Baker Mayfield is essentially a lock to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after huge Mike Evans news
It's officially done: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Mike Evans have agreed to a two-year deal, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $52 million, in all, and it includes $35 million in guaranteed money. The $26 million average per year is just $1 million off from our own […]
It's officially done: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Mike Evans have agreed to a two-year deal, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $52 million, in all, and it includes $35 million in guaranteed money. The $26 million average per year is just $1 million off from our own projection of a $25 million/year deal.
The move locks Evans up through 2025 and his age-32 season. He'll be approaching 33-years-old when he hits the market, again. Meaning, it's very likely he'll end up staying -and retiring- with the Bucs throughout his entire career.
It's an excellent move and it gives the Bucs a very realistic chance at keeping one of the best players in franchise history around for the long haul.
The move should lock up Baker Mayfield, too
Granted, Mayfield isn't going to sign for pennies after the Evans news, but the fact Evans is around for another two years will play a big role in what the quarterback ultimately decides to do.
“He makes my life easy. He did all year. He did today, over and over,” Mayfield said back in January. “To get everybody back, there have to be sacrifices made. This team’s about winning. We have a group of guys who are all about that. If I’m back, I want Mike back.”
The Bucs offense will once again feature Evans, Chris Godwin, ascending tight end Cade Otton, and Rachaad White, one of the more underrated receiving backs and running backs in the game. If Mayfield returns and the Bucs make some improvements along the interior offensive line, it's easy to see this team making its fifth-straight playoff appearance since 2020.
And the "if" in font of Mayfield's name in that last sentence is only conditional because none of us know where contract talks stand, right now. But the Bucs' two biggest moves of the offseason thus far, hiring Liam Coen and keeping Evans, are awfully big indicators that Tampa Bay is tailoring its team around Mayfield.
At this point, it'll be a big surprise if Mayfield isn't back in pewter and red come next week.
