Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans sees some parallels between Baker Mayfield and a quarterback who helped to put him on the map in college.

The five-time Pro Bowler said on TexAgs Radio (via JoeBucsFan.com) that Mayfield is "really similar" to Aggies legend Johnny Manziel in terms of his playing style.

"So it was easy to adjust to play with him," Evans said. "Shorter quarterback. Great athlete. Throws like a baseball player, like really tight spiral. Really good arm. Improvise, can do all those things. Super tough. So I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do this year."

The comparisons between Mayfield and Manziel started before the former had even hit the NFL and weren't exclusively tied to their respective skill sets. Once Mayfield landed on Manziel's former team, the Cleveland Browns, the two became inextricably linked.

Evans' comments could help to explain why Mayfield enjoyed a bounce-back year after signing with the Bucs. Evans appeared to have a sense of familiarity with his quarterback despite the fact they'd never been on the same team before, and enjoying such a strong rapport with your No. 1 wideout can go a long way for a QB.

The results spoke for themselves. Mayfield set career highs in passing yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28), while Evans tallied 1,255 receiving yards and an NFL-high 13 touchdown grabs.

The tandem won't be breaking up anytime soon after both agreed to new contracts to secure their return to Tampa Bay.

Wide receiver Mike Evans, who re-signed Friday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, says he is "extremely confident" free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield will do the same.

"I mean, I'm extremely confident," Evans said Friday, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "I'm not 100 percent, but he played really great for us last year, the city took him in, the players loved him— hopefully we get him back. But he should do what's best for him."

Evans agreed to a two-year, $52 million deal with $35 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. He worked well with Mayfield in 2023 as he led the Bucs with 136 targets.

Negotiations between the Buccaneers and Mayfield are ongoing, according to a Thursday report from Rich Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

According to NBC Sports' Mike Florio, Evans "got an assurance from the Bucs that they'll do everything they can to keep Mayfield."

Mayfield's other top target in Tampa Bay, Chris Godwin, will also be returning for 2024. The seven-season veteran signed a three-year extension with the team in 2022.

"I feel like we can build on what we did last year, so hopefully we get him back," Evans said, per Laine. "He's a hell of a player. I appreciate him. They're going to handle their process, and I trust [general manager] Jason [Licht] and the front office no matter what happens."

Evans added, "I know I can play with whoever's at quarterback. Obviously I hope it's Baker, but if not, I can make it work."

The Buccaneers also used a $17.1 million franchise tag to retain star safety Antoine Winfield Jr., ensuring that two of the team's top three free agents are locked in for next season.

These are all moves that point toward a team preparing for another postseason run, and indicates the Bucs already have an idea of who's going to be their first-string quarterback next season.

All that's left is to finalize Mayfield's next contract. As of Wednesday, both sides were "working hard to strike a deal," according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

The Buccaneers could have some competitors in free agency, however. Mayfield has reportedly received interest from other teams including the Atlanta Falcons.

Mayfield recorded 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 17 games as he led the Buccaneers into the 2023 postseason on a one-year, $4 million prove-it deal.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield are reportedly hopeful for a reunion in the 2024 season.

As the Athletic's Dianna Russini reported on Wednesday, "When I last checked in with sources, Mayfield and the Bucs were working hard to strike a deal, especially after they locked up WR Mike Evans."

The Buccaneers had three huge free agents coming into this offseason: Mayfield, Evans and star safety Antonine Winfield Jr.

While the former's status remains up in the air, Evans received a massive two-year, $52 million deal and the Bucs used the $17.1 million franchise tag to retain Winfield. It is expected that the team will ultimately agree to a long-term extension with the safety, however.

That leaves the 28-year-old Mayfield, who is coming off a fantastic year that saw him throw for career highs in yards (4,004) and touchdowns (28) to go along with 10 interceptions, 40 sacks taken and a 64.3 completion percentage.

The return of Evans should help sway Mayfield's decision if he's having second doubts about a potential return.

"If I'm back, I want Mike back," he told reporters in January. "That guy's a stud."

If Mayfield does hit the open market, he would likely be the No. 2 option on the board for quarterback-needy teams behind Kirk Cousins, though some of those teams may also inquire about the availability of Justin Fields given the very strong possibility that the Chicago Bears will use the top overall pick on Caleb Williams.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic speculated that Mayfield could even earn a contract in the vicinity of the four-year, $160 million deal that Daniel Jones signed with the New York Giants last offseason.

One year into that overpay the Giants likely have serious buyer's remorse, but Mayfield was better in 2023 than Jones has even been in his career, and by a fairly wide margin. He's two years older than Jones, but quarterbacks play well into their 30s in the modern NFL.

Mayfield and the Bucs proved to be a good fit, and a reunion still feels like the best outcome for both sides.

Twenty-nine million dollars weren't the only thing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers guaranteed Mike Evans in his new contract.

The team also reportedly promised it would do everything it can to re-sign Baker Mayfield.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Evans was given "assurances" Mayfield would be a top priority this offseason.

Mayfield had the best year of his career in 2023, throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions while leading the Bucs to a surprise appearance in the Divisional Round. Evans was on the receiving end of 13 Mayfield touchdowns, falling one short of his career high while posting 1,000 receiving yards for the 10th straight season.

