Bucs Gameday

Baker Mayfield Delivers Massive Statement on Buccaneers' Free Agent Mike Evans

It's become abundantly clear that free agent quarterback, Baker Mayfield, wants to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's equally as obvious that he wants his number one target, Mike Evans, to join him.

Collin Haalboom

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The Baker Mayfield media tour continues.

Ever since last weekend's Pro Bowl -- which saw Mayfield earn MVP honors -- the Buccaneers' comeback player of the year candidate has been making his rounds with Super Bowl week upon us.

In doing so, Mayfield has made it abundantly clear that he would like to return as the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Speaking with Andrew Siciliano and Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network on Wednesday, Mayfield shifted the focus to his favorite target -- and future NFL Hall of Famer -- Mike Evans.

"Obviously we want to get the band back together. But I understand where Mike's at in his career. Like you said, he's a huge target, but the guy has done it so consistently. Ten years in a row of over 1,000 yards. Very few people can ever say that. The guy is unreal. He does it so well for so long. And everybody wanted to put an age on it and say he's not gonna be good anymore and I think he took that personally."

Baker continued.

"We've both voiced our opinions that we want to be back together. But it's got to happen the right way. Mike deserves to be a Buccaneer for life. He's done so much for that community. So much for the franchise. He's put his time in and I can't say enough about the guy as a player and just a guy in general." 

It's no surprise that Mayfield thinks so highly of Mike Evans. After all, the two veterans experienced career years in 2023 playing together for the first time in their lives. And although the Buccaneers weren't able to extend Mike Evans last season -- when he wanted -- they're in a much better financial situation now. 

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I'm not an expert prognosticator by any means, but based on the confidence and jovial spirit demonstrated by Baker Mayfield in this interview, I'd say the chances that both he and Mike Evans end up back in Tampa Bay next season are greater than 50%.

Even if the national media tells you otherwise.

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.