The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a tough conundrum on their hands as the free agency period inches closer. They know that keeping their most important players in Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans would be a tough ask as they have a limited cap room to operate with.
The two have shown great on-field chemistry and helped the team make an improbable run to the Divisional Round where they lost to the Detroit Lions. It was expected for both players to command big contracts after the season was over.
The question now lies in whether the the Bucs could keep them. Fortunately for them, encouraging news emerged that might work out in their favor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ key duo could become a ‘package deal’ elsewhere
It’s clear to everyone that both Mayfield and Evans liked playing with each other. While the two want to remain within the team, their limited $40 million salary cap means that they cannot sign the two of them and keep Antoine Walker Jr. on a franchise tag.
With the chances of getting the deal done getting slimmer by the day, Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson wrote that the two could end up elsewhere as a duo if they don’t stay with the Bucs in free agency:
Despite both players preferring to return in 2024, the likelihood of them hitting the open market is increasing. If that happens, the 2023 Pro Bowl selections could wind up following each other to a new team.
The Buccaneers are “doing everything they can” to keep the quarterback-pairing together and the expectation around the NFL remains that is what will happen. However, Evans would have a robust market of suitors if he makes it into NFL free agency.
Mike Evans had an outstanding 2023, where he caught 79 passes for 1255 yards and 13 TDs. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield blossomed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after posting 4044 passing yards and 28 TDs on 64% completion.
Many Tampa Bay fans hope that they can keep the two tied down with the team. As March 13 slowly crawls forward, their hopes begin to wither.
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