TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, bringing together the top draft prospects alongside NFL head coaches and team executives.

In addition to discussing their needs in this year’s draft, the Bucs’ other top storyline from Tuesday’s press conferences was their plan for their pending free agents. For Tampa Bay, that is the bigger priority than going outside their locker room to secure other free agents.

“We’re focused on signing ours right now,” said Bucs’ General Manager Jason Licht. “If we can re-sign Mike [Evans] and Baker [Mayfield] and Lavonte [David] and Chase [McLaughlin] and Antoine [Winfield Jr.] and Tristan [Wirfs], we should be throwing another boat parade. That’s a pretty good class there.” 

With the next championship boat parade in their sights, the Bucs have made it clear they want their top guys back. Quarterback Baker Mayfield quickly won over everyone in the building in 2023, making him a priority to re-sign. 

“It didn’t take long for me to realize just what a great dude he was and what a great teammate he was,” Licht said about Mayfield. “As the season went on more and more, it’s how important it was for him to set an example of what we are trying to be as a team, and that’s a tough team—that endures adversity but also is physical, a tone-setter out on the field. Typically, it’s not a good recipe to have your quarterback trying to run over linebackers and be the tone-setter, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. It’s a selfless nature of his.” 

“I knew him very well beforehand,” said Bucs’ head coach Todd Bowles. “He was as-advertised as far as being a great person, a leader, a fiery guy, very good in the locker room around the guys offensively and defensively. I think that’s one of his biggest traits—bringing the team together without necessarily yelling and having to do it but showing it by his actions—sitting down eating with the defensive guys, the linebackers, the D-line, the O-line, the running backs. He keeps everybody all-inclusive and he did a great job for us.” 

Mike Evans is the other key piece of the offense the Bucs are equally eager to retain. 

“Mike did a heck of a job,” Bowles said. “He came to work every day. He came to play every day. As you can see as a result from his statistics. He’s been here for like a decade, and he’s done the same thing every year. He’s been very consistent. He’s very dynamic, yet he’s very humble off the field, but he’s a confident player. He’s one of my favorite players. I have a lot of respect for Mike and everything he does, and he’s earned what he’s done.” 

“Yeah, we’re working very hard on that – both sides, both ends are,” Licht said. “Trust me, we all want Mike.” 

The Bucs have two weeks before free agency begins on March 13 to continue talks with Evans, and Mayfield and they’re hoping for the best. 

“The league year hasn’t started yet, so we have time,” Bowles said. “This is a time to talk and meet and try and iron out some kinks. But you have to prepare for the worst. You have to prepare for the better. So either way—and I’m hoping it’s the right way and the way that Baker and Mike might come back because, you know, those two guys are great players—you have to prepare for it as a coach, so that’s all that we’re doing.” 

From there, it’s a matter of finding that balance on your roster with younger players too and building through the draft. 

“You always want good, young players for depth, for the future,” Licht said. “It’s not that easy finding them, but I mean, it’s not that hard to want to add them to the roster. We’ve got a great blend right now. Just in a few years, we’ve changed it to oldest roster in the league to now we’ve got a very young roster but some good, very high-end veterans, so (we) want to keep that going.”