Jets CB Sauce Gardner has a subtle take on Mike Evans watching what the team does with Baker Mayfield before making any solid decision about his future with the Bucs

Mike Evans’ resignation from the Bucs depends on the person who will be tossing the ball to him next season.

Jets CB Sauce Gardner has a subtle take on Mike Evans watching what the team does with Baker Mayfield before making any solid decision about his future with the Bucs

Mike Evans, Sauce Gardner and Baker Mayfield (Via New York Daily News/Imago)

Ever since the rumors of Baker Mayfield parting ways with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came out, there has been a lot of chatter concerning Mike Evans, who may also not be back in the franchise in the 2024 NFL season. 

Now it seems the wide receiver is keeping a close watch on what happens with the quarterback before officially committing to his resignation. Well, it’s always better to learn from others’ mistakes than from your own!

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Sources tell us Evans’ resignation from the Bucs depends on the person who would be tossing the ball to him next season, aka the quarterback. And since Mayfield’s new acquisition with the Cleveland Browns, the quarterback position with the Bucs has become uncertain, giving Evans a reason to be cautious. 

FS Video

Amidst the whole saga, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner gave a subtle take on Evans’ watching the Bucs’ next step toward QB Mayfield. Gardner retweeted a post by NFL rumors about the Bucs quarterback and wide receiver and wrote, “Or is he… Nvm” along with an awkward laughing emoji. 

https://twitter.com/iamSauceGardner/status/1759703199689146445

Although the clear meaning of Gardner’s comment is unclear, it seems to suggest there may be more to the whole situation than meets the eye. Or perhaps his use of the laughing emoji is to downplay the seriousness of the situation. 

Bucs’ salary cap hit by Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield’s voidable years and free agency plans

Even though both the quarterback and wide receiver’s return are uncertain for the Bucs, they would regardless be considered in the franchise salary cap calculation for next season. 

Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield
Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield (Via Imago)

This coming Monday, the contracts of both players will expire, resulting in around $14.5 million of ‘dead money, which ought to be observed by the team as that money was used for multiple voidable years to reduce the salary cap in previous seasons.

Receiver Evans is responsible for the largest portion of that money, as he had previously tied the money to $12.2 million in void years. 

If the franchise signs him for another season in a new deal before his previous one expires, they would be able to avoid around $7 million in dead money, but the wideout seemed to have his mind hooked on free agency.

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