Paying & Ranking Mike Evans
February 14th, 2018
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Mike Evans will enjoy his hard-earned, Lotto-like $13 million+ salary this season and be very happy in the process.
Evans already earned that much during his first four NFL seasons.
Many Bucs fans, however, are panic-stricken believing Tampa Bay should be rushing to restructure Evans’ contract now to avoid potentially losing him as a free agent in 2019, when his rookie deal expires.
Joe never understands those fans. What’s the hurry?
What’s wrong with letting Evans play out his contract? Plenty of guys get injured. So there’s that. Plus, the Bucs are in no danger of losing Evans in 2019. They can always slap the franchise tag on him, if necessary.
And if DeSean Jackson is no longer around in 2019 (likely) and Chris Godwin is the real deal earning peanuts as a third-round draft pick, then the Bucs probably wouldn’t hesitate at all to use the franchise-tag hammer on Evans, if it came to that.
The Bucs really are under no pressure to re-sign any of their young standout players, certainly not yet.
On the Good Morning Football show, the NFL Network crew, including former Lions and Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson, discussed how Evans’ agent doesn’t want to negotiate with the Bucs during the 2018 season. And they chattered about where Evans ranks among NFL wide receivers.
“Is he top-5?” Burleson asked rhetorically. “Yeah. The question is if he’s good enough now, in this next year, to go top-3, to be named in that conversation.”
Is Evans really a top-5 receiver? It’s debatable, which is impressive for Evans. No slight there.
Saints fans certainly would argue for NFL-record holder Michael Thomas. And Marvin Jones (Lions) has been every bit as dangerous as Evans has been over the past two seasons.
Good Morning Football co-host Peter Schrager said he considers Evans a top-10 receiver who “needs a bounce-back season” in 2018. Joe won’t argue that.
Regardless, there’s no crime or real risk in letting Evans play out 2018 and then pay him what he’s worth on the market. Team Glazer would be happy to do it.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:03 am
To many drops for a top 5 receiver.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:09 am
Plenty of other things to panic about as a Bucs fan. Let’s hope this lights a fire under Evans and he gets the money he deserves after lighting it up next season.
Let’s keep the panic focused on the Dline, RB, Overall defense, etc…
February 14th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Mike should walk as soon as possible to escape the glazer circus. No chance to win in Tampa and mike understands this unlike the delusional optimists
February 14th, 2018 at 10:10 am
I would of signed him first and set the market. Now OBJ will set the market and we have to follow.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:11 am
Here is where I think we all fall down the well. Ranking these guys is virtually impossible. When I watch Stefon Diggs I think WOW. I could name a LOT of guys with WOW factor and certainly ME13 is prominent in that group.
The difference in talent level between these stars is paper thin. The difference between the overall talent on all NFL teams is paper thin. This is why we can easily turn it around in 2018…maybe not easily but it’s certainly doable regardless of the doom and woe crowd who regularly come here to tell us it’s hopeless.
Some like TMAX are just depressed people. TMAX has blasted virtually everything in our society not just the Bucs…he almost never has anything positive to say about anything. That’s just how he rolls.
The Philadelphia Eagles were picked to finish behind us in every preseason ranking I read. How did that work out for the Eagles? The hindsight crowd here loves to crow about how the Eagles and Jags and others improved last year. Yeah they did…and the pieces fell into place for them.
The Jags beat the Bills in the wild card in the single most boring playoff game I have ever seen. It was certainly no grand achievement of a quality team…both teams were awful in that game.
ME13 is certainly in the top tier…but it’s a fairly large tier…maybe a dozen players. Each have their own individual skill sets…speed or size or great hands or a combination of these. For me personally I still gotta go with JJ as the top dog right now.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:24 am
STPETE
regarding tmax I disagree….when it comes to GMC, he’s spot on….he keeps it real….sometimes the truth hurts….but truth is needed…..
since the “overall talent on all NFL teams is paper thin”, please try telling that to the “we lack of talent” crowd…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 10:26 am
I think players see how Cousins played the system and the strategy has changed. Force the tag for huge lump sums then lock in the value after its increased over 3 yrs. It’s a gamble but the pay off could be a solid $10+ million extra for their career….which is a once in a lifetime money grab for these guys. With QBs…it’s a no brainer….not sure it’s the best move for a receiver but to each his own.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:30 am
If this if that but when and possibly and fact is uhm and at the end of the day
Hahaha. Take a look in the mirror tampabay “REAL” buc fans with the expensive tickets and merchandise aka TB Booster Club no one with any real talent wants to re-sign with the team. No FAs want to sign with the team. No real coaches want to sign with the team #GrudenROH
Keep listening to that zombie woof woof on 620am and the rest of the high iq football minds that run the show like t kras. Lol. Or the remarkably talented twitter voices. They have all helped contribute to the cause.
