Mike Evans, Bucs Agree to New Two-Year Deal $52M contract

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star wide receiver Mike Evans have reached a new agreement on a two-year, $52 million contract extension. This deal solidifies Evans' position as one of the top receivers in the NFL and ensures that he will remain a key part of the Buccaneers' offense for years to come.

Evans, who was drafted by the Buccaneers in 2014, has been a consistent playmaker for the team since his rookie season. He has amassed over 8,200 receiving yards and 61 touchdowns in his career, earning Pro Bowl honors multiple times.

 Evans and the Buccaneers began a new chapter together, agreeing to a two-year contract that keeps the five-time Pro Bowl receiver with the only NFL franchise he has known. The deal is the Buccaneers' first major step in keeping together the nucleus that won the team's third straight NFC South title in 2023, and it comes a little over a week before Evans could have tested the free agent market for the first time in his illustrious career.

Originally a first-round pick (seventh overall) in 2014, Evans has maintained an elite level of play in a manner unprecedented in NFL history. He is the first player in league annals to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in each of the first 10 seasons of his career, a record four years longer than Randy Moss in second place. That included a 2023 campaign that ranks among his best, as he hauled in 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns. Evans tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions and ranked ninth in receiving yards, and his 15.9 yards per catch was his highest mark since 2019.

Bringing back Evans not only will help the Buccaneers' offense but also will serve as another catalyst in the recruitment to re-sign free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has said he hopes to continue playing with the standout receiver.

"He's an unprecedented player. We want him to be a Buc for life," general manager Jason Licht said last week at the NFL combine.

Evans had been prepared to enter free agency when the negotiating period begins March 11. He was projected to be one of the top -- if not the top -- wide receivers available via free agency. The Kansas City Chiefs, among others, were expected to be interested.

No terms were announced beyond the length of the pact, but multiple reports say Evans’ pact is worth $52 million with $35 million in guaranteed money.

Evans joined the Bucs as a first-round pick in 2014 and has posted more than 1,000 receiving yards in all 10 of his NFL seasons. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and the extension of his stay in Tampa should ensure a long run in all three of those spots.

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 Sarah H

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