Mike Evans Said He Wants To Return To Bucs And He Wants Baker Mayfield As His Quarterback
January 21st, 2024
Both returning?
Do you blame Mike Evans?
After losing a winnable division round playoff game today to the Lions on the road, it’s possible that both Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield are not on the Bucs roster this fall.
Each could become a free agent. Evans has said in the past he wants to be paid like other receivers of his skillset.
And man, Evans and Mayfield had outstanding seasons. Perfect timing for them. Evans had one of his best seasons of an already storied career. Why wouldn’t he want the same starting quarterback?
Mayfield had a career year, throwing for 4,000 yards. In no uncertain terms, Mayfield saved his career.
Evans, per Sara Walsh of NFL Network, said he wants to come back to the Bucs and wants Mayfield throwing to him.
Joe saw people on Twitter, and Joe got texts, early in the game today outraged that Evans had two drops. Fed up with Evans because, in their eyes, he drops too many passes (never mind he also led the NFL in touchdowns this past season).
Those folks clammed up quickly when Evans started burning the Lions. The Bucs aren’t in today’s game if not for Evans.
Could both Evans and Mayfield be back? Joe wouldn’t bet against it.
Mike Evans just told us Baker is “criminally underrated” and played his way into a big contract. Says he hopes they’ll be back together next season. #nflnetwork
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) January 21, 2024
January 21st, 2024 at 6:51 pm
**** yeah!
Suck it haters!!!
January 21st, 2024 at 6:51 pm
ME13 costs too much
Minus 1 million from his contract for ever ball he’s dropped in the Playoffs!!!!!!🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
January 21st, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Pay Mike and Baker.
If you pull a stunt with Russell Wilson, you’ll lose the fan base.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Unfortunately, unless they pay them out, I don’t see it happening.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Need to draft a QB
January 21st, 2024 at 6:53 pm
@eric is an R word
January 21st, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Let him walk. He has circus catches late in games, but he drops just as many clutch balls early in games.
You don’t get credit for fixing something you fd up!
January 21st, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Baker 27.5 million a year, Mike 23 million per year. Get it done.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Yeah.
I agree with Mike, and would be happy to see those wishes come true.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:56 pm
@Boss – you’re also an R word
January 21st, 2024 at 6:57 pm
Sure he does, he pads his stats in garbage time.
January 21st, 2024 at 6:57 pm
Bring them both back!
GO BUCS!
January 21st, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Baker, 27mil a year! Hell No let Him Go!!!! At that price….
January 21st, 2024 at 7:02 pm
I like Baker, he had a great season. The best organizations draft a QB every year.
I trust in Licht!
January 21st, 2024 at 7:03 pm
If it works out, it works out.
I respect the sentiment.
I wanted everyone fired and cut by late season so I’m fine if this happens.
We had a better run than I expected.
I normally angrier after a loss like this but not today.
Y’all are family.
🍻
January 21st, 2024 at 7:04 pm
We lost
January 21st, 2024 at 7:04 pm
Pardon the typos
January 21st, 2024 at 7:05 pm
I love Mike. Always team first. He’ll never throw his QB under the bus, no matter how bad they are.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Really want them both to come back. Work it out.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:08 pm
HC Grover
We did. We lost
It sucks.
And?
January 21st, 2024 at 7:08 pm
@Eliot – just disrespectful. No need for comments like that. I would hope you would be a better contributor. Your mom would be proud of you.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Keep Mike. I’m good with keeping Baker if Canales stays.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:14 pm
This is the 2nd game where there were no oline offensive holding calls. None in GB game either.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:14 pm
Makes you wonder what would’ve happened if Jensen was our center.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:18 pm
Baker needs Mike more than Mike needs Baker. Both will be back.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:21 pm
That was a really winnable game. But even though we lost, I think that we held our own against a tough team and it showed that we’re very close to being a very good team.
Re-sign Evans, Winfield and Baker, draft/FA a Center and Guard and draft a DE.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:29 pm
The best team lost tonight Over the past four years we have only one Super Bowl victory. It doesn’t make sense. We should have at least two and maybe three with this season being one of them.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:31 pm
I’m sure they’ll play great together. Elsewhere. Thanks for the effort Baker, and the memories Mike.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:33 pm
Get an offensive line upgrade, pay Baker, Mike and please find a linebacker that can effectively stop at least some of the damage 5-10 yards in the middle. Death by a thousand cuts, clot that bleed….
January 21st, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Mayfield to Evan’s. That is a Hall of Fame connection.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:34 pm
@eliot, I agree with Eric. Those remarks are about as low as you can get and comparing those two idiots to R words is an absolute smack in the face to every R word walking this planet.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:36 pm
Both will be back no doubt. Evans tuddy was sweet baker put a bullet on em Evans snagged it all hands son
January 21st, 2024 at 7:40 pm
I give this statement my full endorsement!
