A number of contracts around the NFL are set to void today, the eve of the franchise tag window. In the case of the Buccaneers, that is the true of key pending free agents Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr. and wideout Mike Evans. 
Tampa Bay is eyeing an agreement with Mayfield before free agency opens one month from now. The tag looms as a logical course of action in Winfield’s case, meanwhile. For Evans, though, today’s contract change marked an unofficial deadline to work out a new deal. No movement on that front has taken place, leaving him on track to reach the open market in March.
No Evans signing will take place today, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The parties have been in talks on a new deal, which would be his third with the franchise. As Russini adds, Evans and the Bucs are expected to continue negotiating “in good faith” through the franchise tag window and into the build-up for free agency.
However, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes the sides remain “far apart” with respect to terms on an agreement. As a result, significant progress will need to be made in the near future to avoid Evans hitting the market and thus opening the door to a departure. The 30-year-old helped his value in 2023 by delivering another strong season. Evans topped the 1,000-yard mark again, extending his career-opening streak to 10 years in that regard. He also tied for the league lead with 13 receiving touchdowns, developing chemistry with Mayfield through the season and Tampa Bay’s run to the divisional round.
Evans and the Bucs talked extension this past offseason, leading up to the former first-rounder’s self-imposed Week 1 deadline. The sides did not come close to an agreement, putting them in a similar situation to where they are now. Tampa Bay remained interested in a new deal during the season, but Evans upped his market value with his play. The Texas A&M alum will be hard-pressed to land a five-year contract like he did in 2018, but he could secure an AAV similar to the $16.5MM mark of his expiring pact,
Tampa Bay already has Chris Godwin on the books for the coming season at a cap hit of $27.53MM. He is set to cost $18.85MM in 2025, the first of three void years on his pact. Managing to retain Evans while also keeping Godwin in place will prove challenging if the Buccaneers are to also authorize Mayfield and Winfield to raises on either new multi-year deals or the franchise tag.
Winfield, Mayfield and Evans will now take up roughly $16MM in dead cap charges for 2024 with no new contracts being worked out today, Greg Auman of Fox Sports details. That has no effect on their pending free agency, but it could provide added incentive to the team to work out an agreement before the new league year. In Evans’ case, it appears that will not transpire.
Why not let Mike Evans test free agency
He had a strong season, but he was also terribly inconsistent
He dropped a lot of balls
That is no Bueno
The T in Tampa is not going to fall down if he tests the market
“He dropped a lot of balls, that is no bueno”
NFL drops leaders 2023:
1. Nacua
2. T. Hill
3. Njoku
4. Smith-Njigba
5. J. Ford
6. D. Adams
7. S. Diggs
8. A. St. Brown
9. J. Gibbs
10. R. Rice
11. T. Kelce
12. A. Thielen
13. M. Evans
Count how many pro bowlers/All-Pros are above him on that list, and stop with the ridiculous narrative. With high volume targets comes the opportunity for more drops than most.
I don’t care about that
In the Eagles playoff game, the Bucs could have won 53 to 9
Mayfield threw a 40 yard bomb or whatever it was, it was right on the money, he dropped it
Quite frankly, it hit him in the wrong place, his hands
Of course you don’t care, you’re deranged and pushing a narrative.
I also could be a silly man in need of a shave and wear a fur coat
However, how does that make me uncaring, deranged and have an agenda?
I’m excited for TB to re-up Baker to top 10 money and then watch him revert to being Baker! 1 good season out of 7-8 to look at?
Dave Canales has a big impact on QBs. Success with Wilson, Smith in Seattle and Baker last year. With TB. Might see a regression this year.
I think that Baker might surprise you this year. When he’s had some coaching stability and isn’t asked to do everything himself, he’s been a perfectly decent starting QB.
I do hope he succeeds. He definitely does need the right team, as you said not be Mr. Everything but part of the team
3 good seasons in 6 years 18,19,20,21,22,23
Rookie season
Third season
Last season
2021 he got hurt and was playing through injury
2022 Cleveland decided to go trade for DeShaun Watson which he’s done worse than Baker did in Cleveland and Baker wound up in Carolina (we all know how that is going in Carolina). And rebounded quite nicely with the Rams.
