What was expected to be a rebuilding season turned into a playoff finish for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mike Evans had another 1,000-yard campaign, while Baker Mayfield became a viable starting quarterback. After their initial success, it’s time to bring their key players back.

However, the Buccaneers failed to secure a contract extension with the two players yesterday, February 19. That outcome activated the void year in their contracts, prompting the franchise to absorb $14 million in dead money.

Failing to resign Evans to an extension by the specified deadline activates his $12.1 void year next season. Likewise, Mayfield’s invalid year will count for $2.3 million against the Buccaneers’ salary cap. The team could have pushed that void year to 2025 if they re-signed both players on or before February 19.

Likewise, Evans and Mayfield will become free agents once the legal period for contract negotiations starts on March 11. Therefore, they can negotiate with other teams willing to acquire their services.

But Mayfield has expressed his desire to remain with Tampa Bay on a long-term deal. He’d like to build on his successful 2023 season, wherein he finished with 364 completions for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Conversely, multiple websites have reported that Evans’ camp and the Buccaneers are far from their desired contract values. Last September, ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported that the two parties failed to reach an agreement before the 2023 season because of salary cap constraints brought by their acquisitions during Tom Brady’s brief era.

-Lance Fernandez