Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 free agents who won’t be back 2021
By Rob Leeds
Justin Evans, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The fact that Justin Evans is still on the roster is incredibly surprising. Evans hasn’t played a snap for the Buccaneers in over two years, and Tampa Bay has kicked the can down the road long enough. Evans is not healthy and has no place on the roster anymore.
Evans makes no sense for numerous reasons, but the injuries are by far the biggest. All of the talent in the world helps very little when you can’t ever show it off. Evans showed some promise during his first two seasons, but every great play was overshadowed by a significant injury.
On top of the injuries, Evans has effectively been replaced. With Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, and Mike Edwards performing at extremely high levels, Evans has no spot to return to even if that ever occurred.
The Buccaneers don’t want to mess up the chemistry that is starting to build in the secondary for the first time in a decade, so Evans doesn’t stand to play even if he ever does return.
This may be a problematic move to stomach, as holding out on Evans for so long was clearly due to his high upside, but the Bucs are wasting money at this point. Evans has appeared to be on the brink of a return for a few years now, but that day may never come, and the Buccaneers have to put the needs of the team first.