The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the logical choice for Mike Evans to return given the impending contract deadline.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Mike Evans are in for another exciting offseason. There is additional pressure to do well going into 2024, though, after exceeding expectations by not only winning the NFC South for the third consecutive year but also making it to the Divisional Round.

See Baker Mayfield’s position in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB Rankings in the related article.

Here’s where it gets complicated: the Bucs, like everyone else, only have one franchise tag available, and Evans, Baker Mayfield, and Antoine Winfield Jr. are all eligible for free agency. However, there is some hope that the Buccaneers may negotiate contract extensions with some of their top players prior to the start of free agency, and a deadline that is approaching may encourage them to do so.

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand to save $7.38 million if they re-sign Mike Evans to a long-term deal by Monday, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. If not, Evans’s void money becomes effective, and he will be eligible for free agency.

Arriving on Monday, Baker Mayfield is in a similar scenario, although signing him before the January 19 deadline only saves $1.725 million. Antoine Winfield Jr. is another player who may save $1.2 million if he signs a new deal before Monday.

If Bucs General Manager Jason Licht can work a deal with all three, it will come to a total of $11 million; nevertheless, for the time being, it makes sense to put at least Mayfield and Evans together. Additionally, as previously said, Winfield can always be placed on the franchise tag if needed.