The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are fresh off a fantastic 2023 campaign, winning the AFC South, earning an upset playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, and receiving a career season from newly signed quarterback Baker Mayfield. Despite losing offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs expect to re-sign Mayfield to a lengthy deal in an attempt to continue last season’s momentum.
However, keeping future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans in the fold for the 2024 season and onward will be more challenging. Per Adam Schefter, due to his 2023 cap hit, he is an unlikely franchise tag candidate. Evans projects to own a franchise tag value of $ 28.4 million, a massive increase over the regular $21.6 million for his position group.
Due to his 2023 cap number, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans' projected franchise tag would be $28.4 million – instead of the regular $21.6M – meaning he is not expected to be a tag candidate. https://t.co/0bLVyZZgsm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2024
An NFL team can franchise tag a player once per offseason, inking a soon-to-be free agent to a one-year contract. They earn a non-negotiable salary, a price relative to the market value for the player’s position. The preset franchise tag value for a wide receiver this offseason is $21.6 million.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans: Unlikely to Receive Exclusive Franchise Tag
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could offer Mike Evans the franchise tag this offseason, but it will come at nearly $7 million over the preset price for a wide receiver. A franchise tag on the five-time Pro-Bowler would be closer to a quarterback’s market value than a receiver.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the Bucs could save north of $7 million in the 2024 cap if the wideout and the team come to a deal before Monday. Evans, like his teammates, quarterback Baker Mayfield and safety Antoine Winfield Jr., have void years in their contracts. The Bucs had future money on the trio of free agents pushed back until their final season, but with a deal made before February 19, the NFC South club could again push the money back further. Unlike most receivers looking for a third contract, the Texas A&M product should break the bank this offseason after a ludicrous 10th straight 1,000-yard receiving campaign.
Mike Evans: Looking Fantastic Heading Into Age-31 Season
Despite losing seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, Evans again dominated the competition last fall. The six-foot-five, 231-pound wideout led the NFL with 13 touchdowns while catching 79 passes for 1,255 yards. No other Tampa Bay receiver tallied more than four touchdowns. Evans again eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving, an accomplishment he has achieved each season of his career.
Evans, the 7th pick in the 2014 NFL draft, also dominated in the postseason. He had 11 catches for 195 yards and one touchdown in two games. Evans had a monster game in his team’s playoff loss against the Detroit Lions, catching eight passes for 147 yards and a score.