January 21st, 2024 at 7:42 pm
Absolutely! The offense needs a center and a guard. Bring everyone else back, maybe add another wide receiver.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:43 pm
We lost the game cause Maybefield is just not good enough. If the goal is to make it to the playoffs and maybe win a game then sign Barker.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:44 pm
Hell yeah, those two just getting started. Ginna wreck the NFC next year
January 21st, 2024 at 7:47 pm
Irish Laughter, you don’t watch much Yank football. Bucs have won both their SBs this century. Lions have never won one. Bucs are also retooling for next season. Judging from this one except for mebbe Canales, they’re getting there.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:04 pm
Everyone that doesn’t want Baker at 27 million who do you want then for how much???
January 21st, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Baker would be a steal at 27M. He’s gonna cost more than that. However, we need to resign him.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:48 pm
I’m with Mike.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Clean house. They lost way too many games. It’s time to clean them all out and start over on both sides of the ball.
January 21st, 2024 at 9:31 pm
I was pissed Baker threw that last pass, that was a boneheaded throw. Bakers first interception was all on Mike and if the Bucs didn’t beat themselves in this game we would have scored 40. They beat themselves, we will retain the core players for next season and the Bucs are going to be a team to recon with. Definitely need a good Center, Hainsey is the weak link of the line. We also need to dump shaq and draft a top DE. JTS doesn’t even belong in the NFL. The Bucs will win the division again next season.
January 21st, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Mike needs to take a team friendly deal at around $18 per year…3 years
ANything more and thank you for all you’ve done.
All you emotional hallmark channel fans need to see our cap.
We can’t afford Mike over $20 mill – the $$$ is not there.
Get new jerseys.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:29 pm
Keep them both and continue to build depth in the trenches. This is top priority! I think Shaq’s deal needs to be reworked and he needs another season to regain his form. His daughter’s death impacted his play this season and that is understandable. We need DB depth as well, especially safety depth. Carlton Davis is ok, but I am not a fan of Jamel Dean. He is always banged up and missing games. Not worth what the Bucs are paying him. Jettison JTS, or move him to another position. The guy is physically talented, but can’t seem to put it all together mentally. There are other players that need to be addressed as well.
Licht has some decisions to make for sure.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:31 pm
Only the GOAT rescued this franchise from obscurity.
Evans will never lead us to another title.
Baker is mediocre at best.
And Bowels relies on politics to keep his job.
If you like losing, stay the course.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:37 pm
If they can sign Mike, Baker and Winfield jr, hopefully bring back Lavonte. They need to let go of Ryan Neal, the guy doesn’t like contact, also JTS, Goedecke is inconsistent or Draft a bigger bruising RB and and defensive backs. Shaq is getting slower after the Achilles tendon. They’ll be better next if they can get the right draft. That was a very winnable game but our OL has been inconsistent all year. HOWEVER, they DEFIED OUTSIDE EXPECTATIONS . Baker has great leadership skills that helps a lot, it brings Respect and trust when things gets tough!! Go Bucs!!!
January 21st, 2024 at 10:47 pm
Sign Evans and Baker……fire Todd Bowles…. He needs to be gone, he’s an amazing DC but an awful head coach!
January 21st, 2024 at 11:16 pm
I think ME13 and BM6 should return make the contracts work for everyone… I watched each and every snap this year and can stay NEW QB NEW OC and TALENT on the roster the team kept getting better with this feel out year next year should be spectacular keep everyone in place and OC stays. We have a strong opportunity to take the NFC South again next year and punch our ticket to playoff ball can’t do sh!t if not in the playoffs… GO BUCS!!!
January 21st, 2024 at 11:23 pm
Let Baker walk it’s time to move on from these types of players we ain’t winning a superbowl with Baker Mayfield next year will be the same results or worse. Move on and draft a quarterback. And Evans don’t like it let him walk to because remember they kept Brady one year to long lest not make the same mistake again with a average quarterback like Baker Mayfield. What we saw this year with Baker Mayfield is the best he can do he’s not going to get better.
January 22nd, 2024 at 3:55 am
Ryan Neal …….grrrrrrrr grrrrrrrrr
January 22nd, 2024 at 6:26 am
Not sure what happened on the o line allowing 3 sacks with no one blocking.Where was the the tight ends? Those sacks hurt the chances for even a field goal. The Bucs had this game. Letting goff throw in the middle time after time. Linebackers where either out of the plays numerous times. We all knew he was going to his tight end put a spy on him . So many things could have been done. As a team I hope the team comes back as a whole!!!!!
January 22nd, 2024 at 6:46 am
Evans wants Mayfield to pad his stats.
January 22nd, 2024 at 6:49 am
Hey look- I hate when our Bucs lose also but look at it from the other perspective- we went one more round into the playoffs this year and were in that game- with a first year playcaller on offense in Canales and a new QB in Baker. This team overachieved in ways but also underachieved because when we are “on” you get performances like Jacksonville, Green Bay and Philadelphia (playoff game). When we are not- you get inept games like our 5 game losing skid and the Carolina game last game of the regular season.