Baker Mayfield is actually a pretty decent QB. Injuries and bad organization aren’t exactly his fault.
Bad organization? Flacco was pretty darn good this past season and Brissett was on his way to his best season. 2nd best record in the AFC this season. 37-30 in the last 4. Doesn’t exactly say bad organization. Explain why Mayfield was 1-5 with Carolina and PJ Walker and Sam Darnold were 6-5. And that’s without CMC. It must have been McCaffrey holding Baker back
Panthers. Panthers are the bad organization.
McCaffrey carried the ball 85 times the year Baker was there in 6 games. Probably because he was traded probably because he missed time due to injury. That probably explains the 1-5 record when you’re missing guys cause of injury / trades them for draft picks.
He didn’t impress Sean McVay. Rams are a well run organization.
Ok…….
“He’s left a huge impression and I think all of his teammates would echo that same sentiment,” McVay said. “Been really impressed with him. I don’t think you can minimize how quickly he’s come in, endeared himself to his teammates, get familiar with some of the vernacular, the verbiage.
“Then you’re going out and playing NFL-caliber football games.”
“He’s done a great job and if this hasn’t elevated people’s opinions and thoughts of him, I’m not sure what he could’ve done to change whatever the perception is,” McVay said. “I just know I think very highly of him and I’ve loved working with him.”
link to si.com
When do coaches rag players leaving? I never heard of the Rams offering a contract. Matt was having durability issues, they could have easily paid the $5m for Baker to be the BU/QB of the future.
But keep believing that Baker is the permeant answer for the next 7 some odd seasons. I wouldn’t want him being my team’s QB1.
Contract takes two people arty. I’m sure Rams would love to have had Baker be their backup.
You’re assuming Baker wanted to be a back up QB though. Obviously he didn’t and wanted to start which is why he took a job with the Bucs. Had an opportunity to start.
“ But keep believing that Baker is the permeant answer for the next 7 some odd seasons”
Weird. I said he was a decent qb. I didn’t say he was elite or a franchise qb.
A decent QB means he’s back up material that can fill in from time to time. Like I said, I wouldn’t want my franchise to commit to him starter money for multiple years. He’ll end up doing something similar that Geno did last offseason. Finally 1 good season which netted him a solid 3 year deal in Seattle. Only to follow up this season with an on-par average season for him this season. Got his coach fired. Not the only reason, but it was bad QB play from Smith.
My friend is a diehard Bucs fan & constantly showed me comments of players, FO, & coaches raving about Baker as a person. So I don’t deny McVay liked him as well. And less the Browns signing Watson, he seemed well liked there.
With that said, I don’t recall one other team offering Baker a contract either. He signed a ‘prove it’ one year deal valued in the backup range for a reason. Teams aren’t enamoured with him on the field.
Yes that is how prove it deals work. He was given a contract with the idea he would come in and compete for a starting job.
“ With that said, I don’t recall one other team offering Baker a contract either.”
Why would a team offer him a contract to be a backup QB if Bakers camp told teams he wanted a chance to start? Sounds like a lot of wasted paperwork and wasted man hours to me.
There weren’t exactly a lot of opportunities last off season.
Carolina drafted Young signed Dalton
Saints signed Carr
Falcons were riding with Ridder and signed Heinicke
Steelers were riding with Pickett
Cardinals were waiting for Murray to come back
Colts drafted Richardson signed Minshew
Texans drafted Stroud signed Keenum
Jets traded for Rodgers
Commanders were riding with Howell and signed Brissett.
Not exactly a lot of opportunities to start somewhere.
I think Baker is a career BU; you think he’s a starter. We disagree. As you point out, he’s had 3 good years over 6 seasons. Sounds ‘average’ to me, but everyone gauges players differently.
