MARCH 2: Evans’ agent informed Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz that the high-profile wideout has no desire to play with a rookie contract on his next deal. That comes as no surprise given his age, though a Bucs-Mayfield agreement being worked out would make that condition a moot one if he were to remain in Tampa Bay.
Several outside suitors will no doubt be interested in Evans, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports the Texans will not be among them. If Houston is to make a big-money offensive investment (comparatively speaking), the team is expected to focus more on the running back position than a top-end pass catcher.
MARCH 1, 7:43pm: Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Evans now plans to hit free agency for the first time in his career. The ten-year veteran may still end up a life-long Buccaneer, but he fully intends to field offers from around the NFL. Despite ongoing discussions with Tampa Bay, Evans wants to keep his options open before deciding if he wants to return.
12:01pm: With Baker Mayfield in line for a multi-year contract and Antoine Winfield Jr. likely to receive the franchise tag, Mike Evans faces the distinct possibility of testing free agency later this month. The Buccaneers intend to keep all three members of that trio in the fold, but the latter could come with a hefty price tag. 
Evans is aiming for a deal with an annual average value in the $25MM range, NFL Network’s Jeffri Chadhia reports. Securing a figure of that magnitude on a third contract would come as a surprise, as only four wideouts average $25MM or more on their current deals. Given his age (31 at the start of the 2024 season), Evans will likely be hard-pressed to command a new pact that close to the top of the market.
Still, his play remained at a Pro Bowl level in 2023, the first with Mayfield at quarterback. Evans posted 1,255 yards – his highest total since 2018 – and tied for the league lead with 13 touchdowns. Having topped the 1,000-yard mark in each of his 10 seasons, the second-team All-Pro will provide a high floor to the Buccaneers or a new team next season. A short-term pact in particular could prove to be a sound investment for Tampa Bay or an outside suitor.
At a minimum, Evans’ next deal can be expected to comfortably outpace the $16.5MM AAV of his previous one. That five-year accord provided major value to the Buccaneers, but the top of the market has surged in recent years. That trend could continue in 2024 with Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown among the young wideouts eligible for mega-deals. Each member of that trio would be expected to command a more lucrative pact than Evans, but the latter could still generate a notable market for himself.
The Texas A&M alum went up until the start of last season during contract talks with the Buccaneers, but no agreement was reached. Reports from last month stated the sides are not close after the latest round of negotiations, meaning Evans could at least test the market once the new league year begins. Further clarity on Mayfield and Winfield (and, as such, Tampa Bay’s cap situation) will likely be in place by that point. It will be interesting to see where Evans’ asking price checks in during talks with the Buccaneers or other interested parties over the coming days and weeks.
I like the fit in Chicago. They have a ton of cap space and Evans would pair well with DJ Moore and give Caleb Williams another weapon.
Doubt Mike wants to play in the cold.
I want a threesome with Kate Beckinsale and Margot Robbie. I’ve got a better chance.
Crazy money, not sure he will get it.
It’s not really crazy money anymore with how the cap jumped. Top end receivers have always made roughly half of what QBs make. Right now, franchise QBs or even just ones that are not even that are going to be making $55 mil.
That’s why it’s almost impossible to take your family to a football game.
Has nothing to do with it. Owners pocket that money. TV deals pay for the players’ salaries and every other operating cost of an NFL team.
Player salaries have almost nothing to do with ticket prices. It’s supply-demand. Ticket prices are high because the supply is low and the demand is high. If people stopped paying super high prices, then prices would drop. Owners aren’t about to leave money on the table and will charge as much as people are willing to pay.
25 Million for a ton of dropped passes
I will take half of that, if you want dropped passes, i will give you dropped passes
He only had 7…no more than all the other elite receivers in the league.
Well, I guess we could argue all day about this, bottom line is
I ain’t paying Mike Evans no 25 million dollars……
So he catches 80 balls get 1200 yard and 13 TDs, but 7 drops is a deal breaker?
25M is less than Hill, Adams and Kupp.
