Report: Bucs, Mike Evans “Far Apart”
February 19th, 2024
Contract talks update.
This afternoon there is a deadline for the Bucs and Mike Evans to get a deal done. That looks shaky at best given recent news.
And not, it’s not a final deadline, just an accounting deadline.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report posted on Twitter that the Bucs and Evans are “far apart” from reaching a deal. So getting Evans’ contract done by this afternoon appears to be wishful thinking.
The deadline is tied to saving a considerable sum of Team Glazer loot on the salary cap for 2024. If the Bucs and Evans agreed to a contract today, the Bucs could save some $7.8 million of cap space.
How many players could that pay for ?
Schultz tweeted that Evans appears to want to test the open market.
The #Buccaneers had a soft deadline today to get an extension done with Pro Bowl WR Mike Evans, but both sides remain far apart, sources say. Tampa Bay is set to take on $7.4M in 2024 dead money by not getting a deal done today. @BleacherReport
Talks will continue, but my… pic.twitter.com/fNJJFuRceH
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 19, 2024
February 19th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Don’t leave us, Mike!
February 19th, 2024 at 10:24 am
My guess is he’ll be suiting up for the Texans next season. Close to his hometown, no state income tax, a young QB, etc.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:24 am
So why not raise the offer +7m and keep him vs losing it?
February 19th, 2024 at 10:24 am
Gut punch.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:27 am
Not to sound too dire or anything, but doesn’t that 7.8mil cap charge cook our goose? It’d be one thing to pay Mike 18mil a year, but it’s another to “pay” him 25.8mil against the cap for the first year now, as an example. Clearly they’re more than 8mil apart if the Bucs are willing to light 7.8mil in cap on fire.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:28 am
Licht, is a Di€k!!!! No Mike, we better not sign Baker either, just start all over!!!
February 19th, 2024 at 10:29 am
We will miss him.
But.
Chris Godwin is a #1 WR.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Maybe Licht is smarter than I thought…
Can’t pay two receivers over $20 Million each and address all the other needs the Bucs have
February 19th, 2024 at 10:30 am
This organization is the WORST!!!!
February 19th, 2024 at 10:32 am
Licht needs to figure it the **** out. Cant have the greatest buc of all time walk out the front door. Mike is the sole reason much of the lost decade was even watchable. with the exception of maybe winfield there is nothing more important than making Mike a buc for life this offseason. If you dont think mike deserves whatever he wants for everything hes done for this franchise that just tells me you started watching when brady came to town. MIKE EVANS BUC FOR LIFE
February 19th, 2024 at 10:32 am
He isnt going anywhere. This was the first offer this offseason. Let the work. Licht and Greenberg arent stupid, they are some of the best in the league at managing contracts. Everyone relax, this could be a ploy anyway for Evans to test FA no matter what the offer is (unless blown away). He has stated this before that he is excited to become a FA.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:33 am
No “I” in team – if Evans just wants out, he needs to say so. If he is butt-hurt that he wasn’t given an extension last year, that seems immature at this point (and saying he is “prideful” is just another way of saying immature). And if he is just chasing the highest $ (after making well north of $100mm ion his career), he isn’t the guy I always thought he was.
I love him as a player and he is a cornerstone of the team, but you don’t sacrifice the team for 1 guy. Love you Mike, but if you want out, say so.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:34 am
I can’t blame Mike Evans for wanting to test the open market. This will be the last big contract of his career. No matter what happens he’ll retire a Buc, get his Ring of Honor ceremony, and have his number retired.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:35 am
No Mike, then no Baker. Also panic!
