Quarterback Baker Mayfield has expressed his desire to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and NFL analyst Rich Eisen believes that this scenario is likely to unfold, albeit with one important condition.
“I think he is going to stay put. I think the Bucs saw what they could get out of my boy. And I think my boy has shown what they can get out of him. And I think my boy stays. Unless, if Mike Evans goes.”
Mike Evans played a pivotal role in Mayfield’s success during the 2023 season, racking up impressive stats with 79 catches for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, despite his status as a long-standing Buccaneer, contract negotiations between Evans and the team seem to have hit an impasse, as reported by Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. This stalemate suggests that Evans might explore free agency once the window opens in March.
This potential departure of Evans could prompt Mayfield to consider his options elsewhere. Mayfield has made it clear that he sees Evans’ return as a prerequisite for his own return to the team, stating his stance immediately after the season concluded.
Eisen alluded to a memorable college football encounter between Mayfield and another standout quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, back in 2016. In that game, Mayfield’s Oklahoma team emerged victorious over Mahomes’ Texas Tech squad in a high-scoring affair, with a final score of 66-59. Looking ahead, Mayfield could find himself in Las Vegas with an impressive array of receiving talent, including the likes of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, providing ample opportunities to put points on the board.
“And the Raiders say, ‘you know what? Let’s trade pirate ship to pirate ship. Baker Mayfield in the AFC West? Baker versus Patrick Mahomes like it’s the Big 12 all over again — final score 60-50.”
Despite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having a decent salary cap space of $35.26 million at their disposal, retaining both Mayfield and Evans for the upcoming season will likely come with significant financial commitments.
According to projections by Spotrac, Baker Mayfield could command an annual salary of $27.1 million, while Evans’ projected annual salary stands at $23.8 million.
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