My opinion- if Baker is that guy next year- give him some more studs other than Wirfs on the O line- with draft and a veteran or two. Get rid of DW, JTS and Zyon who was picked a part the moment Dean went out yesterday. Our secondary is not as good as everyone thinks it is- and where was Shaq Barrett yesterday? AWOL. If we resign Evans and Baker along with our other studs like Whinfield Jr. We have some key elements on this team already to add a few where we really need it and be even better next year. Losing Evans IMO just puts us two more steps backwards-
January 22nd, 2024 at 7:22 am
So, 32 teams in the NFL and the Bucs make it to the final 8, and one touchdown away from the final 4 against a really tough Lions team in the Lion’s den. Not bad for a team that was left for dead after last year. Feel good fans!
January 22nd, 2024 at 7:52 am
Dennis you are SOOOO right! Nearly the top 4 and a team with talent and no troublemakers….keep things going and stop with all the rebuild stuff…snd we HAVE a good quarterback who does good things on AND off the field. Sign them both and keep this “playoff train” moving!!!
January 22nd, 2024 at 8:09 am
Baker had one more game winning drive and he threw a pick and if it was Jamies y’all would be blaming him for this game because he had enough time to drive down the field and score. Baker is not a franchise quarterback and next year he will be worse.
January 22nd, 2024 at 8:29 am
Keep AWJ, ME13, and Baker … RELOAD THE ROSTER
January 22nd, 2024 at 8:52 am
Baker took this team to a place NO Bucs fan thought we had any chance of getting to when the season started. Anybody who has a problem with how this season ended is NOT a fan. Baker is not responsible for our loss. Football is a team sport and the TEAM lost the game, not Baker Mayfield. Was Josh Allen solely responsible for the Bills loss? Grow up you pathetic haters. A new QB gets you nowhere but back to the bottom. Appreciate the season and look forward to picking up where we left off next year.
January 22nd, 2024 at 9:18 am
I would hope and say they need to keep “Evans”. He is one heck of a player. Andvall you Nay sayers, what makes you King of the Hill when you probably only wish you were as talented as he is. So get over it and let the so called big make that decision. And if they get rid of Evans then they should go as well.
January 22nd, 2024 at 9:19 am
Lo5s Baker on Bucs team for all of ’24 or losethisBucsfan and a whole lot more.! Wasn’t Baker’s fault Bucs earned the L last night. Not every INT. is the fault of the QB. A perfectly thrown pass that is tipped or missed or dropped by the receiver is no fault of the QB. A receiver not finishing his route or stopping short or running the wrong route causing an INT is not the fault ofthe QB. Most of those scenarios are things the QB has no control over but are things the QB gets blamed for over and over.
January 22nd, 2024 at 9:37 am
@Becky…You got that exactly right. And to all you haters…go walk the plank!!!
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:01 am
Can we please stay out of that soft zone bullcrap !! We were doing fine man to man !! Goff ate us alive with soft zone .not sold on bowles as head coach !
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:48 am
You guys are too much on here. A month ago it was fire Bowles and dump Mayfield. Now you are stuck with a coach who should have been fired last year and if you sign Mayfield to a big contract you are going to bitch about it for the next five years.
January 22nd, 2024 at 11:34 am
The worst part of the game was our Running back missing blocking assignments,at least 5 to 7 times, the O line played good otherwise, takes time for a line to improve, witch they did all year, Barker did great, Mike did great, what 3 times nobody picked up a free Blitzer, Running backs responsibility, he did have a great day Running as well, just his missed assignments, and we dropped 2 interceptions, and the lions did not drop their interceptions, was a great game.
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Evans had a few drops in the last 3 games of the year ! Other than that , he was spot on . The so called drop that led to the INT was thrown 150mph and really high. You people are obviously not Bucs fans, or you are new fans. You have no idea what you have in Evans. That would be like saying let Derrick Brooks go to another team because he missed 4 tackles all year. He is a Derrick Brooks , Ronde Barber , Mike Alstott type player of this generation. You really want to see him catching passes from CJ Stroud in Houston ? You people are not fans , your fake and clueless. Look at the Lions fans !! The Bills fans !! They would never talk about their greatest players and team the way you people do . Fake Bucs fans. I hope you move to North Carolina and root for the Panthers you bandwagon jumping , no idea what your talking about , think you know what’s best for the Bucs , embarrassment to Tampa Bay sports fans !! Go Bucs and future first ballot HOF WR Mike Evans
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:58 pm
I always hate it when somebody refers to something or someone as underrated or criminally underrated, but in this case I have to agree that Mike Evans doesn’t get the respect he should.
I sure hope he and Baker are back next season.
January 22nd, 2024 at 11:04 pm
Man some of you sound like some great fans. Let’s go BUCS! I’d love to have Baker and Evans back, but NO MATTER WHAT. I’ll NEVER jump ship. BUCCANEERS FOR LIFE. Ride or die for my team. The boys love Baker. If he has their vote, he has mine. Whether their 16-0 or 0-16 they’re my team.