February 19th, 2024 at 10:37 am
He didn’t like how he didn’t get a new contract last year. He knows this is likely his last “big”contract that he can dictate the terms given his age. Bucs either pay him now to save some cap space, pay him more than currently offering while losing cap space after today or let him go. We don’t know how much he wants. Bucs want to keep him but have an upper limit how of money they will pay but Texans have more cap space so they can offer more. Mike is looking out for him and his family so if he can get 2-5 million more a year on a 3-4 year contract then I can respect that and will miss him.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:37 am
Well Bye…. If you can’t get it done now you won’t get it done later. It looks like Team Friendly Mike is not that Team Friendly.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:41 am
I’m so torn on this. The guy has been an absolute stud for us for ten years and has earned his money. But he’ll be 31 when the season starts and that feels like when most receivers start to decline. But he’s been so consistent, maybe he’ll buck the trend. But if he doesn’t, we’re stuck with whatever contract we give him and are handcuffed cap-wise again.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:47 am
This is the usual back and forth between teams and agents. Nothing to get too excited over either way.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Pretty black and white numbers wise what we have under the cap and what we don’t.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Time to move on. Mike has been a great receiver, had some terrible drips though. Once you hit 30, it’s only a matter of time. Try to grab a good one in the draft. Dude’s already made a lot of money. A team friendly deal usually worked out well for Tom Brady. 7 Super Bowls, tons of endorsements, and a 375 million dollar deal with Fox. I think he’s did just fine with team friendly deals.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Drops though
February 19th, 2024 at 10:59 am
ME13 will be missed, but maybe it’s time to move on. He only has a few years left and it probably won’t be worth paying what he is asking for with so many other needs. Bye Mike.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:07 am
He’s gonna kill it with CJ in Houston.
Mike wants to win another ring
He knows there isn’t a chance in h3ll w/ Baker as the QB
February 19th, 2024 at 11:08 am
No matter how this ends, Mike deserves our respect for all he’s done for 10 years! Want him to stay but if it doesn’t work out, then no love lost! He doesn’t owe us anything but lifetime respect from the Krewe!!!!
February 19th, 2024 at 11:11 am
bye felicia!!
February 19th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Bye Mike.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:18 am
Let him test the market. He deserves the right to test the market. I’ve said it many times, we can’t pay everyone and we need to get our cap $ under control.
AWJr is the first priority signing.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:29 am
It’s hard to say, but I see ME13 playing for the Texans next year. Tax situation same (lost advantage), home town, young stud QB… We just can’t compete with those things. But I sure hope if he leaves it’s for those reasons and not money. I know it sounds ridiculous to say, but he’s in a financial position that none of us are. And if he’s willing to leave the team that drafted him, that’s been good to him for 10 years, the legacy of maybe a 13 year career with one team, for maybe an extra $10M over the next 3 years, MrWright is correct (Mike is not the team guy we thought he was). tyreek hill caught all kinds of sh*T for leaving a SB dynasty type team for top money, and Mike should suffer similar reputational damage if he leaves. Not that we are a SB dynasty (now or ever), but I don’t think you can make the argument that the Texans are in a MUCH better position to do damage in the postseason than we are. I mean I think they’ll make the playoffs (unlike us) next year, but are they gonna make it to the AFC championship even? I sure don’t think so. And as much as I like Mike, and I have SERIOUS doubts Godwin could be a legit #1 post injury, we just can’t afford to pay (or justify it for that matter) him $30M per. Just can’t do it. And maybe some other teams can. And if that’s the case and that’s what’s most important to him, it’s gonna be a hard goodbye.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:53 am
This was my fear with all of this. So much talk around here wanting Mayfield back and I get it but let’s be real without Evans his numbers are not even close to what they are. So, if Evans walks, I honestly do not believe Mayfield can replicate or eclipse the numbers he had.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
The team knows what it is doing… this is not the Lost Decade. Old players wanting huge money are free to go elsewhere. Build a young hungry team that can compete for 5 or 7 years at a time. Onward.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
bucnjim … ‘This is the usual back and forth between teams and agents. Nothing to get too excited over either way.’
Yea verily. It’s called NEGOTIATIONS for a reason.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
People that are saying “bye Mike” must be short term fans from Brady era or Mayfield fanatics lol
February 19th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Mike Evans has broke for this team on the field and every other year let them make adjustments to his contact to help with the salary cap. This is the thanks he gets, they ignored him at the beginning of the year when he wanted a new contract. This organization has absolutely no class.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Without Mike Evans Bucs don’t make the playoffs.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
will get by with another younger player-guess buccs are not in his future plans.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Licht f’ed around and found out, as the kids say.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
hate to loose him–but he just might end up in houston …
February 19th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
He is as good as gone. We will just have to draft his replacement CG going to be the new number 1 WR. Trey Palmer hopefully will have a good second year.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Allbuccedup Says:
February 19th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Without Mike Evans Bucs don’t make the playoffs.
