Earlier this week, reviews started to hit social media concerning the Bucs and high free brokers Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield. These reviews have been largely centered on Tampa Bay and its high free brokers being “far aside” on new offers forward of the free company interval opening in March.
However that’s the factor: Free company opens in earnest on March 11, which continues to be weeks away.
So sure, the Bucs — in quest of the absolute best offers — and each Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield — who’re additionally in quest of the absolute best offers for themselves — are sure to be far aside in negotiations.
The Bucs wanted to succeed in offers with Evans and Mayfield by Monday with the intention to keep away from taking a giant lifeless cap hit. However that was by no means prone to occur.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay took the wage cap hit (it will’ve needed to in some unspecified time in the future anyway – both in 2024 or down the street), however that doesn’t imply Evans and Mayfield are goners already. There’s nonetheless loads of time for offers to be reached.
That’s some extent that ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter made on Tuesday. Previous to an interview with Bucs working again Rachaad White on The Adam Schefter Podcast, Schefter spoke briefly about Tampa Bay’s free company state of affairs.
It was then that he made it very clear that it’s nonetheless early within the course of and there’s loads of time earlier than it’s price worrying in regards to the Bucs being “far aside” on offers with their quarterback and high broad receiver. As one of the vital well-connected insiders within the sport, Schefter’s phrases carry plenty of weight.
“By the way in which, I meant to say this. I noticed a headline on Monday, ‘Buccaneers, Mike Evans not near a deal. Who cares? It’s February,” Schefter stated. “They received time to determine this out. Right here’s one other headline: ‘Bucs and Mayfield not near a deal.’ Once more, who cares?
“Let’s see what occurs as we get to the Mix in Indianapolis, as we get nearer to the tip of the franchise tag window, as we get into free company. It’s a fluid, shifting goal, the offseason.”
It’s solely been somewhat over 4 weeks for the reason that Bucs’ season got here to an finish, so it’s nonetheless remarkably early within the offseason. There’s loads of time for talks to accentuate, motion to be made and offers to be reached. That’s why it’s at present not the time to panic about Tampa Bay’s probabilities of retaining Mayfield and Evans.
Bucs Have Time — And They Will Use It
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield on the Professional Bowl – Photograph by: USA Right now
Baker Mayfield stated on the Professional Bowl that his brokers and the Bucs had preliminary talks a couple of new contract early within the offseason, however these talks have been held earlier than offensive coordinator Dave Canales left to develop into the Panthers’ new head coach.
Mayfield has since restated his want to stay with the Bucs and expressed his pleasure about Tampa Bay hiring new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who he labored with briefly in Los Angeles.
However the soon-to-be 29-year-old quarterback additionally just lately stated the ball is within the Bucs’ courtroom. He performed issues nearer to the vest throughout interviews all through Tremendous Bowl Week in Las Vegas, as he ought to.
Evans has been far quieter about his future for the reason that 2023 season started. His camp and Tampa Bay didn’t come to an settlement on a brand new deal earlier than the season, prompting either side to place talks on maintain. Evans went on to have one among his finest years in 2023, making the Professional Bowl as soon as once more and increasing his 1,000-yard season streak to 10 straight.
After the Bucs’ season-ending loss to the Lions within the NFC Divisional Spherical, Evans additionally made it clear that he’d prefer to be again with Mayfield in 2024 and past. He hasn’t stated a lot of something publicly since and like his quarterback, he’s additionally sensible to play this near the vest.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: USA Right now
It’s truthful to imagine that when it comes all the way down to it, each Mayfield and Evans need to stay in Tampa Bay. Mayfield has talked about his love for the group and his teammates, plus his appreciation for the Bucs giving him an opportunity to revive his profession in 2023.
Evans has been a profession Buccaneer and is a surefire Ring of Honor inductee it doesn’t matter what occurs, however he’d certainly prefer to be a one-team man and retire with the group that drafted him.
The cash simply needs to be proper. And Tampa Bay is aware of that. However the Bucs are additionally prone to take their time, utilizing the Mix, the franchise tag interval and the start of free company to come back to the correct figures for each gamers.
And all alongside, it’s felt very doubtless that the staff would let each truly take a look at free company. That approach, they’ll get a way of their worth on the open market and are available again to the Bucs with a quantity for the staff to match and/or compete with.
It could make for some nervy days in March, however Tampa Bay has finished that with Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean and Lavonte David lately, and it’ll doubtless do it once more. And that’s why being “far aside” on offers in mid-February isn’t trigger for concern — not but, anyway.
