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The first draft pick made by current general
manager Jason Licht, Evans' deal includes $35 million guaranteed
and his annual average earnings put him in the top four in the
NFL at his position. This is his third contract with the
Buccaneers.
Evans, 30, was ticketed for free agency at the turn of the new
league year next week. He just finished a five-year, $82.5
million contract with the Bucs, but Licht and head coach Todd
Bowles sent strong signals in recent days that they weren't
letting Evans out of town.
"He came to work every day, he came into play every day, as you
can see as a result from his statistics," Bowles said at the NFL
Scouting Combine last week. "You know, he 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. He's earned what he done."
Evans reached 1,000 receiving yards for the 10th straight season
in 2023, a record at the outset of a career and just one off the
overall consecutive seasons mark held by the legendary Jerry
Rice. He had 79 catches for 1,255 yards with a league-leading 13
touchdowns.
Evans was selected No. 7 overall in the 2014 draft. He has 762
career receptions for 11,680 yards and 94 TDs in 154 games (153
starts). He also has 709 yards receiving and five TDs in nine
postseason games, two of those TDs coming in the 2020 Super Bowl
run.
Next up in Tampa is quarterback Baker Mayfield, whom the Bucs
also hope to lock up with a long-term deal.
--Field Level Media
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