7:43 PM: Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Evans now plans to hit free agency for the primary time in his profession. The ten-year veteran should find yourself a life-long Buccaneer, but he fully intends to field offers from across the NFL. Despite ongoing discussions with Tampa Bay, Evans wants to maintain his options open before deciding if he desires to return.
12:01 PM: With Baker Mayfield in line for a multi-year contract and Antoine Winfield Jr. set to receive the franchise tag, Mike Evans faces the distinct possibility of testing free agency later this month. The Buccaneers intend to maintain all three members of that trio within the fold, however the latter could include a hefty price tag.
Evans is aiming for a cope with an annual average value within the $25MM range, NFL Network’s Jeffri Chadhia reports. Securing a figure of that magnitude on a 3rd contract would come as a surprise, as only 4 wideouts average $25MM or more on their current deals. Given his age (31 initially of the 2024 season), Evans will likely be hard-pressed to command a brand new pact that near the highest of the market.
Still, his play remained at a Pro Bowl level in 2023, the primary 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 brand new team next season. A brief-term pact particularly could prove to be a sound investment for Tampa Bay or an out of doors suitor.
At a minimum, Evans’ next deal may be expected to comfortably outpace the $16.5MM AAV of his previous one. That five-year accord provided major value to the Buccaneers, however the top of the market has surged in recent times. That trend could proceed in 2024 with Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown among the many young wideouts eligible for mega-deals. Each member of that trio can be expected to command a more lucrative pact than Evans, however the latter could still generate a notable marketplace for himself.
The Texas A&M alum went up until the beginning of last season during contract talks with the Buccaneers, but no agreement was reached. Reports from last month stated the edges are usually not close after the most recent round of negotiations, meaning Evans could at the very least test the market once the brand new league yr begins. Further clarity on Mayfield and Winfield (and, as such, Tampa Bay’s cap situation) will likely be in place by that time. It’s going to be interesting to see where Evans’ asking price checks in during talks with the Buccaneers or other interested parties over the approaching days and weeks.
