Bucs Mailbag: When Will Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield Be Re-Signed?

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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds solutions your questions from the @PewterReport Twitter account every week within the Bucs Mailbag. Submit your query to the Bucs Mailbag every week by way of Twitter utilizing the hashtag #PRMailbag.  Listed below are the Bucs questions we selected to reply for this week’s version.

QUESTION: Figuring out the Bucs’ operations, do you assume any contract extensions happen earlier than free company?

ANSWER: There’s a probability that occurs. The Bucs can achieve round $8 million in 2024 cap area if contracts without spending a dime agent huge receiver Mike Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield get performed by February 19, which is when their earlier offers truly expire. If Tampa Bay re-signs each previous to then, the workforce can keep away from $8 million of useless cash from their earlier contracts spilling over into the 2024 cap and assistant common supervisor Mike Greenberg can push that into future years.

But it surely’s not that massive of a deal in actuality as a result of there are a variety of gamers Greenberg can go to and convert a few of their 2024 base wage right into a bonus to create extra cap area. Defensive deal with Vita Vea is scheduled to make $15.5 million in base wage, huge receiver Chris Godwin has a $18.5 million base wage in 2024, and cornerback Jamel Dean is because of make $12 million in base wage, for instance.

It’s essential for Greenberg, common supervisor Jason Licht and the Bucs to get the precise deal for Evans, Mayfield and the franchise reasonably than a hurried deal. Clearly there’s a threat of dropping both Mayfield or Evans – or each – in free company if a deal shouldn’t be performed previous to March 11, which is when the authorized tampering interval begins.

However on the identical time, the Bucs have allowed gamers like Dean, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Carlton Davis III to check free company to see what their market worth truly is. I may see possibly both Evans or Mayfield getting a deal performed, however possible not each.

QUESTION: When is the earliest the Bucs can announce an extension for Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. I really feel that it may occur quickly.

ANSWER: The Bucs are free to barter with their very own free brokers proper now in the event that they needed to and get a deal performed immediately, however that’s unlikely to occur. Free company is chess match, and timing and deadlines are essential when it comes to technique and leverage for groups and brokers. That’s why most re-signings occur proper earlier than free company begins or offers are introduced proper in the beginning.

It’s no coincidence that the NFL Scouting Mix in Indianapolis takes place simply earlier than the beginning of free company. Groups and brokers will typically have conversations on the down low to attempt to gauge market worth and parameters for the gamers in early March earlier than free company opens. Regardless that that’s tampering, it nonetheless takes place – a lot in order that the NFL opened a “authorized tampering” window on March 11 at midday, two days previous to the beginning of precise free company at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13.

As beforehand acknowledged, the Bucs have not too long ago allowed a few of their high free brokers to check the market and discover their value. However this 12 months may be totally different as a result of Baker Mayfield’s curiosity in returning to Tampa Bay might wane if Mike Evans indicators elsewhere and vice versa. There might be a domino impact in play with the Bucs’ two high offensive free brokers the place it could profit the workforce to have both Mayfield or Evans re-sign previous to the beginning of free company to extend the possibilities of the opposite re-signing with Tampa Bay.

QUESTION: When are we going to finish the hiring of the remaining coaches on the teaching workers on the offensive aspect of the ball, Scott?

ANSWER: Simply days after the Bucs made Liam Coen their new offensive coordinator, they employed offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, who was the Rams offensive line coach in 2022 when Coen was in L.A. Carberry was an assistant offensive line coach in New Orleans final 12 months. Carberry has been described as a really sensible coach and Coen actually needed him on the workers.

Coen made it to Tampa Bay final Tuesday for his first go to to One Buccaneer Place and to carry a press convention. He’ll possible meet with some workers holdovers like tight ends coach John Van Dam, operating backs coach Skip Peete and a few of the assistants like David Raih and Jeff Kastl to see if he desires them on his teaching workers. Raih and Kastl labored with former huge receivers coach Brad Idzik, and there may be an opportunity considered one of them will get elevated to receivers coach underneath Coen.

Head coach Todd Bowles will enable Coen to remake the offensive teaching workers as he sees match. So if Coen desires to usher in a brand new receivers coach, a brand new tight ends coach or a brand new operating backs coach, he’ll possible enable that to occur. The guess right here is that at the least Peete stays on. The veteran coach did an ideal job creating Rachaad White and dealing with the operating backs final 12 months in his first season with Tampa Bay.

QUESTION: Simply noticed Haason Reddick sought permission for a commerce. Is that this a sensible participant for the Bucs? He and YaYa Diaby might be nightmarish off the sting and would enable us to concentrate on different wants within the draft. May we make this occur?

ANSWER: No, I don’t see the Bucs being within the two-time Professional Bowl edge rusher resulting from his contract calls for. The explanation why Haason Reddick was allowed to hunt a commerce out of Philadelphia is as a result of he desires a pay elevate. He’s at present making a mean of $15 million per 12 months, which ranks 18th amongst all edge rushers, in response to OverTheCap.com.

