Mike Evans trade talks cool down after Baker Mayfield acquisition (Exclusive)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason in free agency. They signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million on March 16, 2023 and he is expected to be Tom Brady's replacement for the campaign.
With the team confident in Mayfield, trade talks with star wide receiver Mike Evans have cooled off. Some suggested that he was a trade candidate this offseason as the team seems to be in rebuild mode. However, the team now seems confident that they will be able to compete with Mayfield and their current roster.
An anonymous source spoke to Sportskeeda and confirmed that the Evans trade talks have cooled off:
"Mike Evans trade stories have calmed down after the signing of Mayfield. The team is confident of success with Mayfield at QB and Canales as OC."
A trade wouldn't make too much sense right now as Evans has a $21 million dead cap value, and the Bucs would free up just $2 million in cap space.
Evans has recorded nine-straight 1,000 plus yard seasons. He's one of if not the best wide receivers in Buccaneers history, and their fans certainly wouldn't want to see him go.
Baker Mayfield gets candid about replacing Tom Brady at the Buccaneers
Earlier this week, Baker Mayfield spoke to the Tampa Bay media. He knows the shoes he has to fill are huge and being Tom Brady's replacement will be tough. Mayfield said that he isn't going to try to be Brady, but it's special to replace a guy like him:
"Listen I’m never going to be Tom Brady.
"He’s the greatest of all time. ... to follow a guy like that, it’s special."
Listen I’m never going to be Tom Brady. He’s the greatest of all time….to follow a guy like that, it’s special.
Baker Mayfield is looking to kick-start his career after a tumultuous 2022 season. He was originally on the Cleveland Browns' roster before he was traded to the Carolina Panthers on July 6, 2022 for a conditional fifth-round pick.
He played six games for the Panthers, going 1-5 as the starter before being benched and released. The Los Angeles Rams picked him up as they were battling through quarterback injuries and a poor campaign.
Mayfield saw little success as a starter, finishing 1-3 with the Rams, but he did also come off the bench to win his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders. He hit free agency this offseason and landed with the Bucs.
Can Baker Mayfield revive his career in 2023? It feels like another make-or-break season for him, and this could be his last chance as an NFL starter.