Biggest Priority?
February 7th, 2024
Mike Evans
Joe lives in a world where if you don’t have a quarterback, you are just p!ssing in the wind and may as well play for the draft.
But Joe knows some fans who lurk among us would try to explain that a left guard can lead a team down the field, down six in a key game for a wild card berth.
In Joe’s eyes the Bucs are pretty much screwed if they don’t get Baker Mayfield re-signed unless AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht pulls off a mother of all trades and finds a quarterback.
As former Super Bowl quarterback and league MVP Rich Gannon told Joe yesterday at the Super Bowl Media Center in reference to options other than Mayfield, “Who’s out there?”
So Joe was a bit surprised when BSPN had an unattributed item that suggested re-signing the best wide receiver in Bucs history is the team’s biggest priority.
Biggest offseason priority: Tampa Bay will be trying to re-sign wide receiver Mike Evans. Obviously solidifying the quarterback situation is imperative, but the Bucs could re-sign Baker Mayfield and draft a quarterback. Evans tied Tyreek Hill for the most touchdown catches in the NFL this season (14). He’s still the Bucs’ No. 1 target and has shown no signs of slowing down at age 30.
Don’t get Joe wrong. Evans is a damn important piece of the puzzle. But if the Bucs sign Evans and don’t have a quarterback, then what’s the point?
Yes, Joe understands Evans put up numbers when Stewart McClown was his quarterback (and Mike Glennon, too). But that was when Evans was a young man. He’ll be 31 next season.
If the Bucs don’t re-sign Mayfield, they may as well plan to tank for the draft. Problem is, 2023 was the year to tank for a quarterback, not 2024.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:18 am
we get it, Jason Licht is an AC/DC fan, who tf cares.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:20 am
Unless I’m remembering incorrectly, one of the Joes posted, on this here website last preseason, that Trask played as well or maybe slightly better than Mayfield. Now, I’m not a Mayfield hater, nor am I a Trask fanboy, I want the Bucs to win games. I don’t care who the coach, quarterback, wide receiver or any other person is. Just win, baby.
With all that being said, I don’t think that without Mayfield all is lost, for that matter, it would suck if ME moves on but next man up.
Let’s Go Bucs!
February 7th, 2024 at 9:22 am
@MF- they think they are clever and that it’s genius content to constantly repeat the same tired thing with all the idiotic nicknames they give Peter King, Jameis Winston etc…I guess they get paid by the word written
February 7th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Joe-love the nicknames, haters hate🤷♂️
February 7th, 2024 at 9:29 am
It’s only one of the Joes that does the nickname thing and if that’s what you’re worrying about you have nothing else going on.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Actually, Evans IS the biggest priority. I’m not sure you can sign Mayfield if you don’t have Evans.
But this is the year to grab a WR unless the best center comes into reach. I’d trade up (but too far) to get him.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:41 am
I think it is easier to draft another Evans than to find a replacement for Winfield Jr. I also think both will be Buccaneers on opening day. The AC/DC guy will get it done
February 7th, 2024 at 9:41 am
If Evans doesn’t resign then the Bucs should not even pursue Baker. If he leaves BLOW IT UP.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:44 am
Mike Evans isn’t going anywhere, Licht is not dumb enough to let him walk period
February 7th, 2024 at 9:45 am
Just scroll past the nicknames and go on with the article. It’s real easy. Ask your kid to show you how.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:46 am
Mike is absolutely the biggest priority. If you resign Baker but not Mike you are just setting up Baker to not live up to his new contract. We wouldn’t have a sure fire number 1 WR on the team anymore. Looks like CG is going to play more slot again so who would you have on the outside? Trey Palmer, David Moore, Rakim Jarett, Devin Thompkins? All those guys are more role players than starting outside WR’s. If I was Baker I wouldn’t cone back without Mike
February 7th, 2024 at 9:46 am
I love Mike Evans and would love for him to retire as a Buc. He’s a great player and fan favorite for a reason and I have my own personal story on that.
But if you don’t have a QB, we aren’t a playoff team. Mahommes had no name WR’s and yes it’s Mahommes but first time starter Jordan Love had a young WR group and they did well.
One name we aren’t discussing as a priority is Winfield. He is a game wrecker all over the field. We lose him and where is our defense.
I’d love to see us resign Baker, Evans and Winfield. If we could trade Godwin to drop salary cap to sign all 3, I’m good with that and then find another WR in the draft. Unless you think Kyle Trask could be the guy after learning for 3 years like Jordan Love did, then I’d go with Baker and Winfield if we could only keep 2 of them.
February 7th, 2024 at 9:53 am
Mayfield will be signed by the Bucs and Evans will sign up again to be Bucs for life with Baker at his side. Winfield will sign a big contract and keep the Bucs a legit contender.
The Bucs can compete for the Super Bowl by getting their ground game going. Plug a few holes in the lineup along with a good draft (edge rusher), the Bucs could be raising a Super Bowl in 2025.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:12 am
We need both Baker AND Evans and they need each other. Whether or not we can afford them along with our other needs, I have no idea. Jason Licht will have some tough choices.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Guys, Evans is going to another team let’s all face it. I would go on to strath most athletes separate from their “home” team towards the end of their career and for some reason it’s always a huge surprise. Lavonte Adam? Hill? Julio Jones? Kevin Durant? Lebrun James? Michael Jordan? Aaron Rodgers? Tom Brady? Should I keep going?
