Mike Evans stays with Buccaneers on $52 million contract to forgo NFL free agency
Even as NFL free agency drew closer, it seemed like longtime Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans wasn’t going to change zip codes.
And on Monday, nine days before the 2024 free-agency period begins, the two sides struck a deal to stay together, with Evans getting a two-year, $52 million contract with $35 million guaranteed, his agent Deryk Gilmore told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The average of $26 million per season is the fourth-most among NFL wide receivers behind Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp.
Evans, 30, earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod in 2023, catching 79 passes for 1,255 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns.
Evans has accrued at least 1,000 yards receiving in all 10 of his NFL seasons since the Buccaneers selected him No. 7 overall out of Texas A&M in the 2014 draft.
He also notched his fifth double-digit touchdown campaign, his third in the last four seasons.
And Evans did so despite playing his first season with Baker Mayfield, who had a renaissance season with Tampa Bay, developing chemistry with the team’s longtime ace pass-catcher as the Bucs sought an answer at quarterback following Tom Brady’s retirement.
Mayfield, 28, was named to his first career Pro Bowl while setting career-highs with a 64.3 completion percentage, 4,044 yards passing and 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
The Buccaneers (9-8) won the NFC South and embarrassed the Eagles in the wild-card round before falling to the Lions in the divisional round.
Now the Buccaneers have to try to ink Mayfield, who is also a looming free agent, and reportedly has interest from several other teams.