Reddick has one 12 months left on his cope with the Eagles, however any workforce that acquires him in a commerce will wish to lengthen his contract, as in any other case it’s renting him for only one 12 months by giving up draft capital. That’s simply not sensible.

And it’s most likely not sensible to speculate $15 million or extra right into a participant who will flip 30 in September. Reddick has 4 straight years of double-digit sacks, together with 11 final 12 months in Philly. However because the Bucs have seen with 31-year previous Shaq Barrett, sooner or later in time, edge rushers lose a step and their manufacturing dramatically falls off – normally round age 30.

QUESTION: A less expensive choice (than the highest guys) that looks like a very good match for Todd Bowles’ scheme is Andrew Van Ginkel. Do you assume there will likely be any curiosity from the Bucs, assuming he makes it to free company?

ANSWER: I may see guys like Miami’s Andrew Van Ginkel and New England’s Josh Uche be cheaper free agent choices as edge rushers. With the quantity the Bucs should shell out for their very own free brokers like quarterback Baker Mayfield, huge receiver Mike Evans, security Antoine Winfield Jr., linebacker Lavonte David and kicker Chase McLaughlin, they gained’t have lots to spend on new free brokers.

This isn’t an ideal draft for edge rushers, however it’s a strong group in free company. Gamers like Jacksonville’s Josh Allen, Carolina’s Brian Burns, Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter, San Francisco’s Chase Younger, New York’s Bryce Huff and Houston’s Jonathan Greenard will possible get the highest offers in March. If the Bucs wish to signal a veteran free agent exterior linebacker, the workforce will possible wait till the primary wave of free company comes and goes and signal a second-tier participant like Uche or Van Ginkel.

Van Ginkel, who was a fifth-round choose by Miami in 2019, had a career-high six sacks and a pick-six in 2023 after re-signing with the Dolphins on an inexpensive, one-year deal value $2.65 million. He desires to remain in Miami, however he additionally desires to make more cash. Van Ginkel can rush the passer and drop into protection, which makes him a very good scheme. The Bucs must like the truth that the 6-foot-4, 242-pound exterior linebacker has 27 profession go breakups, together with eight batted balls final 12 months.

QUESTION: If the Bucs introduced in a beginning heart by way of free company or the draft, may Robert Hainsey be a big improve at left guard?

ANSWER: I’m unsure Robert Hainsey would essentially be a giant improve at left guard. I feel his greatest NFL match is at heart, however Tampa Bay may use a greater, extra proficient starter in 2024. Hainsey could be very cerebral participant, and that’s the true worth he’s delivered to the Bucs as a two-year fill-in for Ryan Jensen.

Hainsey performed proper deal with at Notre Dame, however doesn’t have the body and lengthy arms to play exterior within the NFL. And he doesn’t have the decrease physique energy and dimension to play guard, the place they typically must battle defensive tackles one-on-one. At heart, Hainsey was in a position to double-team with guards Cody Mauch and Aaron Stinnie final 12 months and wasn’t typically remoted one-on-one with a defensive deal with.

I feel the Bucs will both signal a free agent heart or guard after which draft the place that isn’t addressed in free company. Matt Feiler gained’t be again, and there’s a probability that the Bucs will transfer on from Stinnie, too. Hainsey will likely be given an opportunity to battle for a beginning job at heart or guard this season, which is his contract 12 months, however he gained’t be handed a beginning function.

QUESTION: Scott, do you assume Van Jefferson would be the receiver the Bucs will look into to exchange David Moore as soon as the Bucs signal again their high free brokers? Jefferson was drafted throughout Liam Coen’s time on the teaching workers in L.A. in 2020.

ANSWER: There’s a probability that David Moore may return to Tampa Bay if he doesn’t comply with Dave Canales and Brad Idzik to Carolina. Moore got here up massive down the stretch with big, catch-and-run touchdowns at Inexperienced Bay and towards Philadelphia within the playoffs. He’s nonetheless a very good scheme slot in Liam Coen’s new offense, which has similarities to what Canales ran final 12 months.

Van Jefferson starred at Florida and was a second-round choose by the Rams in 2020, as you talked about. After catching 19 passes for 220 yards (11.6 avg.) and one landing as a rookie, he had a breakout season in 2021 with 50 catches for 802 yards (16 avg.) and 6 touchdowns. However that was the season when Coen was at Kentucky.

When Coen returned to L.A. in 2022, Jefferson hauled in 24 passes for 369 yards (15.4 avg.) and three TDs. His manufacturing has dropped off during the last two seasons, together with final 12 months in Atlanta the place he solely caught 12 passes for 101 yards (8.4 avg.) in 12 video games.

The 6-foot-1, 200 pounder has been extra of a possession receiver within the NFL, and Moore’s pace and YAC (yards after catch) potential may be extra attractive to Tampa Bay. I’m unsure if the Bucs will likely be curious about Jefferson, though he’ll possible be an inexpensive choice at receiver after signing a one-year deal value $1,375,156 final season with the Falcons.