There’s speculation surrounding Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans potentially hitting the free agency market this offseason.
Although there’s a strong desire for Mayfield and Evans to remain in Tampa Bay, there’s also the possibility of them joining forces elsewhere.
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler shed light on the situation during a segment on SportsCenter over the weekend.
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“The Bucs are trying to re-sign this guy in a major way,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “They’ve had preliminary talks, Mike Evans wants to retire a Buccaneer but I’m told he’s also willing, at least open to, the possibility of going to the open market because he would have a huge market. The Bucs now they gotta pay him well over $20 million per year … His game has not fallen off.
“And Baker Mayfield as he’s trying to resign with the Bucs. He’s watching Mike Evans’ deal closely. It could be sort of a package deal. They could both go their separate ways. A lot could happen, but the team is trying to keep them together.”
Both Mayfield and Evans have expressed their preference to continue playing alongside each other. However, external factors such as competitive offers from other teams could influence their decisions.
As of now, the Buccaneers seem intent on retaining both Mayfield and Evans for the upcoming 2024 season.
