Jason Licht wants Mike Evans to be in Tampa ‘long term’

Jason Licht wants Mike Evans to be in Tampa ‘long term’

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers underwent a huge personnel shift this offseason, but that did not include star wide receiver Mike Evans.

There might be a time midway through the season when general manager Jason Licht will have critical decisions in regard to the team’s future, which might include trading Evans for additional draft capital. But the 10-year general manager wants Evans, who is entering the final year of a five-year, $82.5 million extension he signed in March of 2018, to remain with the team long-term.

“I can’t see Mike playing anywhere else,” Licht said, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. “I hope and think we can figure something out so he can retire a Buc. We want Mike to be here long term.”

Licht obviously has the most control over what happens with the team’s future.

The Bucs made major changes behind center, bringing in Baker Mayfield to replace a retired Tom Brady, in the backfield by losing Leonard Fournette for second-year running back Rachaad White and at tight end, losing Cameron Brate for second-year tight end Cade Otton–who was primarily used as a blocking tight end a year ago.

That didn’t include changes along both lines plus in their secondary, where they’re far less experienced.

Evans and wide receiver Chris Godwin are the team’s most talented offensive players … by far. Evans has nine straight seasons with 1,000-plus yards, including hauling in 77 receptions for 1,124 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and has placed inside the top 60 in the NFL’s annual Top 100 in six of the last seven seasons.

The Bucs are in the middle-of-the-pack in terms of their strength of schedule, but are T-6-worst in rest advantage in 2023 across the NFL, according to Warren Sharpe’s rest advantage statistic. It’s going to be a transition year for Tampa, so it might make sense to move Evans if it can’t sign him long-term this offseason.

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Evans’ cap hit for the 2023 season is $23.7 million, the second-highest cap hit for wide receivers leaguewide, per Over The Cap. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers project to have over $27 million in cap space in 2024 (18th-most) and $145.2 million in 2025 (9th-most), so they could theoretically offer Evans say, $60 million over three years.

If not, the former No. 7 overall selection will be heading to the team that offers the most–whether it’s in Tampa or somewhere else. Tick tock.

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