A recent article by Bleacher Report shows how the Indianapolis Colts could trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for veteran receiver Mike Evans.
Amidst a relatively slow time in the NFL's annual life cycle, trades are likely to start popping up soon as a result of OTAs. The initial, albeit voluntary, team workouts in late-May are structured in phases and are a team's first look at their roster as a whole. With discoveries regarding positional weaknesses and/or abundances to be had, these realizations are what fuels the next aspect of player movement within an NFL offseason.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox theorizes some potential leaguewide trades and among them are the Indianapolis Colts netting a very successful veteran playmaker for rookie QB Anthony Richardson in longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneer, WR Mike Evans.
Here’s a look at the projected trade package between the Colts and Buccaneers for Mike Evans:
Should the Colts explore a trade for Mike Evans?
With an inexperienced yet talented QB prospect in Anthony Richardson, the Indianapolis Colts could always use more weapons. The more, the better. However, the team is by no means in a win-now position, at least on paper.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox thinks otherwise, and that a change of scenery plus a rookie QB to confide in him will provide more stability moving forward than what Tampa Bay's current QB competition has to offer— Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask.
Knox adds that, "Evan's size advantage could also be valuable for a run-oriented offense based around Richardson and Jonathan Taylor." This means the 6-foot-5, 231-pound frame of Evans will prove to be a reliable force as a blocker in the run game.
To acquire a player as talented and consistent as Mike Evans would not only cost draft capital and/or players, but would also be a sizeable hit to Indy's cap hit. On top of dealing a 2024 second-round and a 2024 third-round pick, Indianapolis would have to absorb $13 million.
With a younger team with chemistry yet to be found, both in players and coaches, I believe this move would be overkill as the Colts have budding talent at their pass-catching positions for cheap. The groups are collectively unproven as they're relatively inexperienced as a whole, but for an offense with much to sort out, I think a move for a playmaker of Evans' caliber should be something to consider a year or two into the Richardson-era.