Buccaneers’ nightmare scenario involving Mike Evans officially comes to life after he signs with top NFC contender
It’s the end of one of the greatest eras in Buccaneers history.
Well, we’ve finally found the fire after weeks of smoke surrounding a Mike Evans split with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s a sad day, for sure, as the future Hall of Famer agreed to a three-year, $60.4 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Now, granted, the deal doesn’t crystalize until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, but at the same time, it seems like Evans’ time in Tampa Bay is done.
Mike Evans’ impact on the Buccaneers cannot be overstated
Evans will go down as arguably the best Buccaneer in history. He’s certainly among the top-10 and it’s logical to assume plenty of Bucs fans automatically lock him into their top-5.
He holds franchise records in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns with 866 catches for 13,052 yards, and 108 touchdowns. It’s not just what he did on the football field, either, as Evans has become a pillar of the Tampa Bay community and made it a second home after his native Galveston.
It hurts even more when considering Evans can still play at high level, as evidenced by the fact the 49ers believe he can be their No. 1 receiver. Yes, the nagging injuries are definitely something to think about and take into consideration, but what he does on the field quickly mitigates that risk.
Is the Bucs receiver room ready to step up?
Yes, the receiver room should step, but that’s not a guarantee. Emeka Egbuka had a hot start before fading out and it was a combination of no Evans + the proverbial rookie wall so many first-year players hit. He has all the traits and versatility to carry a passing attack, but as with all things NFL, you have to see it before you can bank on it.
It’s hard to trust Chris Godwin at this point, now, too. He started to show some flashes of his old self toward the end of last year, but we’re talking about two years of limited action, at this point, and it’s fair to wonder if he can stay healthy for an entire season with an increased workload.
Jalen McMillan is underrated after missing most of his second year with a neck injury, but he’s in the same boat as Egbuka: The flashes have been great, but is he ready to move up a notch on the depth chart, which obviously changes how defenses approach him.
And finally, there’s Tez Johnson and Kameron Johnson. Both players are electric with the ball in their hands, but they currently have to be schemed open. They’re not going to line up across from corners and outright beat them on a snap-to-snap basis.
Overall, the receiver room should be fine, but it’ll undoubtedly miss Evans, especially when opposing defenses line up in man/press coverage.
Will the Bucs draft a receiver or sign one in free agency?
If they do, it’ll be a big-bodied guy to help fill the Evans void. I wouldn’t expect a ton of investment in either strategy, either. It’ll be a low-to-mid free agent signing or a Day 3 pick. We’ll see what happens.
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Bucs Free Agency Predictions: Betting on Mike Evans’ future and whether or not Tampa Bay signs a top pass rusher
Free agency is almost here, so it’s time to pound our chests with some predictions.
