Jets' Sauce Gardner Recruiting Buccaneers' Mike Evans, Bucs' Running Back Fires Back
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves with a number of moves to make as we enter the 2024 offseason. In 2023, the Buccaneers spent the year in salary cap hell and now they enter 2024 with a bit more breathing room, however, they will have to maneuver some money around in the hopes of retaining some of their top players from last year in the likes of S Antoine Winfield Jr., LB Lavonte David, WR Mike Evans, and QB Baker Mayfield.
It is looking likely that Tampa Bay will place the franchise tag on AWJ to give them some more time in negotiations there, but one of the other top guys they really must try to retain is community-beloved Mike Evans.
Evans contract negotiations with the Bucs' brass have been a journey leading back to the last offseason. He wanted a contract in place prior to the beginning of the 2023 season, but that did not happen. Following the 2024 season, things still seemed at an impasse as the two sides continue to struggle to come to an agreement and now, as Evans is set to hit free agency, those around the league are beginning to make a push for the veteran, all-consistent star wideout.
On Monday night, with free agent destinations being thrown about for Mike Evans, New York Jets' cornerback Sauce Gardner took to his 'X' social media account to try and recruit Mike Evans to the Empire State.
The addition of Mike Evans in New York would be a welcome sight for the Gang Green as they aren't very deep at the positions and, as last year showed, they could use all the help they can get especially with the return of Aaron Rodgers on the horizon for 2024. Currently they have highly touted youngster Garrett Wilson as their #1 wideout followed by Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee, and Allen Lazard. Randall Cobb is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Adding a veteran of Mike's caliber would be a huge pickup for the Jets and would likely yield another weapon outside of Wilson for Rodgers to take advantage of.
For the Buccaneers, the loss of Evans would be a shot to the heart and their wide receiver room. Evans is beloved in the Tampa Bay area and is the best receiver ever to come through the organization. His consistent level of elite play over the course of his career cannot be scoffed at and reconnecting with Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin and Rachaad White would once again create a formidable offense. The Bucs likely will do what they need to retain him, and for Tampa Bay running back Rachaad White Mike isn't going anywhere.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the offseason.
