Mike Evans May Be Looking For New Team This Offseason By Grant Winsauer
Jordan Schultz reported on Monday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a soft deadline of Monday to get an extension done with Mike Evans. They couldn’t get it done due to being far apart with the money. The Buccaneers will take on $7.4 million in dead money since they couldn’t get a deal done. What this means is that Evans will still cost the Buccaneers money even if he is on a different talks will continue, but Evans may look for a new home this offseason.
This would be a real blow to the Buccaneers passing game because Evans has had 1,000 yards every season since he entered the league in 2014. The two most consistent quarterbacks he played with were Jameis Winston from 2015-2019 and the GOAT Tom Brady from 2020-2022.
In 2023, he was one of Baker Mayfield’s top targets. According to Bucs Wire , during those 12 games, he caught 61 of 103 targets for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns. I think the Buccaneers will figure out if they want to stick with Baker Mayfield before they sign Evans to a long-term deal.
If the Buccaneers can’t reach a deal with Evans, he will have many suitors in free agency next month.
There are three teams that I could see pursuing Evans if he reaches free agency. When the Panthers made the trade for Bryce Young last offseason, Carolina Panthers included the no 1 target in the trade to Chicago. If Evans were to go to Carolina,, Bryce Young would have a reliable target. The Panthers signed Adam Thielen to be that reliable target last season but it didn’t work out so getting Evans would make up for that.
The next team would be the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals seem to believe Kyler Murray is their future at quarterback. Ever since DeAndre Hopkins left, they have not had a bonified no 1 receiver and with the Cardinals most likely taking Marvin Harrison Jr at #4 in the upcoming draft Evans could help Harrison transition from college football to NFL football.
The Final team I could see pursuing Evans is the New York Giants. Just like the Cardinals, the Giants haven’t had a bonified receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. With Brian Daboll being the Head Coach for the Giants Evans would be going to a team with an offensive Head coach he and would know how to use Evans in his system.