The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently enjoying the aftermath of a memorable Super Bowl LV win on Sunday. However, once the partying is over, the team will face a challenge to keep the winning team together.
Several of the Bucs’ notable players, including tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Shaq Barrett, and wideout Chris Godwin, are set to become free agents and will likely want to cash in on their recent success. On the other hand, the salary cap will go down in 2021, and paying everybody will be tough to pull out.
But according to Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians, the team might get unexpected help in this situation.
Speaking with reporters on Monday, Arians revealed that Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans already offered to give up some of his own money if that would help to keep the team together.
“Mike Evans is the most unselfish superstar I’ve ever met,” said Arians. “He’s told us to use some of his money if we need to contracts to keep the team together.”
The way Evans could help out the Bucs with salary cap concerns would be by restructuring his contract.
He is currently in line to get $12.5 million this year, while his cap hit will be $16.6 million. If two sides restructure, the 27-year-old star would probably get the same amount of money, but part of it would be turned into a signing bonus.
There is also an option for Evans to sign a new deal with a lower salary, but this scenario isn’t highly likely.
Evans finished the 2020 regular season with 70 receptions for 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns. With these stats, he became the first wideout in the history of the league to have 1,000+ yards in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL.
