Mike Evans Returns To Bucs, Ravens To Alter Receiver Plans
The top free-agent wide receiver is now off the market, a week before actual negotiating can begin.
Long-time Tampa Bay Buccaneer wideout Mike Evans chose to stay with the team that drafted him with the seventh overall pick back in 2014 when he signed a new two-year, $52 million deal Monday morning.
Evans' re-signing is a major blow to several wide receiver-needy teams hoping to turn to the free-agent market to address their concerns. Evans was considered the top target for many after 10 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and five Pro Bowls.
For an organization like the Baltimore Ravens, Evans was always going to be a difficult free agent to bring in. The Ravens don't have a lot of cap space ($16 million) and have other top free agents on their roster to deal with.
There is still a need for the receiver position for the Ravens.
As strong a rookie season as first-round pick Zay Flowers had, the lack of a quality second option ended up hurting Baltimore in their AFC Title game loss to the eventual champions Kansas City Chiefs. While head coach John Harbaugh has already said the team is expecting big things from 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman, injuries have left questions to be had surrounding the Minnesota product.
Should Baltimore look for value signings in free agency - after opening up more cap space - there are still options that can help the team in 2024.
A reunion with Marquise "Hollywood" Brown could be in the cards, while other players like Washington's Curtis Samuel, Buffalo's Gabe Davis, and Cincinnati's Tyler Boyd are just a few names that may have limitations to their game to lower their asking price but would be quality options for any team to have.
There are plenty of needs the Ravens have to focus on this offseason, but the receiver position could surprise people.
Now, with the top target no longer available, Baltimore has plenty of work left to do, and not a lot of top available targets to go after.
