Before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Mike Evans finally agreed to a contract extension in March, everyone held their breath, hoping a deal would be struck before the bell rang.
Evans made it no secret that he wanted to finish his career in Tampa Bay, but he also wanted a contract that reflected his importance to the franchise. If the Bucs were unwilling to meet his demands, he wasn’t afraid to leverage his free agency status and test the open market.
It's something more than a few teams were banking on as part of their own free agency strategy.
There was no shortage of speculation surrounding Evans’ potential destination. There were reports of the Kansas City Chiefs being interested in pairing Patrick Mahomes with the dynamic veteran wide receiver. The up-and-coming Houston Texans were also a natural fit due to their talented young quarterback, C.J. Stroud, and their close proximity to Evans’ hometown of Galveston, Texas.
Another team was right there in the mix too, only recently having been revealed.
Sean McVay and the Rams wanted to steal Mike Evans away from Buccaneers this offseason
Fans who tuned into the Bucs’ final preseason game against the Miami Dolphins were treated to an interesting nugget regarding a surprise team that went all-in on the Mike Evans sweepstakes this offseason via play-by-play announcer Chris Myers.
“This was headline news to me. The Rams thought they had him,” said Myers. “Sean McVay thought he had him. In fact, he turned down more money from the Rams to sign a two-year deal and stay with the Bucs.”
Before free agent receiver Mike Evans re-signed with the Bucs in early March .. Sean McVay thought he had him signed… Rams actually offered more money.. but Evans stayed with his original team!#NFL #bucs #Rams
— Chris Myers (@The_ChrisMyers) August 29, 2024
The Rams’ all-out pursuit of Evans is somewhat puzzling, as the team already has one of the league’s best receiver duos in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. It feels like a luxury addition for a team that has already invested heavily at the position and has other needs to fill.
There is no such thing as too many playmakers, and the Rams would’ve formed arguably the most dangerous receiving trio in the league if they could land Evans.
Already a challenging offense to face due to Sean McVay’s offensive prowess, one of the league’s top quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and the aforementioned receiving weapons in Kupp and Nacua, the Rams would’ve been genuine nightmare fuel for defensive coordinators if their pursuit of Mike Evans had been successful.
It would have been difficult for Bucs fans to see Mike Evans wear any other uniform, but it would have been particularly nauseating to see him playing for the Rams. Similarly to how many Bucs fans view the Eagles, the Rams, despite being a non-divisional opponent, are held in contempt within Buccaneers fandom due to the history between the teams.
The Rams have had the Buccaneers number over the years, with a 19-10 record against the Bucs historically, and a 3-2 record against Tampa Bay since 2019, when Todd Bowles became the defensive coordinator. Bowles has largely struggled to solve Sean McVay’s offense, most notably showcased in the infamous 2021 NFC Divisional Round matchup where the Buccaneers miraculously tied the game after erasing a 27-3 deficit, just for the Rams to walk off on a last-second field goal-set up by a blown coverage on a controversial blitz call-ending the Buccaneers’ bid to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.
Longtime Buccaneers fans still lose sleep over the 1999 NFC Championship Game against the Rams, where an egregiously bad call robbed Bert Emanuel and the Buccaneers of a chance to compete in the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl. Needless to say, the Rams have been on the other side of some of the most heartbreaking moments in Buccaneers history, and seeing perhaps the most beloved Buccaneer ever suiting up in their colors would’ve been the cherry on top.
Luckily the nightmare scenario never came to fruition, as Mike Evans and the front office both made some compromises and settled on a two-year deal worth $52 million earlier this offseason to keep Evans with the Buccaneers.
Despite the tense negotiation period, both parties were operating in good faith and determined to get an extension done. Evans values the life and legacy he has created for himself in Tampa very highly, and his decision to turn down the enticing offers awaiting him in free agency to stay with the Bucs shows how much love and loyalty he has for the city and organization.
The efforts of Ashli Evans don't go unnoticed, and the Buccaneers may just need to induct her into the Ring of Honor alongside her husband one day for her crucial role in his decision to re-sign.
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