Bills Get Good News Following Mike Evans’ Disclosure of Free Agency Preferences.
Brandon Beane, the general manager of Buffalo Bills, gave his usual free agency notice at the end of last season stating that they won’t look for any substantial or showy moves in the market.
However, even though the Bills are facing a salary cap constraint that might prevent them from signing high-paying contracts, they could still be an ideal destination for one of the premier wide receivers who is about to become a free agent. The representative for Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ standout receiver – has revealed his client’s list of preferred teams and Buffalo satisfies almost all of it.
Insiders have hinted that the Bills may pursue Evans, and his recent statement could improve their prospects of acquiring him.
A contender is what Mike Evans aims to join.
According to NFL correspondent Jordan Schultz, the Buccaneers have surpassed their own February cutoff date for extending Evans’s contract. As per his agent, the receiver is outlining terms for his future club.
According to agent Deryk Gilmore, Mike desires to team up with an exceptional quarterback in a system that highlights his skills and earn compensation equivalent to the finest wide receivers. He stated that playing alongside a novice QB is not preferable as winning the Super Bowl holds significant importance for him.
According to Schultz, many teams are anticipated to vie for Evans in the free agency market; however, it could be the Bills who align with his requirements most. With Josh Allen as an exceptional quarterback and a possible need for a new top receiver due to Stefon Diggs’ slump at the end of last season (when he went seven games without catching a touchdown – marking his lengthiest scoreless streak thus far), their offense may offer suitable conditions for Evans.
The Bills have consistently made it to the divisional round of the playoffs for four seasons, solidifying their position as a top contender in the Super Bowl. However, one major obstacle remains – they are currently surpassing the salary cap by nearly $40 million and would require significant financial maneuvering to compensate Evans appropriately as an elite wide receiver.
Evans has been viewed by some as a suitable candidate for the Bills. An expert in NFL coverage, Dan Graziano of ESPN anticipated that if the Buccaneers chose to trade Evans during last season’s deadline, then the Bills would emerge among sought-after options. However, Tampa Bay retained him and went on to win an NFC South championship instead.
Smaller additions could potentially be made by Bills.
The Bills face the dilemma of securing Evans: make significant changes to their salary cap situation or persuade him to accept a reduced contract. According to insiders, they may opt for more conservative options by pursuing middle-range free agents who come with experience and are willing to sign for less money. This smart approach could prove beneficial in adding valuable depth without breaking the bank.
Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Bills could locate a dependable option to accompany Diggs and Khalil Shakir, who is swiftly enhancing as a receiver.
According to Tansey, Shakir’s performance has shown improvement in 2023, but he is currently most effective playing the slot and No. 3 positions on the depth chart rather than serving as Diggs’ main backup. To bolster their passing game, Buffalo should consider recruiting secondary level free agent wide receivers alongside their current lineup of Kincaid, Knox and Shakir for a more diverse attacking strategy with Diggs at its center.
