In 2009, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut linebacker Derrick Brooks in a surprise move to save over $10 million in cap space in a “purge of the teams older players” despite being one of the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneers of all time, dubbed “Mr Buccaneer”. Tampa also let hard-hitting safety John Lynch go years prior in 2004 in the name of salary cap, despite Lynch stating he would take a pay cut to stay with the team. Lynch would then join the Denver Broncos and make the Pro Bowl each of his four years in Denver. This devastated fans as they want Brooks to be a Buccaneer for life after everything he did not only for the team, but the community. Now, 15 years later, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are facing another crossroads with 30 year old Mike Evans.
The Buccaneers cannot make the same mistake twice. Mike Evans deserves to be a Buccaneer for life.
Evans has been the face of the franchise since being drafted seventh overall in the 2014 NFL draft. Evans has broken 13 franchise records including most touchdowns by a rookie, most receiving yards, and most touchdowns by a Buccaneer. Evans is also the youngest player in the NFL to have recorded 200 yards in a game and the only player in NFL history to start their career with 10 straight seasons of 1,00 receiving yards. His resume fills the stat sheet and then some.
Last off-season the initial thought was that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Mike Evans would easily come to an agreement on a contract extension, but instead turned into a deadline given by Evans and his agent to the Buccaneers that came and went. Evans was vocal about being upset that a deal wasn’t reached, as he thought it was a “no brainer to be a Buccaneer for life”. Now his future in red and pewter is uncertain.
Evans bet on himself and played with a chip on his shoulder this season. Most tend to say once a player reaches the age of 30 they’re deemed to be “past their prime” and on the decline. Mike Evans seems to be turning back the clock. Evans had his best season since 2018, racking up 1,255 yards (9th) and 13 touchdowns, tied for most in the NFL with Tyreek Hill. Todd Bowles stated Evans looked “even faster and in the best shape of his life” this past season and showed “no signs of slowing down”. Evans was a major part of Baker Mayfield having a career year in his first year of Tampa and both have publicly stated they want to play together in Tampa next season, building off the strong connection they developed this season.
So what’s the holdup? The Buccaneers front office was unsure about giving Evans a payday at 30 years old, and Evans in return silenced every doubt and his price just went up. To the city of Tampa and Buccaneers fans worldwide he’s worth every penny. Every 50-50 ball, every spectacular catch, every contract restructure to bring back other players, Every losing season since being drafted Mike made the Bucs must watch tv regardless of record. Every training camp staying hours later to sign every single autograph. Never complaining about not getting the ball. Giving back so much for the community with his MikeEvansFamilyFoundation, which provides children with opportunities and scholarships for their future education. He embodies what it means to be a Buccaneer.
Mike Evans is currently set to hit free agency for the first time in his career come March 11th and would have a number of interested suitors for a record breaking 6’5 target with a Hall Of Fame resume. The Glazers cannot afford to make the same mistake twice. Pay Mike Evans.