RIght there with AJ Brown, who he had around the same yards and way more TDs than. Who also had the same number of drops.
Diggs, who he had all better numbers than including less drops.
and Metcalf who he had all better numbers than.
Seems really stupid to draw the line there.
The difference is your talking points are fabricated nonsense. And even when you’re confronted about your fabricated nonsense you just double down on your horrible take.
Fabricated or not, I still ain’t paying no 25 million dollars for no Mike Evans
You aren’t paying anyone…
I’ll take your 25M Orioles Fan and drop zero passes. You might have a hard time removing the ball from my hands with all the adhesive though. But don’t worry, this isn’t Something About Mary.
He led the league in receiving touchdowns and you’re acting like drops are the story of his game.
Sometimes you don’t know the value of a player until you have to replace him. Chris Godwin is a decent receiver but he can’t carry the load by himself. The Bucs would have to rely on a committee approach at WR if they dump Evans and that usually only works if everyone can stay healthy.
He’s essentially a tight end that doesn’t block.
He’s built like Kyle Pitts too. If he goes to any team, Patriots and Bears got the money to pay him
Doesn’t block? Obviously you don’t watch Bucs games. Mike is one of the best blocking WRs in the game. He’s absolutely elite in all aspects of his game. Has been since year 1. All this guy does is put up 1000 yards and double digit touchdowns every year. The model of consistency. He’s big he’s tough he’s physical and he’s still faster than people give him credit for. He still gets behind defenses multiple times every season for long touchdowns. The guys incredible and a first ballot Hall of Famer. Three years $66 million.
Yep. He’s basically a modern day Jerry Rice. That’s about the best comp you could give to him.
With where the cap is now, he deserves it even at this age. He’s one of the best receivers of all time even though no one thinks of him in that way. Produced from day one and has done so with every QB he’s had.
I’m glad someone else acknowledges that. People never think of him as being one of the greats but he tied with Randy moss for 2nd all time for 1,000 receiving seasons behind only Jerry Rice. He’s never been the flashiest or the best in the league but that level of production for a decade is crazy.
Mike is a beast…the most underrated receiver in the game. He deserves his $$$…as he took a team friendly deal last round so that Godwin could get paid. He’s selfless, like Lavonte David. Both will be back because Licht is a savvy GM and who doesn’t step over dollars to collect pennies.
That’s the thing. You have a lot of guys that constantly get rated better than him but who haven’t produced like him year in, year out regardless of circumstances. He produced as a rookie with Josh McCown for Christ sakes, and he made life easier for Godwin on the other side to emerge even though Godwin has never been as good as he is. I could see him still producing well into his 30s much like Jerry Rice who I have always compared him to since neither were the fastest but they always got open and produced.
I expect him to stay a Buc…but if he was to leave I think Texans are the dark horse as he is a Texas guy. Stroud was special without a true #1.
Naaa jags make more sense. A few restructures and cut and give him the money you would’ve given Ridley.
Jaguars aren’t paying Evans money with a Lawrence extension on the horizon.
Texans make sense with Stroud on a rookie contract for 4 more years
But committing 20-25 mill a year for a team that needs to
1. Resign Nico Collins who’s younger
2. Resign or replace their TE
3. Bring back Devin Singletary
4. Resign or replace Greenard,
5. Find a corner opposite Stingley Jr long term
I’d rather pay a younger Gabe Davis to be a solid #2-#3 alongside Collins and Dell than sign Evans.
I’m more interested in bringing back Greenard Rankins and signing Hall from the jets to form a trio of pass rushers with Anderson. If they’re gonna splurge on a guy I’d rather go after Chris Jones to free up Anderson Hall Greenard.
Don’t think Houston is doing anything like that. They’re going to spend money on their defense. They get an elite defense to back up a QB of that caliber, and they could be in the Super Bowl this time next year. The offense is already ready.
They need a RB1.
I think he’ll get closer to 20. The only chance I can see him near 25 is if it’s a deal like Tyreek’s, where the last year is 35 and definitely will never get paid out, just to bump up the average.
2 million/TD. Sure, why not.