The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a stellar start to the offseason, keeping several of the franchise’s most important players, and general manager Jason Licht is ready to celebrate.
So, what does Licht have in mind for figuring a way under the salary cap to re-sign All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans, resurgent quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive cornerstone Lavonte David, and arguably the premier safety in the NFL, Antoine Winfield Jr?
“If we can re-sign Mike and Baker and Lavonte, Chase [McLaughlin], Antoine [Winfield Jr.] and Tristan [Wirfs], I mean, we should be throwing another boat parade,” Licht told reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. “So, that’s a pretty good class there.”
The only thing standing between Licht, the Buccaneers, and an impromptu recreation of Tampa’s Super Bowl parade is a new deal for Wirfs and getting Winfield off the franchise tag and signed to a long-term contract.
Still, when the dust settles, the amount of talent that Licht and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to retain will likely make this among the most successful free-agent signing periods in the NFL.
“This is one of the greatest free agency hauls ever, but it’s our own guys,” Licht said after agreeing to terms with Mayfield. “We’ve got some Hall of Famers in here – Lavonte and Mike. It’s been incredible. I think it’s time that the national media realizes that we have some great players. They already know, but now they really know. It’s a great time for us.”
Mike Evans Confident in Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Future
Evans is forging a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest players to wear a Buccaneers uniform and the All-Pro wide receiver is thrilled to have Mayfield back.
“Me and Baker, we played one season together. I feel like we can build on what we did last year,” Evans said, via ESPN. “He’s a hell of a player. “I appreciate him.”
Evans’ streak of surpassing 1,000 receiving yards every season in his career continued during the 2023 campaign when he caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns in what was one of the most prolific seasons of Mayfield’s career.
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