year’s salary. Baker may be back may not. Kind of surprised we didn’t offer a deal that was acceptable but as Joe said the owners are running the show like they did on Evan’s contract extension last year.
March 10th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
” While Joe really can’t find anyone who thinks the Bucs re-signing Mike Evans is a bad deal”
You do know. Mike Evans is old, slow and doesn’t separate. I’ve been saying that for 2 years, so maybe if the joe-joes would stop their love of JL and focus on listening to the rest of the would know that.
March 10th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
A lot of ifs. It’s also good to sign Mike first so if Baker does move onto another team, other QBs in waiting will most definitely want to be part of the Bucs and maybe at a lower amount. The owners and JL have a plan.
March 10th, 2024 at 2:24 pm
Apparently someone has missed Bucs games or advanced stats on receiver separation.
March 10th, 2024 at 2:28 pm
I’ve been diehard through the good and the bad no matter what qb Mike has had he gets 1,000 yards every year one of the most unselfish players in the NFL most underrated wr in the league I’m glad he resigned I’ve been Baker fan since he was drafted hasn’t gotten a fair shot with one team and he gets booted if he resigns we go to the Super Bowl within 2 years
March 10th, 2024 at 2:38 pm
What good does it do to pay a QB this much and then you can’t afford a supporting cast? Remember Baker only went 9-8 and almost got benched mid season. Good riddance you greedy SOB. How much money is enough? I Mean damn 30 mil a year for 3 years is more than your kids and grandkids will ever spend. Not only that a ton of states have state income tax.
March 10th, 2024 at 3:02 pm
I’m very glad we don’t need to use our first round pick on a wide receiver now, which we would have had to do. You could out and try to get a free agent WR and they wouldn’t be close to Evans. So it was a good move.
March 10th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Tired of greedy nfl players. They are all overpaid. Our military should make more than people that play sports.
March 10th, 2024 at 3:52 pm
Lol if Mayfield signs or not it it’s never a blow up that the Bucs re signed one of the greatest to play WR. Unreal!!
March 10th, 2024 at 3:55 pm
While you can generate clicks by trolling TrashkForce, you can’t run a NFL franchise on that hopium.
If Trask were truly as good as Baker, he would have started against Carolina. If he were as good as Baker, the GM/ownership would not have targeted & hired the OC with recent history & offense that fits Mayfield, and they therefore would have had no interest in signingBaker Mayfield.
I conclude then, the GM continuing to talk about Trask is actually an attempt at generating trade value – until the Mack Jones deal.
The only way Kyle Trask starts is if Baker Mayfield’s value is higher than the Bucs care to dedicate to the QB position. That only happens if the Bucs don’t care how many games they lose. In that scenario, You’ve wasted the re-signings because most franchise QB’s drafted in round #1 – fail. The improved line & run game may disguise Trask’s mediocrity, but you won’t win more games than you lose.
You are the MOST competitive by adding/building around the talent you were able to acquire last season with a proven Baker Mayfield, especially with an improved line, running game, an extended Tristan Wirffs, a re-signed Mike Evans, and an improved pass-rush/secondary.
All of that can be achieved, THIS off-season. That’s door number one.
Door number 2, just prolongs losing, which is what too many Tampa Bay Buc fans have unfortunately become accustomed. I want to win, especially getting to the playoffs, with a QB who has done that twice before…
March 10th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
@Michal Mad Mike – they aren’t greedy they are getting paid what they are worth to the companies they work for. Non-athletes do the same thing or they should. I am going through the same situation with my employer, granted on a much smaller scale. I have another company interested in my services so I let my employer know now my boss is working out the details to get me a big bump in pay.
March 10th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
Door number 3,
Tom Brady comes out of retirement again.
March 10th, 2024 at 4:10 pm
Door #4, sign Jackson Mahomes and hope talent runs in the family
March 10th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Speculation is the name of the game, and they call it journalism. Mike Evans has been misused for much of his time in Tampa, and I am confident that he may have not played his best football yet. Would love for Baker to come back, but I still feel any quarterback can throw for 4000 yards because of what ME13 does for this franchise.
March 10th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
One of the many guys who are only relevant from end of the season to the end of mock draft season but no one cares what he thinks Nort before or after the teams are formed
March 10th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
lambchop Says:
March 10th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Does Miller realize Mike Evans can make any QB look good? He should take a look at all the QBs that Mike has played with and still got a 1,000 yards with. Don’t forget to go back to college too and how he helped create the Johny Foosball mystique.
_______
True, but how hard is it to average 59 yards per game.
Sure, he’s gone over that average but he’s also barely made that average.
ME is very good but not CONSISTENTLY great.
Homers
March 10th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Rappaport put out tweet that deal is getting done, $100M for 3years, $50M guaranteed.
March 10th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Licht had to all the way. Great job.
March 10th, 2024 at 7:15 pm
What this dolt is missing is that you aren’t going to replace Mike Evans’ abilities and productivity with a draft pick….
Even if you “hit” on the pick – he’s not going to be nearly as good as Evans.
March 10th, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Licht used to spend big money on free agents and it almost got him fired. Now he uses free agency to pluck guys getting trimmed for the bloated contracts while spending the money on homegrown talent.
This shift resulted in quite a bit of success.
Maybe the expert who thinks you’re going to replace a Hall of Fame receiver in the draft doesn’t know what he’s talking about?
March 10th, 2024 at 9:41 pm
Baker is back ! So please end the Trask talk
March 10th, 2024 at 10:41 pm
So many takes on this site age about as well as milk hanging out in the sun. Looking at you ATLBucs and company