Mike Evans is scheduled to make $12.5MM next year. However, the Buccaneers’ star wide receiver is willing to take a little bit less if it keeps the Super Bowl-winning band together. 
[RELATED: Gronk Wants To Return]
“Mike Evans is the most unselfish superstar I’ve ever met,” head coach Bruce Arians told Peter King of NBC Sports. “He’s told us to use some of his money if we need to contracts to keep the team together.”
The Buccaneers are hoping to keep tight end Rob Gronkowski and the rest of their key pending free agents. Among those eligible for the open market: wide receivers Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, inside linebacker Lavonte David, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and edge rusher Shaquil Barrett.
Evans has helped the Bucs move money around in the past, including a 2019 adjustment that converted $2MM of his base salary into a signing bonus. The layout of his deal — a five-year, $82.5MM extension inked less than two years ago — allows for flexibility with no guaranteed dollars from this point forward.
Evans may seek some locked-in dollars in exchange for his cooperation. But, either way, the Bucs will probably take up Evans on his offer, especially with the possibility of a $180MM cap this offseason.
The Saints convert base pay into signing bonuses all of the time. That’s how they remain competitive with little to no cap space. This is nothing new.
I don’t think the author said this was a “new” practice anywhere in the article, just that Evans is open to it.
I would love to hear Mike break down playing with coke’d up Johnny vs that of incredibly focused Brady. Would be a great piece.
They need David and barret back. Goodwin would be a luxury, brown for a couple mil would be fine same for gronk
Fully agree. Don’t forget. OJ Howard returns next year.
What has Howard done for the Bucs other than disappoint?
Shaq is priority one. They are projected to begin with roughly $29M in cap space. Suh and/or Gholston will be gone so I think they will draft a new 5-tech DE. I don’t think AB will be back. He will seek more money and since he has kept his nose clean he likely will find it. David can’t leave. I hope they find a way to keep Godwin.
True we need to cut brate or restructure his deal for less money
We? Lol
Fans say that often. Is it really that big of a deal? It’s excitement, and feeling a part of something.
You are correct A_O, and they should. Every dollar they spend helps the team, so they are a part of it.
I don’t own the Church I attend, or the company I work for, or a whole bunch of things, but I always refer to them as ‘we’ when it comes to big picture things.
I just don’t get why some people think it’s so egregious that they feel the need to make fun of others. I am willing to bet NYY42 uses the term ‘we’ in similar situations as to what I noted.
People who complain about the use of we or is in these scenarios likely complain about most things in life but we all have our hang ups. Drives me insane when people lead a comment with “I mean”…
Donovan Smith is massively overpaid due to the dearth of quality LTs. Although he played better this year and has been remarkably durable. He’s still not worth the $15M or whatever cap charge he carries. We wouldn’t be able to replace him easily though. As elite as Wirfs looks, I’d prefer to keep him on the right. I think they will extend Barrett and David, franchise Godwin, let AB walk giving more playing time to Miller and Johnson, and take Gronk back on another team friendly one year deal. They’ll need to draft at least one DE early.
It’s amazing how the Bucs have so many star names on both sides of the ball and are able to stay under the cap.
Love this guy, man.
Looking at how seriously he takes his blocking duties I have no doubt he’s in earnest. Absolutely one of those “team players” folks talk about.
Man.
TB already talking about another run.
Wouldn’t put it past them. Honestly, wouldn’t be surprised if they turn this into a some kind of mini-dynasty.
Ya know?
Brady has at least one & probably two more seasons of being the greatest NFL “game managing” QB ever.