TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season officially over, it's time to start thinking about the future of the franchise, and for the Bucs, several question marks are looming around the locker room.
The biggest question mark? Star wide receiver Mike Evans. Ahead of the 2023 NFL regular season, Evans and his agent, Deryk Gilmore, made it known to the Buccaneers organization that they would have liked to get a contract extension inked before the season began.
The contract to make him a “Buc for life” ultimately didn’t get worked out, shifting fans and analysts to believe that this season could be Evans’s last one in Tampa Bay. However, Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht made it seem as though the wide receiver would return.
“I’m really looking forward to Mike continuing his great career here in Tampa and extending his streak of 1,000-yard seasons here with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Licht said.
Other top free agents are linebacker Devin White, who reportedly requested a trade during the 2023 offseason but stayed and later recanted that his request was "a little selfish," safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who has put on a defensive masterclass throughout this season, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and veteran linebacker Lavonte David.
The unofficial negotiation process for NFL free agents will begin on March 13, 2024, with the new league year officially kicking off on March 15 at 4 p.m. According to OverTheCap.com, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to have $47 million unofficially in cap space this year.
Here's which Buccaneers are scheduled to become free agents:
Unrestricted free agents
According to the NFL, an unrestricted free agent is any player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract – meaning they are free to negotiate and sign with any team.
- WR Mike Evans
- ILB Devin White
- ILB Lavonte David
- QB Baker Mayfield
- DT Greg Gaines
- DE William Gholston
- G Matt Feiler
- FS Antoine Winfield Jr.
- G Aaron Stinnie
- RB Chase Edmonds
- SS Ryan Neal
- LS Zach Triner
- K Chase McLaughlin
- CB Dee Delaney
- LB Cam Gill
- T Justin Skule
Exclusive-rights free agents
Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If the player's original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams, the NFL states.
- WR Deven Thompkins
- T Brandon Walton
Restricted free agents
A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. Restricted free agents can negotiate and sign with any team. However, their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
- G Nick Leverett