The franchise has potential you guys just keep doing what you’re doing 😭😂🤣🍦
#TMAXHASALWAYSBEENRIGHT
February 14th, 2018 at 10:30 am
Concessions probably has some cold bud light just sitting in a bucket of ice outside section 304, ready for the taking. I’m going to run over to Ray jay and pick one up #delusionaloptimist
February 14th, 2018 at 10:38 am
They are not paying him nor will his agent accept it until ODB sets the market and then he will have his place to shoot for, but the bucs are stupid and not signing mike evans or even using teh franchise tag on him would top their list of stupidity, up there with signing revis and giving up a #1
February 14th, 2018 at 10:38 am
StPeteBucsFan:
I could not agree more. Every thing you imply should be set in stone. The Buc’s lost 4 games by 3 points and 3 games by less than 6 points. It’s not because of any one player or anyone coach and there is no reason why the Buc’s can’t trade places with The Eagles next year, Hell they lost their starting QB and several key starters last year. I’m with you, I have hope and the last thing that bothers me are these bottom of the well dwellers who must live lonely despot lives and a lot of time on their hands.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:42 am
I don’t get one clue that he is resigns to stay in Tampa. Last year was hard on the young men especially if this team does not a long run into playoffs. If that doesn’t happen kiss me13 goodbye
February 14th, 2018 at 10:43 am
@813
GMC is just TMAX’s obsession. He’s negative about most stuff Bucs and most stuff in our society period.
GMC is hardly the reason this team has struggled over the years. The Bucs sucked long before GMC for a variety of reasons beginning with Hugh Culverhouse perhaps the worst owner in the history of sports.
ONE player on a 53 man roster does not determine that rosters fate.
The anti GMC argument is just ludicrous. The ONLY people posting this crap are people on Buc fan blogs. As Joe has frequently pointed out NOBODY he talks to with NFL cred believes this load of manure.
At minimum…IF GMC was as destructive as you all post then the rest of the team sucks as well. It’s up to each individual player to motivate themselves!!!
If they become unmotivated because ONE of their players is a nice guy then that’s on THEM…not the player who is being blamed.
Again if ONE player can make such a HUGE difference then we must be just ONE player away eh?
I like your posts 813 but the GMC argument invalidates your fundamental point. NO EXCUSES remember. Trying to claim one guy failed as a leader…is too nice…whatever and it the reason for the Bucs struggles is the ultimate EXCUSE.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:46 am
I’m sure the Bucs would like to extend Mike right now – coming off his worst statistical season and without the market having been jacked out of control yet by the likes of OBJ and some other excellent young receivers who will be getting big deals in the next 1-2 years.
Mike and his agent would prefer to wait of course since Mike is already guaranteed at least the $13M this year. They assume (probably correctly) that Mike will be upstat in 2018 and in a position to get a HUGE deal with TONS of guaranteed $ – either from the Bucs or some other team another year down the road after cashing in $16-17M with a franchise tag in 2019.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:48 am
813
BTW I have tried telling the we’re far away crowd about how the talent difference in the NFL is paper thin. It wasn’t me who coined the phrase on “Any given Sunday” but I certainly subscribe to it.
There is certainly no “On any given Saturday” in college ball. Does anybody really believe The Citadel has a genuine chance against Alabama.
People can bring up the Browns and their futility the past several years but this was once a very proud and successful franchise that reached the playoffs and were a fumble away from an SB. They CAN turn it around and with all the draft picks they’ve piled up they may just be good again.
The Citadel will NEVER be competitive with SEC or any Big 5 conference teams.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:51 am
To be fair STPeteBucsFan, I live in SC and watched the Citadel beat USC 3 years ago
February 14th, 2018 at 10:52 am
He will get paid. I would wait until after the season. Why lock him in now when you can always franchise him. During the franchise year you can re-sign him long term. Just my way of insuring unknown injuries or stupidity that may arise and keep him from playing. I also believe he will work a lot harder next year to prove his worth for the big payday. There’s less incentive if he already has a big deal.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:54 am
They are only in a panic because it is a late story from last week. He will get his money when the time comes.