As I said, I wouldn’t want my team to commit to him being QB1 over a 3-4 year contract. Do you want your team to sign him to be the starter?
I think he’s a game manager that can sometimes take over a game and explode. But definitely needs a good supporting cast around him.
I’d want him as my QB with the understanding he’s a stop gap between a guy they’re developing behind him.
A team like Minnesota makes a lot of sense if they don’t resign cousins. Sign Baker for 3 years draft someone like Shedeur Sanders in the 2nd/3rd round to develop behind him.
‘I’d want him as my QB with the understanding he’s a stop gap between a guy they’re developing behind him.’
That makes him a backup QB! You’re arguing against yourself.
stop gap qb =/= back up qb.
a stop gap qb is a guy youre pegging as your starter but not someone you’re going to give Mahomes, Burrow, Herbert money + years to.
a back up qb is a guy youre playing behind your starter who you brought in knowing he will only play if your starter goes down.
you should spend less time on these message boards and more time watching football man.
game managers are starting caliber qbs. not elite. not franchise level but capable of coming in, starting, and putting a team in position to do well.
Dude you are a walking contradiction.
‘…not franchise level but capable of coming in, starting, and putting a team in position to do well.’
That is a back up job. The very definition. Come in mange for a while & do well. Just like Minshew did this season for the Colts. Would you sign Minshew to be your stater? Clearly you don’t want Baker as your QB1. Go read your comments for proof of that.
Stop gap is a back up.
What were the Rams going to do with him? Ask him to back up Matt Stafford? He was hired in a pinch and helped get them through the season.
Exactly; offer him a BU contract. Lately, Matt has had some injuries where he missed multiple games. Why not have Baker as the BU to fill in? That’s what a backup is supposed to do. But like 31 other teams, the Rams didn’t offer him a contract last offseason. Only TB did and for backup money around $5m for the season. When starters are making $30m+ annually. That’s telling to me.
Sam Darnold finished his Panthers career at 8-9 with 546 pass attempts in two seasons with 59.5 comp percentage and 16 tds 16 ints.
Pj Walker threw the ball 238 times across 3 seasons with 58% comp and 5 TDs and 11 ints in 15 games
Carolina winning games despite horrible qb play isn’t the “gotcha” you think it is sadly.
All three QBs sucked in Carolina. One common denominator between Walker Darnold Mayfield Young. Carolina is a dumpster fire organization.
Carolina
young needs a #1
Canales worked with Evans last year in Tampa
Already won a ring so doesn’t need to ring chase.
Carolina has ample cap space too
Trade Godwin. Keep ME13!
Evans is a guy who can make a lot of clutch catches so the Bucs should really try to rework some contracts to keep him in the fold. If he goes somewhere else as a free agent he could be next years Adam Thielen who was a terrific pickup by the Panthers and their only reliable offensive threat.
Bucs tend to let their guys view FA, it is kind of the right thing to do. Let them see what is out there, match the possible deal. I expect Evans to return as the only teams he may go to are teams with stud QBs. Those teams are limited in money though if he is seeking the big payday. They need to secure the QB before getting Evans back, I doubt Baker has many other suitors. If Mike is cool with Baker being back he will be back.
Mike Evans is Mr. Buccaneer, yet some want him to leave because “It’s All About The QB”. How dumber than dumb can you get?
This is disrespectful and out of line. Do better.
Chiefs and Ravens would be a great fit for Evans. With all the cap commanders and patriots have this time I could see them being interested too
Evans is starting to get up there in age – thus as much as the Buccaneers want to keep him they need to keep from falling into a Von Miller-type contract trap. Front-load the contract (paying him commensurate with being one of the best receivers in the league) but make sure you have an out starting in year 3.
There’s talk of Dallas going all in this year, I think they should replace Michael Gallup with Mike Evans, pair Tony Pollard with Derrick Henry, bring back Tyron Smith for one more year, add Lawrence Guy at DT now that New England cut him, bring back Gillmore at corner in case Diggs isn’t 100%, & add one more experienced linebacker to replace Vander Esch.