Buccaneers and Mike Evans reportedly won't reach a new agreement on Monday
Many Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans have had Monday, February 19 circled on their calendars for a little while now. That's because that's the date three of their star players – Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Antoine Winfield, Jr. – will see their contracts expire, which will add significant dollars to the Bucs' 2024 cap number. […]
Many Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans have had Monday, February 19 circled on their calendars for a little while now. That's because that's the date three of their star players – Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Antoine Winfield, Jr. – will see their contracts expire, which will add significant dollars to the Bucs' 2024 cap number.
In the case of Evans, it appears that unpleasant circumstance will not be avoided. Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Bucs and Evans will not reach an agreement on a new contract on Monday.
Evans' contract included void years for 2025 and 2026, in which $7.387 million were allotted under Evans' old contract. The expiration of his deal means the money from those void years is allotted towards the 2024 salary cap instead of deferred to later years through a new deal.
Evans has spent the first ten years in the league with the Buccaneers, who took him with the 7th overall pick of the 2014 draft. In his ten seasons, he's accumulated 762 catches for 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns. Most notably, he's broken 1000 receiving yards in each season, the longest streak to start a career in NFL history. He can tie Jerry Rice for the longest ever in league history with 11 next year.
Of course, the question remains whether that would be with the Buccaneers or another team. The Bucs and Evans have an exclusive negotiating window until March 11, when Evans and all other free agents can begin discussing deals with new teams.
Buccaneer fans can only hope that Evans and the Bucs can reach common ground on a new deal before teams looking for a number one receiver with cash to burn get ahold of Evans' representation on the phone.
And unfortunately, the Bucs will now have less cap space in order to try to get it done.
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