For years, Bucs fans have wanted to get more attention for Mike Evans with all the great things he was doing as a wide receiver. Well, it looks like after all these years Evans is getting that attention – but not exactly in the way Bucs fans would want it.

Evans is set to become a free agent this offseason as everyone in Tampa hangs on by a thread to find out if he’ll be back with the Bucs or not. What is certain is there will be more than one team seeking the talents of Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans, so it will be a question of if Tampa Bay can match any big deal that another team offers.

Apparently the Bucs will have to fight off the recruitment of Mike Evans from players of other teams as well.

New York Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner, a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, decided to put on his general manager hat on Monday night on social media and discuss the best free agents that would fit for the Jets. His moniker is “LeSauce” as he comes up with ideas. While Gardner threw out a number of big-named players at several positions, Mike Evans’ name came up as well.

Sauce Gardner Has Eye On Mike Evans

It started out harmless and playful, as Sauce Gardner responded to an aggregator account that had rumors of Mike Evans hitting free agency.

But then, Gardner alludes to a private conversation that the two star players may have had this offseason. Whether there is legitimacy behind it or if actual persuading by Gardner to Evans went on can only be answered by the two of them. And we won’t get to hear Evans’ side of the story until he’s no longer a free agent.

Jets CB Sauce Gardner – Photo by: USA Today

What’s interesting is that there’s not much familiarity between Sauce Gardner and Mike Evans. Outside of spending one day of a joint training camp against each other last summer, the two have never played against each other, as Gardner has only been in the league for two years.

Gardner is from Detroit and played his college ball at Cincinnati, while Evans hails from Galveston, Texas and played at Texas A&M. So there’s no connection based on background or school either. Just a case of game recognizing game.

The idea of Evans to the Jets on paper makes sense. The Jets are in win-now mode after trading for Aaron Rodgers last season, but that got halted after Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury four plays into the season opener. They’ll try to put it together again this season and the dynamic of Evans teaming with Garrett Wilson is as great of a wide receiver duo as they come.

The Jets Can Create Cap Room For Mike Evans

Currently, the Jets are $1 million over the salary cap but can clear up about $67 million in cap space to make signing Mike Evans possible. New York whiffed on free agent signing Allen Lazard last offseason, and failed to trade for Davante Adams. So they’re still in the market for an upgrade at wide receiver, and they need to upgrade their offensive line as well.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

With a healthy Aaron Rodgers and a great defense, the Jets are a few pieces away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. And as we all know, Evans wants to win after being in the playoffs for four consecutive seasons in Tampa Bay.

With all of that said, the AFC in general is extremely competitive, especially in the AFC East. By returning to the Bucs, Evans would continue to put himself in a spot that easier to win the division and make the postseason while building his Hall of Fame resume.

There’s also the benefit of having no state income tax in Florida, so any deal the Jets may give him, he would still make more money with Tampa Bay if he got the same financial offer from New York.

Sauce Gardner tweeting at Mike Evans isn’t going to tip the scales one way or another in this free agency. It does indicate that there are many that want Evans on their team, and the Bucs are going to have competition for his services in free agency.