____________
How many seasons has ME been here?
Did we make the playoffs every year since we drafted him?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ok man, if you say so.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
With Evans playoffs likely with or without Mayfield.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
A report from B/R?!!! That makes it that much closer to B/S.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Pay Da Man!!
February 19th, 2024 at 3:36 pm
You can forget the playoffs did you see Evans career catches 96% of the catches were either touchdown or first down if we don’t have Evans you can forget the division you can forget the playoffs you can forget who’s quarterback and Todd bowls will lose his job I don’t care how great the defense is so it’s over they’re not going to sign them because if they’re going to sign them they would have saved that 7.4 million cap space and Evans deserves better so I wish him luck and and return to the losing bucs
February 19th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Licht, should be FIRED!!!
February 19th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Mike should take a team friendly deal to stay an d build a win ner
February 19th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
” the Bucs could save some $7.8 million of cap space”
and by “save” you mean push MORE millions into the future on top of the $70M+ in debt already sitting there….
February 19th, 2024 at 6:35 pm
no matter how badly everyone wants to believe they’re above being a system player……..everyone is a system player…
things change organically as you move…and if he changes team,. mike’s career will most likely never be the same – production wise…
there will be a shift…a subtle rocking of the boat…a new environment, a new atmosphere, a new place to plant yourself…
and if mike chooses out, everything will be different…
that’s all i’m saying
February 19th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Deff want him but gotta start looking at the future. He’s getting up there. He’s prob got a few more good season left but it just takes 1 bad injury. Shaq for example. Don’t want to see him go but we got a lot of other needs. WR really isn’t one of them.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:43 pm
Like it or not football is a business. Business dictates that receivers are a dime a dozen and can be easily replaced. I like Mike but we need Winfield and Baker more. Let Mike go and win another Superbowl with another team and lets retool the Bucs.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:35 pm
If they lose Evans, then they are stupid.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:16 pm
Hate this time of year. I don’t see Mike playing games. He want to get a Market value set and, if he still wants to be in Tampa, will put a best and final in front of the Bucs. Feel like it’ll go quick once free agency opens up.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:36 pm
Give him the exact same contract he last signed. 5 years, 82m. 16 a year. Guy can make a million a game for the rest of his career and retire an all-time Buc legend with one franchise.
February 21st, 2024 at 12:15 am
Leighroy Says:
“Not to sound too dire or anything, but doesn’t that 7.8mil cap charge cook our goose? It’d be one thing to pay Mike 18mil a year, but it’s another to “pay” him 25.8mil against the cap for the first year now, as an example. Clearly they’re more than 8mil apart if the Bucs are willing to light 7.8mil in cap on fire.”
The 7.8mil is not in a vacuum. Mike’s already been paid that money, you would only shift that cap hit into the next year. They can still sign him and add “new” voided years to any new contract and create more 7.8+mil debt into 2025, 2026 or 2027. And still have a relatively low cap hit in 2024 resigning Mike. Mike wants and deserves to see his market value in free agency when the Bucs didn’t sign him longer term last year. To be honest, if Houston offers him more money then Tampa is willing to pay, then he should go to Houston. If Houston and the rest of the team offers him a bit less due to his age, then we can always sign him. The guy has been in the league 10 years and never had the freedom to test the market with his top 10 skills. Appreciate what he has done for the team and let him test the waters.
I think talks about tagging Winfield is all smoke and mirrors. Whatever the leaks say, bet the opposite. I think they will offer Winfield a big deal before the deadline and franchise tag Baker. Winfield is not a long-term risk. Baker is still considered a bridge and prove-it in year two. Plus the transition tag is worth $31M or they get two first rounders from another team willing to poach him. I do not see any team pulling the trigger on Baker for two first round picks plus $35M+. Once the transition tag is in place and all the potential teams drop him off their list, Baker will have to negotiate at a much lower price for long-term. We’re talking Geno Smith territory. I wonder if Baker will decide to sit the whole offseason and sign one the last day. I don’t see him doing that because he needs team success validation. Baker really should fire his agent.