A possible trade scenario would see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers swap wide receiver Mike Evans for a pair of draft picks.
According to ESPN's Seth Walder, the Buccaneers might deal the four-time Pro Bowler to the New York Jets in return for a 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick in a potential preseason trade.
While the move makes sense for the Jets, who are looking to compete for a Super Bowl in Aaron Rodgers' first season, Walder contends that the Buccaneers are in
"rebuilding mode" and could save money and gain draft capital as Evans enters the final year of his five-year, $82.5 million contract.
"For the Bucs, this is recognition that they need to be in rebuilding mode," Walder writes. "Paying $13 million to extend Evans' career in a season in which they are
+800 to win the worst division in football (according to Caesars Sportsbook) does not make sense." Accepting that fact now allows them to conserve money and accumulate draft capital."
The signing of Evans would almost certainly be the first indication that Tampa Bay is in the process of rebuilding. Despite his age, the veteran receiver is still one of the best in the game,
having posted his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season – an NFL record to begin a career — since joining the league in 2014."Of course, I'd love to finish my career here," Evans stated in July.