Bucs Gameday

NFL Analyst Suggests Buccaneers Should Trade Four-Time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver

Does Mike Evans provide more value to the Buccaneers as a star on their current roster, or as a trade chip for the future?

Collin Haalboom

In this story:

Not only is Mike Evans on a career trajectory that could result in him being considered one of the greatest receivers in the history of the NFL when it's all said and done, but he's already established himself as arguably the greatest offensive player in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise.

Evans' NFL record of nine consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start his career is a testament to his consistency, durability, and unique attributes as a game-breaking talent.

READ MORE: Buccaneers Eyeing 2-Time Super Bowl Winning Quarterback as Replacement for Tom Brady

Luke Easterling of Bucs Wire, took to Twitter last week to offer some context on just how impressive Evans' statistical production has been over the course of his career.

Not only that, but Evans is as important to the culture of the Buccaneers organization as anyone who has ever dawned the pewter and red. He was Jason Licht's first-ever draft pick as the team's general manager — and he has made Licht look like a wise man for making that selection back in 2014. 

Evans has developed a reputation for being a hard-worker and a selfless teammate, which combined with his 'do whatever the team needs' attitude, has stood out in an era that is saturated with diva wide receivers.

Never has Mike Evans complained about not getting enough targets. He's just as willing to run routes all game as a decoy, as he is to go off for 10 receptions, 200+ yards, and 3 TDs in a single game like he did against the Carolina Panthers in the final week of the regular season to help the team secure a spot in the postseason.

READ MORE: Geno Smith reacts to Buccaneers hiring Dave Canales as Offensive Coordinator

There's no denying the fact that Mike Evans is beloved by the Buccaneers' fanbase, and the organization itself. 

With that being said, is it possible that it could be in the best interest of the organization to trade Evans now, while his value is still so high around the league?

At least one NFL analyst thinks so. 

Adam Rank, of the NFL Network, recently made the suggestion that the Buccaneers should consider trading Mike Evans this offseason. 

In the article, Rank explained why he thinks now is as good of a time as ever for the Buccaneers to move on from their franchise wide receiver.

"In the wake of Tom Brady's retirement, I'm not sure how close the Buccaneers are to being competitive. Even if they were to nab an accomplished veteran signal-caller -- like, say, Derek Carr -- I'm not sure how high the ceiling is. Winning a watered-down NFC South again? Alright, yeah, maybe. But actually, competing for a title? Hard to see. Thus, moving on from the 29-year-old Evans in the last year of his contract makes too much sense." 

Rank went on to describe how desirable Evans would be to teams whose chances at Super Bowl contention would surely improve with the addition of a top-tier NFL receiver talent like Evans. 

"Evans actually would be a great acquisition for a number of teams, including some seriously looking to make a Super Bowl run. Like the Dallas Cowboys, who are desperate to venture beyond the Divisional Round for the first time since Bill Clinton's first term. Turns out Jerry Jones and Co. probably made a mistake dealing Amari Cooper last year. Dak Prescott needs more juice out wide, and I imagine Evans -- a Texas native who starred at Texas A&M -- wouldn't mind playing for the 'Boys. If the Rams wanted to make another go at it, there's another option. How about the Chiefs? Would that even be fair??" 

Every team in the NFL would benefit from adding a player of Mike Evans' caliber. That's no secret. But would the Buccaneers actually entertain the idea of moving on from him?

I don't think so.

In addition to all of the aforementioned factors Evans brings to the table for the Bucs, he is also just 29 years old. The Buccaneers have already experienced great success with him and Chris Godwin operating as one of the NFL's most dynamic duos at the wide receiver position. Not to mention, Godwin (26) is also recognized for being a highly professional, team-first guy. With Godwin poised to enter next season at full health, both players have a bright future ahead of them in this league. 

It becomes that much brighter when they're playing together.

The Buccaneers, who are going to take a big cap hit this year no matter what — due to the retirement of Tom Brady — should be well-positioned financially for 2024 and beyond. Even if they take a step back this year, knowing that the wide receiver position is in good hands, would allow Jason Licht to address other, more pressing positions on the roster, as he looks to re-establish this team's chances at competing for a Super Bowl via the draft and free agency.

The bottom line is this: Mike Evans is a unique talent and an extremely valuable member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization. I don't see that changing any time soon.

For continuing coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, make sure to subscribe to the Bucs Banter YouTube channel! 

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 offseason.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

Published
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.