Mike Evans Had Harsh Stance on Patriots Move

The New England Patriots have the most cap space in the NFL heading into free agency. Sitting over $101 million in cash to spend this offseason, the Patriots can beat any offer to any free agent of their choice. However, that doesn't mean that they will be the favorites to land any of the premium free agents on the market.

As a young, rebuilding team with a lot of holes to fill this offseason, the Patriots will unfortunately not be at the top of the list for many free agents. Just ask Mike Evans.

The future Hall of Famer just signed a contract extension to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two more seasons. Before he agreed on a deal, there was consensus that Evans was going to hit the open market for the first time in his career. The Patriots were reportedly interested.

However, according to The Athletic's reporting, Evans had "no interest in coming to the Patriots".

WR Mike Evans Had No Interest in Joining the Patriots

New England could have beaten the Buccaneers' offer but Evans clearly had other priorities. He had previously said he wanted to play with an elite quarterback and compete for a Super Bowl; two things the Patriots can't provide in the immediate future.

The priority for the Patriots in the offseason is bringing in an elite wide receiver. Assuming that they will solve their quarterback need at the draft, pairing him with a high-level playmaker will be very important.

However, it seems like convincing one to come to Foxborough for a long rebuild under a first-time head coach and a rookie quarterback will be a challenge.

Another challenge for the Patriots will be competing in the AFC East. On FanDuel Sportsbook, the Patriots are heavy underdogs (+1700) to win the division next season. Head over to FanDuel, claim your sign-up bonus, and back your Patriots for the 2024-25 campaign.

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