While it's obvious why Evans would want Mayfield to return after a successful season together, it'd be fair if Tampa took a cautious approach in negotiations. Mayfield signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Bucs last offseason and had to beat out Kyle Trask for the starting job in training camp.

Tampa was arguably Mayfield's last chance to prove himself as a starter after he flamed out with the Cleveland Browns and went through a miserable 2022 campaign split between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. Had things gone worse last season, Mayfield might have found himself settled in as a career backup.

Instead, Mayfield far exceeded his previous production and seemed to get better as last season went along.

The Bucs should look to structure Mayfield's deal with a failsafe to move on after the 2024 season if possible. The New York Giants handed Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason after one good year and immediately lived to regret that decision.

If Mayfield regresses in 2024, Tampa might find itself in a similar situation if the front office is not careful.

Michael Pittman Jr. would have been one of the top players to hit the open market this offseason. The Indianapolis Colts weren't going to allow him to go anywhere.

The team used the $21.8 million franchise tag on Tuesday to retain the star wide receiver for the 2024 season.

Of note, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the two sides have been working on a long-term contract:

Pittman, 26, had his best season yet in 2023, setting career highs in receptions (109), targets (156) and yards (1,152) while adding four touchdowns. It was his second year hitting the 1,000-yard mark (2021) and his third straight season with at least 900 receiving yards.

Pittman was part of the loaded 2020 NFL draft class for wide receivers that also featured CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, Gabriel Davis and Jerry Jeudy, among others.

Lamb and Jefferson have proven to be outright superstars, while Pittman has fallen into that second level of wideouts from that draft class, joining Aiyuk and Higgins.

He also joined a potentially loaded free-agency class, with players like Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, Marquise Brown, Calvin Ridley and Davis also out of contract entering the offseason.

Evans has since re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Higgins received the franchise tag from the Cincinnati Bengals.

It would have been surprising if the Colts let Pittman go, however. A long-term extension would have been ideal, though using the tag gives the two sides more time to potentially agree on such a deal.

Either way, Pittman appears poised to return in 2024, keeping a crucial playmaker on the offense for promising young quarterback Anthony Richardson. Add in star running back Jonathan Taylor, and the Colts should have some juice next season.

Michael Pittman Jr. was one of the top players to hit the open market this offseason. Now, he has a new home.

The New York Giants reportedly explored a potential run at Mike Evans before the Pro Bowl wideout agreed to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the free-agent period.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported the Giants "never seemed they were going to be players at the top of [Evans'] market" but may be signaling a potential move for a veteran wide receiver. New York, which has the No. 6 pick, has been tabbed as one of the likeliest teams to take a wide receiver in the first round this year.

The Bucs inked Evans to a two-year, $52 million contract Monday, agent Deryk Gilmore told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Michael Pittman, Calvin Ridley and Marquise Brown are set to lead the free-agent crop at receiver after Evans' deal.

The Giants will likely explore those options and other veterans like Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney and Tyler Boyd as they try to improve one of the NFL's worst receiving corps. No Giants receiver has topped 1,000 yards since Odell Beckham in 2018.

The 2024 class is considered brimming with talent at wide receiver. It's unlikely the Giants will be able to land consensus top wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., but LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze are potential superstars in their own right.

One could argue that the Giants are better off making a splash in the draft rather than pursuing an aging veteran. This Giants roster did not look like it was anywhere close to a deep playoff run last season, and lavishing a veteran pushing the age of 30 isn't going to put them over the top.

While the team's issues offensively start at quarterback, it's unlikely any of the draft's top players at that position will be available.

The third time is the charm for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star receiver Mike Evans.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the sides agreed to a new two-year contract worth $52 million on Monday, marking this the third pact Evans has signed with the team that drafted him seventh overall in 2014. He carried a $23.7 million cap hit during the 2023 season, per Spotrac, in what was the final year of his previous deal.

Schefter noted the new deal features $35 million guaranteed.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported in June 2023 that negotiations for a third contract for Evans had begun, and there was mutual interest in getting a deal done this summer. However, an impasse was eventually reached, and Evans said through his agent that he would discontinue contract negotiations if no deal was reached by Week 1.

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht told reporters at the NFL combine on Feb. 27 that the team hoped to make Evans "a Buc for life."

It now appears both sides got their wish.

Evans remained at the top of his game this past season, playing in all 17 games and leading the team with 1,255 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 79 catches.

Arguably the best homegrown offensive talent in Buccaneers history, Evans holds virtually every franchise receiving record with career numbers of 762 receptions, 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns. He is the only receiver in league history to begin his career with 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons.

The Bucs entered 2023 with a bit of uncertainty following the retirement of legendary quarterback Tom Brady, but they finished with a 9-8 record and won their third straight NFC South title. Baker Mayfield took over as the team's starter and had a strong season to help lead Tampa on a run to the NFC Divisional Round, where it fell to the Detroit Lions.

Thanks to Evans' new deal, Tampa Bay will continue to have one of the most reliable pass-catchers in the league for the next two years.