Proposed Trade Sends Rising Star to Buccaneers in Eyebrow-Raising Deal with Buffalo Bills
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the midst of retooling their roster following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign where the team was dispatched in the opening round of the postseason. Second-year head coach Todd Bowles has to quickly get the Buccaneers moving back in the right direction or face questions regarding his future with the franchise. That could lead to some tough decisions as the coaching staff and front office round out the roster.
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Star wide receiver Mike Evans has found himself attached to multiple trade rumors this offseason. Once again, he's a target in another recently proposed deal from BuffaLowDown's Ryan Heckman. In the hypothetical trade, the Buccaneers acquire Buffalo wide receiver Gabe Davis and draft compensation in exchange for Evans and a pick.
Essentially, Heckman's trade provides Tampa Bay with instant cap relief and a promising young star while Buffalo gets a proven weapon to contend for a Super Bowl. Davis is only 24 years old and already holds the record for receiving touchdowns in a playoff game after scoring four times in a loss to Kansas City.
"Davis is still just 24 years old, giving him a ton of time to develop into the budding star Bills fans once thought they saw," Heckman wrote. "But, waiting around for that development shouldn’t be in the cards for the Bills. They need someone to come in right away and be able to take pressure off of Diggs, giving Josh Allen another concrete option on the outside.
What Evans has done in nine seasons should not be overlooked. He’s been such a quiet, consistent player, putting up over 1,000 receiving yards in every single season as a pro," Heckman continued. "Adding him to this team could be the difference between an early playoff exit and a Super Bowl, so Beane should go get it done."
There is certainly a disparity in production between Evans and Davis but the latter would see his opportunities increase in Tampa Bay. Evans is coming off a 'disappointing' season where he scored his least touchdowns since 2017 but still finished with 1,124 yards. On the other hand, Davis recorded a career-high 48 catches for 836 yards with seven touchdowns. He's scored 20 touchdowns during his first three years in the league.
This deal would only work if Tampa Bay was to deal Evans after June 1. That would drop his dead cap number to $9.2 million and save the Buccaneers $14.5 million, per Over The Cap. It's important to note that Davis is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will be due an extension in the near future.
That's another reason why this trade doesn't make a ton of sense for the Buccaneers. Davis doesn't move the needle much in a deal for a franchise favorite that will be an imperative player if the franchise wants to move forward as a contenter. Evans will also have to be extended following the 2023 season but he's proven his ability for nine years with Tampa Bay and can be safety net for veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Though Evans is consistently finding himself in hypothetical trades, it sounds like the Buccaneers are looking keep him and fellow star Chris Godwin in pewter and red for the foreseeable future. Head Coach Todd Bowles told CBS Sports that he doesn't see either player "going anywhere" last month.
"I don’t know where that [talk] came from, either. Mike’s been one of our best players for a long time. He’s still productive at a high level, one of my favorite guys on the team...I don’t see those two guys going anywhere."
More rumors are sure to surface with the NFL Draft less than three weeks away. However, Evans and Godwin appear to be off the table as Tampa Bay explores potential deals. Last year, the Buccaneers made three trades during the draft that included trading out of the first round.
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