NFL Analyst Lists Five Landing Spots for Mike Evans if Not Buccaneers
Monday was a big day when it comes to the Mike Evans sweepstakes. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would love to return their storied wide receiver -- who has spent ten years with the franchise.
Over his ten years in Tampa, Evans has received at least 1,000 receiving yards every season while winning a Super Bowl with the franchise in 2021. He's seen plenty in his time with the Buccaneers, and the 30-year-old plays an integral role in the future trajectory of the franchise.
Now, Evans has the opportunity to choose his next franchise of choice as he enters free agency. Watching the direction of the Buccaneers -- including whether or not they re-sign Baker Mayfield -- could be something to watch for the Evans sweepstakes.
Because the Buccaneers were not able to sign a contract extension with Evans by Monday, the team will absorb $14.5 million in dead cap.
CBS Sports NFL analyst Cody Benjamin details five teams that made sense for Evans to sign with this offseason, should he decide to leave Tampa.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are coming off an AFC Conference appearance in a run that got halted by a stout Kansas City Chiefs defense. Evans would provide another elite weapon for Lamar Jackson to help power an offense capable of winning a Super Bowl.
"They reached the AFC title game with their current crop of wideouts, and Nelson Agholor has since re-signed to the group. But who says you can't make a luxury move? Evans enjoyed a career year under current Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken back in 2018, when he secured a $82.5 million extension with Tampa Bay. And his big red-zone presence would make for a nice complement to the shiftier moves of rookie Zay Flowers," Benjamin wrote.
The Ravens would make sense for Evans should he be determined to make a move that could best suit him for a Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals
Since making the Super Bowl in 2022, the Bengals have seen quite a bit of a dip. They're looking to get fully healthy and attempt to make another deep postseason run, and having a seasoned veteran like Evans would get the Bengals a step closer to doing just that.
"Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd make one of the NFL's top WR trios, but the latter two are both scheduled to hit free agency, and Higgins in particular could price himself out of Cincinnati with Chase due for a massive extension of his own. Even so, the Bengals figure to remain in win-now mode, making Evans a potential plug-and-play star for Joe Burrow and Co. The team has close to $60M in projected salary cap space," Benjamin wrote.
Like Jackson, Burrow is another incredible quarterback who would be able to connect with Evans in big moments to highlight both of their skills.
Houston Texans
While both the Buccaneers could soon be entering a rebuild, the Texans are finding their way out of theirs. C.J. Stroud, as a rookie, won a playoff game with the franchise. Still, with the Texans on the rise, Evans could help accelerate their progression as a team.
"The Texans' playoff loss to Baltimore proved rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud could use more help. In truth, their O-line warrants more attention. But Evans is the kind of alpha No. 1 who could accelerate Stroud's already-impressive growth, while taking pressure off younger weapons like Nico Collins and Tank Dell. With close to $70M in cap space, money shouldn't be an issue. As a bonus, Evans was born and raised in Texas, making this a potential homecoming," Benjamin wrote.
A homecoming could make sense for the Buccaneers star as he's from south Texas. It could be one of the more appealing draws from the wide receiver, and something that could pry him away from his long-time tenure in Tampa.
Indianapolis Colts
Similar to the Texans, the Colts are a fun, up-and-coming team that could be an opportunity for Evans to shine while taking another franchise to the next level. He could join a fun young core of Anthony Richardson and Michael Pittman Jr.
"Indy has its own WR to pay in Michael Pittman Jr., a scheduled free agent, but head coach Shane Steichen knows the value of adding an even more accomplished pass outlet, enjoying A.J. Brown's impact on the Eagles' offense as their OC in 2022. The Colts overachieved this year and should have QB Anthony Richardson back in 2024, making them a sleeper contender. They've got close to $63M available for the offseason," Benjamin wrote.
If Evans would join a team like the Colts, who were not competing for a Super Bowl a season ago, and he helped them over the hump to compete deep into the playoffs, it would help his legacy as a superstar. He could also get a huge payday while doing so, proving to be beneficial for both parties.
Kansas City Chiefs
Fresh off their second straight Super Bowl win, Evans would be providing the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes' best weapon since Tyreek Hill was traded. Their connection, on top of Travis Kelce, would be incredibly hard for NFL defenses to contain on top of their own stout defense making life easy for them.
"Rookie Rashee Rice emerged as an explosive downfield target for Patrick Mahomes late in the Chiefs' latest Super Bowl run, but for much of 2023, the team struggled to field a reliable WR corps, occasionally appearing to miss the electrifying pop of past stars like Tyreek Hill. With Travis Kelce aging and the Super Bowl window always open in K.C., a proven No. 1 like Evans would be a seamless fit. Evans, meanwhile, would get a chance to go out with a perennial contender," Benjamin wrote.
Again, this is another great opportunity for Evans to win a Super Bowl, which would be the second of his career while he could remain one of the most consistent receivers in the sport.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 offseason.
