Bucs Face Looming Mayfield, Evans Contract Questions Entering Offseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rebounded from a 4-7 start to the season to win the NFC South and a playoff game, defying all outside expectations for the organization in the first year of the post-Tom Brady era. However, Tampa Bay’s unexpected playoff run came to an end with a 31-23 Divisional Round loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Now, the franchise’s offseason has begun.

Among the looming questions for the Bucs in the months ahead of the 2024 campaign is what the fates of quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans will be. Both free agents indicated after the season-ending loss that they would like to return to the team next season.

“I love this group,” Mayfield, who threw for 349 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss, said. “I said that all year. And it’s authentic. I mean that. It would mean a lot for me, to bring back a lot of key pieces, to get this back together, to get it to Year 2 in the system, you can make huge strides. I would love that. Obviously, who knows how it’s going to play out, but I can’t say enough about this organization for the opportunity they gave me this year. Just thankful. Hoping it works out.”

Mayfield signed a one-year, prove-it contract with the Buccaneers last offseason, and he did just that. The journeyman signal-caller, on his fourth team since 2022, thrived under the challenge of succeeding Brady and set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and TDs.

And the Bucs got that production, after bonuses, for the bargain-bin price—by NFL QB standards—of $6.85 million. Tampa Bay, though, will have to pay up to keep Mayfield in town.

Spotrac, which specializes in sports contracts, projects Mayfield’s free agent market value at $27.1 million per year. The former No. 1 overall pick is estimated to sign a deal in the neighborhood of four years, $108.5 million over the next few months, per Spotrac, which would make him the 18th highest-paid player at his position in the league. A franchise tag may also be in play. There were no talks of a long-term extension between Mayfield and the Bucs during the regular season, but the two sides will meet soon enough to discuss their futures.

Whatever the case, there is mutual interest in bringing Mayfield back.

The 28-year-old hugged Bucs general manager Jason Licht just outside the locker room at Ford Field after Sunday’s loss. Then moments later, Todd Bowles endorsed the QB’s return.

“He most definitely earned it,” the Bucs head coach said of Mayfield being the starter moving forward. “Obviously, it’s too early to talk about that, and business is business, but Baker had a hell of a year. We love him, the guys love him and we’ll see what the future holds.”

If Mayfield does end up back in Tampa, he said he wants Evans to return with him.

“He’s a stud,” the QB said of his top target. “The guys hasn’t regressed at all. As much as everybody wants to talk about his age, I think he had one of his best years. He makes my life easy—he did all year. And he did it today over and over again.”

The 30-year-old wideout just posted his 10th consecutive 1,000-yard season—an NFL first—and led the league in touchdown catches. Evans has spent the entirety of his decade-long professional career with the Bucs, though did not get the contract extension he desired before Week 1. So now, he’s on the open market. And he could fetch roughly $23.8 million per year on a new deal, according to Spotrac’s projections.

This, though, is another case of a Bucs player and the organization hoping to extend their relationship. Now only time will tell if that actually works out.

“I would love to be back,” Evans said in Detroit. “I love Tampa Bay. I’ve been here my whole career. This city has been great to me, the franchise has been unbelievable to me and my family. I love this place. So, we’ll see.”

Added Bowles at the idea of Evans leaving: “I don’t even think about it. I don’t like to be asked about it. I don’t want to know about it and I hope to hell that does not happen.”

The Bucs have 18 unrestricted free agents, including Mayfield and Evans, heading into the offseason. That list also features All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and the team’s top two linebackers—Lavonte David and Devin White. Licht has the eighth-most salary cap room in the NFL to work with this offseason (roughly $47 million), according to OverTheCap. But some salary cap gymnastics will be necessary to bring each key contributor back—or address other needs with outside free agents.

How successfully the Bucs stick that landing could dictate whether or not their 2023 success will be replicated in 2024.

“To get everybody back, there has to be sacrifices made,” Mayfield said Sunday. “And this team is about winning. We have a group full of guys who are all about that. It’s not about individual guys, it’s not about that. And so, that’s what’s made it special.”