The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a tough spot heading into the 2023 season. It is hard to envision them being contenders as they are preparing for life after Tom Brady, who retired from the NFL earlier this offseason. 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield will be tasked with replacing him.
Despite that, the team was able to bring back some of their veterans for the upcoming season, so they will remain competitive. But, ownership and the front office have to be keeping an eye on the future and moves they could make.
One of the players whose futures are up in the air is wide receiver, Mike Evans. He remains a difference-maker at the position, but would the Buccaneers benefit from trading him and picking up some assets for the future?
It is something that the franchise will have to think long and hard about. Evans is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent in 2024; will the Buccaneers be in a position to retain him long-term with how wide receiver contracts have skyrocketed in recent offseasons? Those hesitancies are partly why Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated believes Evans could be switching teams in the near future.
“The Buccaneers are embarking on a significant rebuild and need cap space and draft picks to turn things around in an expedited manner.
With Evans both 30 years old and in the last year of his contract, general manager Jason Licht should be looking to move his star wideout in a trade. Over his nine-year career, Evans has never failed to post 1,000 yards.
With a base salary of $13 million, Evans would be an attractive trade candidate for a contender looking for a perimeter weapon. As for Tampa, it would save $14.5 million to roll over.”
That $14.5 million could do wonders for the franchise, who had arguably the worst salary cap situation in the league this offseason. There haven’t been many players as consistent as Evans over the last decade and he is someone that would net the Buccaneers a nice return package of draft capital.
If the Buccaneers are offered a first-round pick in exchange for Evans, it would be hard for them to turn down that deal. This is a franchise in transition and could certainly use some premium draft picks to land more building blocks and cornerstones.
You don’t want to be stuck in the middle as a professional franchise. Either finish low enough in the standings to add impact prospects or be good enough to contend. The Buccaneers are in no man’s land currently and accepting the harsh reality of a rebuild is one step closer to eventually ascending back into contenders.
