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For the moment, a last-minute interception will overshadow a stellar day by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans.
Mayfield threw for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Evans 8 eight passes for 147 and a touchdown in a 31-23 divisional round loss to the Detroit Lions on January 21. Afterward, Mayfield told reporters that Evans “hasn’t regressed at all”. Both players are expected to enter free agency in March.
Both players’ contracts will expire then, and Mayfield made it very clear what he wants if the Buccaneers re-sign him.
“If I’m back, I want Mike back,” Mayfield said.
“He makes my life easy,” Mayfield said. “He did all year. He did it today, over and over. To get everybody back, there have to be sacrifices made. This team’s about winning. We have a group of guys who are all about that.”
Re-signing Evans, who has a five-year, $82.5 million deal, looks like the taller order given that his agent had set a Week 1 deadline for contract negotiations but the Buccaneers didn’t meet it. Spotrac projects Evans to command $23.8 million annually or a four-year, $95.3 million deal.
Mayfield, who arrived on a one-year, $4 million deal last year, will cost the Buccaneers much more to re-sign. He could command $27.1 million annually or a four-year, $108.51 million deal, per Spotrac’s projection.
Combined, that adds up to $50.9 million between Evans and Mayfield, more than the $48.7 million in salary cap space that Tampa Bay has to work with, based on Spotrac’s numbers. And the Buccaneers have numerous priorities in free agency. Pending free agents also include safety Antoine Winfield Jr., linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White, and defensive end Will Gholston — all members of the 2020 Super Bowl team.
The Buccaneers kept their winning ways in the first year after Tom Brady due in part to so many veterans from that championship squad. For Mayfield, that attracted him to Tampa Bay after Brady’s retirement.
“I love this group. I’ve said that all year and it’s authentic,” Mayfield said.
Baker Mayfield Makes Blunt Admission About Last Interception
Mayfield had a golden opportunity to lead a game-tying drive with 1:59 left in the game, but his comeback attempt lasted only two plays. Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes made the pick and sent his team to the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
“It sucks. I feel like my heart just got ripped out,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield previously led a last-minute 92-yard drive at the end of the first half to tie the game at 10-10 when he connected with tight end Cade Otton on a 2-yard touchdown. Otton was the target on the last Mayfield pass for the game when Barnes made the pick.
Clock Strikes Midnight in Motown
The loss ended a Cinderella season for Mayfield and the Buccaneers. Both Mayfield and the Buccaneers came into the season with low expectations from the national media but found a way to surprise everyone.
The Buccaneers finished above .500 and won the NFC South title for a third-straight season despite the loss of Brady to retirement. Mayfield restored his NFL career with 4,044 yards passing and 28 touchdowns after bouncing around four teams the year before.
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Baker Mayfield Sends Strong Message on Mike Evans After Loss vs. Lions