Panthers, Jets Tabbed as Top Landing Spots for Star Buccaneers’ Free Agent Wide Receiver
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans wanted to get a long-term extension done with the organization prior to the kickoff of the 2023 regular season - that didn't happen. Mike continued to play at his usual high level and didn't create any unwanted distractions by discussing a possible deal during/following the season. Now that the season has ended, Evans will enter free agency and the Buccaneers' brass will have some decisions to make even though all signs still point to both sides wanting to get a deal done.
With the future of Mike Evans in Tampa Bay still a question mark and free agency still yet to open, Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus gave two potential landing spots for the always-consistent NFL veteran: Carolina Panthers and New York Jets.
"The Panthers' angle here is two-fold and pretty straightforward: First, new Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales was the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay this past season, and Evans had a great year. Second, Carolina is probably the team most likely to throw an absolute bag at Evans to come serve as Bryce Young’s No. 1 wideout and also bring an exceptional veteran leader to a team that needs a culture shift. Evans withstood some dire times in Tampa but kept his head down and eventually got a ring.
"It may not be super appealing to Evans who wants to win meaningful games. However, he pushed hard for an extension last offseason, so cashing in big one more time could be attractive as well.
"The New York Jets need more receiving talent opposite Garrett Wilson, and this move is effectively the inverse of the above: Evans takes a bit less but joins Aaron Rodgers as he tries to replicate the Tom Brady run in Tampa."
Evans has been the model of consistency and the type of player you want in your locker room over the course of his 10-year NFL career, so it is likely his services will be inquired about by many teams. Losing him to an NFC South rival like the Panthers would be heartbreaking for many Bucs' fans, but Spielberger's reasoning behind it makes some sense.
Is Mike just really chasing a bag? Doubtful. Evans has shown that he cares more about winning football games than anything else.
The Jets also make sense, but are they going to pay what Mike is looking for or look to get a younger piece to add to their WR core?
Either way, it is likely that Evans will get what he is asking for - whether that be from the Glazers and Jason Licht in Tampa Bay or elsewhere. PFF currently projects Evans to sign a 3yr/$69 million deal this offseason, a similar contract to what Davante Adams signed with the Los Vegas Raiders.
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