Mike Evans is set to be a free agent for the first time in his 10-year NFL career.
However, if Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has it his way, the veteran wide-out won’t leave Tampa Bay at any point during his NFL career.
Licht was asked about Evans’ pending free agency at the 2024 NFL Combine. The 53-year-old Licht gave a glowing review of the 30-year-old receiver in his response.
“He’s an unprecedented player. We want him to be a Buc for life. We’re working towards that,” Licht said, per ESPN. “Obviously it takes two sides. I know he wants to be a Buc. We’ll probably have to strain a little bit but we’re working towards that right now.”
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The Buccaneers wanting to keep Evans is hardly a surprise. The No. 7 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft spent his first 10 seasons in Tampa Bay and has been a model of consistency. He has recorded at least 1,006 receiving yards in each of his first 10 years — one shy of Jerry Rice’s NFL record — and has 94 career touchdowns to his name.
Evans recorded strong numbers — 79 catches, 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns — in 2023 despite the uncertainty surrounding his contract situation. He had a hard deadline with the Buccaneers before which to agree to an extension, and cut off talks after the parties were unable to do so by that date.
Licht was left impressed by his top pass-catcher’s ability to put that situation behind him and focus on his performance.
“Mike … decided to table [those discussions], then focus on the year,” he said. “Man, did he focus on the year. He had a hell of a year, and I’m happy for him and bet on himself, too.”
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Evans is now set to cash in on his great season, and the Buccaneers should be able to make a competitive offer for his services.
Buccaneers cap space
Tampa Bay entered Tuesday with just under $43.7 million in cap space, per OverTheCap.com. That number should rise after the release of edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, so that gives the team plenty enough room to keep Evans.
Of course, the Buccaneers still need to have enough room to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield after his strong performance during his first season in Tampa Bay. As such, the Bucs will need to get creative in structuring deals to keep both around while also retaining other key free agents like All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and Buccaneers lifer Lavonte David.
Thus, it’s easy to see why Licht believes the Buccaneers might have to “strain” to keep Evans around.
If the team can extend or restructure players like Chris Godwin and Vita Vea — who have the two highest cap hits on the team entering the season — that would go a long way toward setting it up for another NFC South title run.
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Mike Evans contract projection
Evans will certainly earn at least $20 million in average annual value (AAV) as part of his new deal, whether with the Buccaneers or another team. Spotrac.com estimates that he would make nearly $100 million on any new contract that he signs.
- Years: Four
- Total salary: $95.34 million
- AAV: $23.8 million
Evans could break that $100 million figure given the ever-rising nature of NFL contracts. Add in that the NFL’s salary cap expanded at a faster than expected rate — giving receiver-needy teams more cap space to spend — and that could allow Evans to approach the $25 million in AAV given by the Eagles to A.J. Brown.
Some will argue that Evans, who turns 31 in August, shouldn’t get as much as some of the younger stars at the position. Still, his track record is enough that some team could pursue him, be it the Buccaneers or someone else.
That’s part of the reason the Buccaneers are hoping to lock Evans into a deal before the March 11 negotiating window between free agents and other NFL teams.
Even so, Licht knows there’s no guarantee that Tampa Bay will be able to make that happen.
“Well, I mean there’s always a chance,” Licht said when asked if Evans could remain unsigned before free agency. “But we’re going to do whatever we can to make sure that he’s a Buc.”