The Buccaneers offense will look a whole lot different moving forward, but the front office is looking to maintain some continuity at receiver. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers and wide receiver Mike Evans have already started discussions on an extension.
Stroud adds that there’s “a willingness on both sides to get something done this summer.” Evans inked a five-year, $82.5MM extension with the Buccaneers back in 2018, and he’s set to earn more than $23.6MM in the final year of the pact in 2023.
With Tom Brady out of the picture and the Buccaneers facing an uncertain future at quarterback, it’s not a surprise that the organization wants to transition to the next offensive era with their all-time receiving leader. Evans has hauled in at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his nine NFL seasons, and through the first four years of his current contract, he’s averaged 72 catches for 1,080 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns per season.
The Buccaneers signed Chris Godwin to a three-year, $60MM extension ($40MM guaranteed) last offseason. Considering the money that’s being thrown around at the position, Evans would surely top a $20MM average annual value. As CBS Sports’ Joel Corry points out on Twitter, that type of contract would mean the Buccaneers would join the Chargers as the only teams to be paying two wide receivers more than $20MM/yr.
Stroud points to the five-year, $140MM deal that Davante Adams signed with the Raiders as a potential landing spot for Evans’ next deal. It sounds like Evans is motivated to stick around Tampa, and that could lead to a slight hometown discount when all is said and done (although that’s just speculation on my part).
“Mike loves Tampa,” Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, told Stroud. “I know the feeling is mutual. His production is the best of all the guys out there. … The Bucs’ ownership has to love that Mike isn’t even an off-the-field conversation but an on-the-field terror. I’ve got to think they would like to lock him up to a third deal.”
Evans is closing in on 85 TDs which is makes him a likely shoe in for the HOF and he still has gas in the tank.
There is only like 1 guy who has 85 TD who isn’t in the HOF that shouldn’t get in and that’s Ward. The others like Gates will get in once they’re eligible.
The Bucs will likely make the same mistake the Vikings made with Adam Theilen.
No way! Evans floor is higher than Thielens! all around better athlete