The young man deserves to get paid. The young man deserves to show that he is the GOAT at the receiver position and he sure af ain’t doing that on the Buccaneers….
February 7th, 2024 at 10:42 am
For a change, I’m going to have to agree with BSPN. Evans IS the priority. He makes EVERY QB better and without him, the Bucs will not have an offense, regardless of who the QB is.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Bringing out the tank talk again. So ridiculous.
February 7th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Evans is the more important piece by far because of his consistency. I like Baker, but not if there is no Evans. Every other year is the greatest quarterback draft year ever, yet Mahommes, Brady, and journeymen on new teams win the lion’s share of the championships.
February 7th, 2024 at 11:11 am
What is the obsession with ‘blowing it up’?
It’s absolutely unnecessary. You don’t have to blow up a team to rebuild it. It sure as hell isn’t a guarantee, and, given the bust rate on drafted players, you’re more likely to have an extended period of misery than anything else.
Last time this team ‘blew it up’, we got ‘Youngry’ and 10 years of miserable football (the Lost Decade). No thanks. You’ll instantly have a terrible team that no free agent will come near.
Retool and rebuild.
February 7th, 2024 at 11:17 am
I like all here love Mike but…it’s now about the Benjamins and cap space.
I HOPE the Bucs can resign him but despite the naysayers here Baker got him the ball. I’m hoping the two of them can get together with Licht and provide shared cap relief. If not let them freaking walk. I’m tired of people gripping over 25 or 30 million. WTF do you do with the extra 5 million anyway.
I think Baker is a smart man. He NEEDS the Bucs as much as they need him.
BOTH are better of WITH ME than without but he’s not the straw that stirs the drink. CG14 when truly healthy can be a #1 receiver. Palmer, Gibson and Otton, Durham and of course Rachad White give any Bucs QB plenty of targets even without Mike.
This is one area I totally agree with Joe. It starts with the QB!!! Having said that if Baker is not smart enough to protect his career and goes for a few million more…sayonara.
I’ve been won over. It’s a freakin’ bizness!!! Don’t give up too much cap space for either of these two…if a deal is to be had great…if not..Que Sera Sera.
Draft a “project” QB in later rounds and let him battle with Wolford to see who wins the backup spot behind Trask. Trask is a CHEAP gamble for one more year.
No matter who leaves or who stays the Bucs can field a competitive team next year IF they fix the OL and get one more great edge rusher.
February 7th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Evans won’t get 1000 yds with Trask or a rookie QB, so he’s gone without Baker. A package deal.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
We are going to sign Baker and the OC signing was a significant sign of that, which reserves the right/option to tag Mike for 1 year IF we can’t work out a deal. Extending Wirfs will also free up big money for Winfield! I am not concerned…
February 7th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
JimBobBuc you have no idea how many yards Mike Evans could get with Trask or any Quarterback your just talking out your S—t hole. Mike Evans has proven to the whole league he can get 1000 yards or more with the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.
February 7th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
@JimBobBuc
Evans got 1k yard seasons with Glennon and McCown he most certainly could get another one with Trask. Don’t understand the hate on a player who nobody knows what he’s capable of.
February 7th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Joe said: If the Bucs don’t re-sign Mayfield, they may as well plan to tank for the draft.
————
You must have forgotten that we have a QB on the bench who’s better than Baker.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
ME went over 1k with McClown and Gennon. To even say he wouldn’t with any other QB is funny.
February 7th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Conner beat me to it lol
February 7th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
NCBuc
Exactly! That’s what makes ME special. He has produced with EVERY QB and made Fameis and Baker look good doing it.
February 7th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Evans is QB-proof.
He’s put up big numbers with EVERY QB he’s caught passes from.
Sign the man.
February 7th, 2024 at 7:53 pm
It takes 3-4 players to replace Evans’ offensive output. Unless we can get Jefferson or Hill who else is going to make up for that production? Without Evans Mayfield won’t come close to the numbers he had last year. He can get his numbers with any qb who’s not scared to throw down field
February 8th, 2024 at 3:19 am
You stinking people would really want to see Evans catch his 100th TD and get the ALL TIME record for 1,000 + yards, on a different team ? He is , and will go down as one of the top 5 all time WRs EVER ! Pmike – You are obviously a Texans fan , so please go to your own teams website. You know nothing. You just can’t replace Evans . If you could , then why would another team overpay for him ? They wouldn’t because you can’t replace the production and consistency of the best offensive player in the history of this franchise. Anyone who says otherwise is not a Bucs fan. Oh , and Baker won’t return if Evans leaves. Evans is the one who saved Bakers career. Not the other way around. Evans makes any QB look better than they are, even Brady.. Go Bucs
February 8th, 2024 at 8:35 pm
I agree but only about 50/50 yea you need a QB but you don’t need an elite QB deff helps if you do but game managers can win SB it’s bin done before an has many times. Honestly when this defense gets after the QB they are elite they shut down some good teams when they actually got to the QB. Biggest need is a consistent pass rush. Whether it’s 1 person or multiple. We need to get to the QB with just 4. If we could do that then add in Bowles blitz’s our defense would be Elite and that’s what’s wins SB. 2002 and 2020 are perfect examples