February 14th, 2018 at 10:56 am
Joe there is only 1 franchise tag to use next year. Evans, D Smith, Marpet, Alexander are all going to be free agents. We are going to have to lock some, hopefully most, up this off-season. If all these guys play well next year what incentive do they have to not test the free agent market? At that point it is a bidding war.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:01 am
I love ME13 and he is an incredible talent. I can’t rank him among the true elite receivers until he shows more after the catch. The top tier guys in my opinion need to be true home run threats and for whatever reason ME13 hasn’t shown that yet. Oddly enough I remember him having more YAC with Josh McCown in his rookie year with Jameis in his subsequent years but have looked into stats on that topic….
February 14th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Imagine what Evans could do with a quarterback who throws on time and accurately with some touch he’d be the best receiver in the NFL.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:24 am
SCBucsfan
Yep they did pull of an historic upset that year. And in 1990 they edged USC by three points.
Before that won one other game and then lost more than 20. You have to go back to 1928 for another win for the Bulldogs…hardly competitive.
I lived in SC for a dozen years in Greenville so of course I’m partial to Clemson.
But if we’re fair you also gotta say the Gamecocks are hardly Alabama.
Now Clemson and Dabo may be on their way but to catch Bama they still have a long road to travel. But ya gotta concede that Clemson is certainly now competitive with Bama and Dabo is still a young guy.
BTW I loved my dozen years in SC…I love the Piedmont…the middle part of the state not so much.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:46 am
STPETE
my reasoning for sending GMC packing has everything to do with the future….I think at this point in his career he holds more value as a trade piece that can bring in a pick or 2 vs keeping him on the roster…..we’ve lost for so long with him we should be able to lose just fine without him…..
im not saying GMC is an excuse but some of his actions can be learned by others in the locker room…..every player is self motivated because they want that NFL pay check….they don’t want to work a regular 9-5 like the common people….they want to chase their dreams…..not every player is motivated by winning and that characteristic can be learned/taught in the lock room……if a rookie or FA sees GMC laughing, smiling dancing after a loss time after time it becomes a normal thing…..they think that’s how things go down here….they become numb to losing….the attitude now becomes hey whether we win or we lose, lets just go have fun…..
great football players were/are always jekell and hide….they are 1 person in public and they are another person on the field….GMC is the same nice happy go lucky person on or off the field….same person win or lose….when Winston, evans, kwon lose everyone can see and sense they are pissed off….they hate losing….
I think GMC is a problem….just like bad play calling and poor clock management are problems…..blaming HK, IRMA, Lovie, DOM, lack of talent, no bye week, SOS are all those excuses…..good coaches can over come those type of adversities…..its tough for a coach to change the culture when the longest tenure players on the team are comfortable with the current culture…..
we both want the bucs to succeed but that wont happen until attitudes are fixed…accountability is inserted….and excuses are erased….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 11:52 am
STPETE
didn’t tell Appalachian state that…..or Charleston southern….they beat Michigan and Florida…..
but i get where your coming from….lol….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
It’s not the Bucs talent level that’s keeping them out of the playoffs. And the Bucs didn’t lose those close games because of a lack of talent. Poor coaching is the Bucs main problem. You can have a roster loaded with All-Pro players and still stink, because of poor coaching.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Sign your star players- Evans,Winston,David, Alexander,McCoy, … build through the draft next 2 years… be picky on free agency, don’t trade meaningful picks!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
There are massive talent differences between various teams and positions groups imo. I don’t think it’s paper thin at all.
The Cowboys O-line vs the Seahawks O-line for example – is a night and day difference across the board.
Hell listening to Denver radio they were listing all these defensive players they will have to potentially eventually move on from and it’s crazy compared to the list of players we would put in that category.
There is not a paper thin margin of talent when you compare Aquib Talib / Chris Harris / Bradley Roby / Darian Stewart to Grimes/VHIII/?/Evans?. That’s a night and day talent difference.
Same with D-line. McCoy/McDonald/?/?/? vs a unit like the Eagles that has Fletcher Cox / Chris Long / Timmy Jernigan / Vinny Curry/ Derek Barnet / Brandon Grhaam
Their 7th best D-lineman is about as good as our 2nd best D-lineman. THat’s a huge talent gap.
