The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and WR Mike Evans have come to terms on a new 2 year, $52M contract extension the club announced Monday.
The deal, which includes $35M in guaranteed money, locks up the talented wideout through until 2026, and avoids having the 5x Pro Bowler hit free agency next week. Evans had previously expressed his desire to be a “Buc for life”, and the club obviously shared that view as they handed out the richest contract for a WR on their 3rd deal in NFL history.
The 30 year old is coming off a 79 catch, 1,255 yard, 13 TD campaign, giving him 10 straight 1,000+ yard receiving seasons to start his NFL career. Evans now sits one season away from tying Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 career 1,000+ yard seasons, and his new deal gives him a chance to eclipse that mark in a Bucs uniform.
The former Texas A&M standout was a 1st round selection (7th overall) back in 2014, and has spent the entirety of his career with Tampa Bay. Evans has been an integral part of the Bucs organization both on and off the field, having been a 3x Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his work in the education sector in Florida and Texas.
Tampa Bay and Evans’ representatives previously tried to work out an extension prior to the 2023 season, but were ultimately unsuccessful. With the team’s top red zone target now locked up, GM Jason Licht can turn his attention to re-signing free agent QB Baker Mayfield who is due for a significant pay raise following the team’s surprise playoff appearance last year.
With Evans off the market, and Tee Higgins likely playing under the franchise tag designation in 2024, that leaves Michael Pittman, Calvin Ridley and Odell Beckham Jr. as some of the marquee names still without contracts.
NFL free agency officially opens on Monday, March 11th at 12pm ET.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Jh8h. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.