NFC Rival of the Bucs Named “Best Team Fit” for Wide Receiver Mike Evans in 2024

An NFC South opponent may profit from wide receiver Mike Evans’ increasingly bleak future with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

The Carolina Panthers are the “best team fit” for Evans, who is eligible for free agency in March, according to ESPN’s Matt Bowen. Less than a day after Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report revealed that the Buccaneers and Evans’ camp “remain far apart” in their contract negotiations, Bowen offers his opinion.

“Evans, who had 1,255 receiving yards and a league-high 13 touchdown catches in the same offensive system last season in Tampa Bay, may follow Panthers coach Dave Canales to Carolina,” Bowen wrote. “Evans would be an instant [and necessary] upgrade for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young as a multiple-level target with red zone upside. He is still playing at an incredibly high level.”

The Panthers finished a miserable 2-15 in 2023, so it might not result in many victories anytime soon, but Evans could

The Buccaneers may find it difficult to afford him given Tampa Bay’s glut of free agents and their $35.62 million in cap space.

Based on Spotrac’s projections, Evans is requesting a high price of $23.8 million per year, or $95.34 million for a four-year contract. His current deal with the Buccaneers, worth $82.5 million over five years, is scheduled to expire in March.

Before Week 1 of the 2023 season, his agent established a deadline for contract talks, which the Buccaneers failed to reach. During Super Bowl week, Evans received support from current teammate Baker Mayfield and past teammate Rob Gronkowski, who both voiced a wish for Evans to end his career with the Buccaneers.

According to Schultz, Tampa Bay has suffered a $7.4 million dead cap hit for 2024 as a result of “not getting a deal done” on Monday, giving Evans’ contract a “soft deadline” impact. According to Schultz, “talks will continue,” but Evans is currently

Although Evans’ future in Tampa Bay appears to be uncertain, according to Schultz and Bowen, the Buccaneers appeared likely to hold onto other important players, according to the ESPN free agency projection. According to Bowen, the Buccaneers will retain veteran linebacker Lavonte David and Mayfield safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

“Mayfield will be a free agent target due to his performance in the second part of the previous campaign and his impressive playoff video, which includes two playoff games with over 300 throwing yards. However, Bowen added, “I think Mayfield may maintain putting up high numbers in this new Tampa Bay system, which will fit his aggressive throwing mindset behind defined play-action ideas and schemed verticals.”

Bowen stated that since Winfield is “into his peak playing years,” re-signing a young player who “played a significant role as a three-level defender in Todd Bowles’ defensive system” makes sense. As Bowen noted, Winfield’s career stats—15 sacks, 7 interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles—speak for themselves.

Regarding David, Bowen anticipates a one-year contract for the seasoned veteran. “A crucial member of Bowles’ defense,” according to Bowen, he “can key and diagnose at the second level with speed and join the front as a blitzer.”

For Heavy.com, Matthew Davis writes about the NFL with an emphasis on the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has also covered Minnesota prep athletics since 2016 as a contributing writer for the Star Tribune. Additional information on Matthew Davis