I could go all day with those comparisons. The only thing the Bucs have comparable or better talent at relative to the league is the receiving core / LB group / QB and the O-line is at least average. That’s it.
If this team was full of talent these last 5-10 years then something would have actually clicked at some point with some coaching staff but it never did. The defense has been one of the worst in the league for a decade and it pretty much falls on Dominic not building up any talent worth a sh1t.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
813
I hear ya and if they got the right number of draft picks I wouldn’t mind trading GMC and simply start from scratch with our D Line. It’s pretty much at rock bottom.
Lord C
I hear you as well and agree somewhat…at least by position groups. We clearly have one of the best group of receiving targets in the league right now especially when you figure we have two of the best TE’s in the league to augment a full complement of really good WR’s.
But overall the draft has done exactly what the league fathers wanted. “On any Given Sunday” And so while Dallas might have better OL than Seattle I do not believe their back seven match up as well.
I used to believe QB was the primary difference but after this year I’m no longer sure of that. Certainly Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer were not great QB’s but both have SB titles.
IMHO we only suck at one spot and that is DL…it’s just gawd awful. Our DB’s are not great but adequate and our LB’s are actually quite talented..probably in the top ten of the league.
Our OL has been mediocre and could use some help…our RB’s ditto…but our QB is promising…as I mentioned it would be hard to improve on our WR’s and TE’s.
Soooo fix the DL…get Noah healthy and our talent is strong enough to do the job. A really good pass rush would make all of our DB’s and LB’s look better.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
1.) Antonio Brown
2.) Julio Jones
3.) AJ Green
4.) OBJ
5.) Jarvis Landry
6.) DeAndre Hopkins
7.) Michael Thomas
8.) Fitz
9.) Tyerek Hill
10.) Keenan Allen
11.) Mike Evans
February 14th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
BTW if we’re talking about talent we’re halfway home in the kicking game.
Anger is an excellent punter…one of the best. Our FG and Kickoffs improved greatly last year meaning that Murray at least achieved mediocrity…we really could benefit from a better place kicker…one who can kick it deep enough or high enough to prevent kickoff returns and one who has some range on his FG’s.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Yep,
I don’t know Skylar, but we promoted Skylar instead going out and getting a receivers coach that has probably played the game and respected in the league… Go Bucs
February 14th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Buccaneer scotty Says:
February 14th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Imagine what Evans could do with a quarterback who throws on time and accurately with some touch he’d be the best receiver in the NFL.
Imagine what numbers Jameis would have if Evans and DJax didn’t lay down every time they caught the ball.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
Nobody here will agree with this, but I think Evans wants to keep playing with Winston. They work well together and Winston plays to Evan’s strengths and vice versa.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
@ St Pete
If you go look it up every SB winner has had a pretty stacked deep roster across the board in all position groups. Both lines / the secondary / LBs / QB / RBs / etc all stacked and deep on top of having some good pass-catchers.
We aren’t just a few pieces away.
Sure we have good WRs / TEs but most teams can say that honestly. We have a marginal advantage there for sure; but other than that we have an average O-line / terrible RBs / average to good QB at this point.
And the offense is the strength of the team lol.
There’s a reason the Saints went 7-9 3 years in a row vs being a contender last year and it isn’t just an any-given-sunday thing. It’s them adding a ton of talent to their defense to go with the offense finally; and they’d been adding defensive pieces for years before 2017.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
I think when Winston has chemistry with Mike Evans, he is top 7.
But I also believe that Winston being forced to develop chemistry with Jackson messed up the connection to Evans. Their timing was off, and Evans was not Winston’s first option most of the season…because so many wanted that connection with Jackson.
That Jackson chemistry should have been left to develop naturally.
Winston will not make that mistake this year. Jackson will have to work hard with Winston and Evans in the off season to get it. And Godwin and Humphries will be in the mix too. And OJ/Brate. That’s six legit targets for Winston.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
I’d say he’s right there with Deandre Hopkins for the 5th spot … but Antonio, Julio, AJ and OBJ are “the top 4” …
February 14th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
I know how unpopular this is going to be but if a team is willing to give up
A lot for Evans then the Bucs should trade him. The Bucs are top heavy with their roster and need to spend money and picks in the trenches. Not too many top 5 receivers winning superbowls anyways. That’s if he is a top 5. Evans YAC is terrible, he might as well be wearing flags. If the Bucs are going to pay an elite receiver salary than it better be to someone that can take a 5 yard slant to the house. The Bucs O hummed also by just fine with Jackson and Godwin starting.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
I love Evans but he doesn’t take over games. He may have Moss numbers but he’s not Moss. He’s not T.O. He’s not Odell either.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
The reason you resign him early is to save money – him and OBJ will both get paid, and if the Bucs sign Evans first they’ll save a little money. As for who is the best in the league… in my mind it’s Julio, then Anthonio, then it’s hard to say, but OBJ, Evans, AJ and Hopkins – and really people can put them in any order they want.
February 14th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
StPete- I whole-heartedly agree on your take with “one player” arguments. 53 players! One TEAM!
I don’t think we’re as talented as you think but your argument isn’t that far off. An injury to ANY key player at a certain position will have any team struggling.
We have serious issues at every position except LB on defense.
As to Evans. It’s not his fault that this team tried to force-feed DJax to the detriment of the team. The play-calling was atrocious and everybody knows it. Mike is a top 5-10 wide-receiver and has more than earned a big payday. He WILL bounce back.
February 14th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Mike is definitely top 5
I feel alittle uneasy about us not talking about an extension yet. If he somehow makes it to FA he is a goner.
February 14th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
No worries on Mike’s contract as if they don’t extend him now they can still franchise him in 2019 … I wouldn’t be surprised if Mike wants that to happen so come 2020 he can see what the team’s doing with Jameis and he can tell them “if you franchise Jameis, I’m gone … give he and I both 5 year extensions or I’m out” …
Personally, I think Mike and Jameis both get long-term lucrative extensions but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mike make Tampa franchise him in 2019 …
February 14th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
NFLNut – Jameis is the first and only franchise QB in team history, he’s not going anywhere. Also Evans will get locked as well. If Godwin builds on his rookie year he can be a nice #2 WR and meanwhile OJ looks like a superstar in the making. On the line you have Marpet, if he’s moved back to G he’s probably an all-pro in the next couple of years and D Smith is solid, if unspectacular LT. There is a nice core there built around Winston and if the team wins the core of fans that watched all these guys grow will be rewarded just like we were in the 1990s – and that feeling of watching a young team grow and become something special is when sports is at its most fun. Hopefully Dirk can suddenly figure out how being a head coach works since the last thing this team needs is to change everything from the top down and go through a rebuild process. The Bucs have a 2-year window until Winston gets paid and until then they got a big advantage salary wise over other teams. The team needs to approach this offseason as win now – that doesn’t mean trading the top pick for a veteran, but it means approaching FA like a team that feels it’s only a few pieces away from being a contender. If they do that AND Dirk does his part, the team really can turn it around quickly. If not, then next year it’s cleaning house and starting over – that young core will still all be there but they won’t be young anymore and they’re all going to get paid and that will cost a lot of money.
February 15th, 2018 at 2:33 am
^ If Jameis is smart, he will REFUSE to sign an extension, make the Bucs franchise him in 2020 and enter 2021 as an unrestricted free agent …
February 15th, 2018 at 7:22 am
Evans
Makes most of his catches stationary, DB gets him from behind
On sideline then goes out of bounds
Jump balls, he wins the battles
Sliding to his knees in whole in zone
He doesn’t-
Catch it vertically and run upfield
Run crossing routes or seam routes like Brown, Jones or Allen do
His talent is clearly his ability to twist his body, stretch and make one handed or congested throws and still get his feet down
I believe he’s best receiver Bucs have ever had but is that saying much. The combination of Hodwin and Howard can put up numbers similar to ME
He has to catch the ball on the move to be considered a top 5 guy and break off more catch and runs for scores
February 15th, 2018 at 9:55 am
NFLNut Says:
February 15th, 2018 at 2:33 am
^ If Jameis is smart, he will REFUSE to sign an extension, make the Bucs franchise him in 2020 and enter 2021 as an unrestricted free agent …
Good. Let him go steal, grab, grope., fumble, over-throw and under-throw another franchise into losers. Good riddance to him. Can’t happen soon enough. We need a real quarterback here.
February 15th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
^ Jameis is the first “real QB” Tampa has ever had … if he leaves, ya’ll may never get another one … like the Bears. It’s idiotic fans like you that give Buccaneer fans a bad reputation …