Getty Mike Evans
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to an agreement with wide receiver Mike Evans on a two-year, $52 million contract on March 4. ESPN insider Adam Schefter confirmed the news, via Evans’s agent Deryk Gilmore.
More about the Buccaneers and five-time Pro-Bowl receiver Mike Evans reaching agreement on a two-year, $52 million contract that includes $35 million guaranteed, per his agent @DerykGilmore of @Day1SportsEnt.
According to Gilmore, it’s “the largest (deal) for a wide receiver this old on his third contract.”
The impressive deal features a guaranteed $35 million and could allow Evans, 30, to retire with the Buccaneers.
Bucs GM Jason Licht on Mike Evans: “He’s an unprecedented player. We want him to be a Buc for life. We’re working towards that. Obviously it takes two sides, I know he wants to be a Buc, we’ll probably have to strain a little bit but we’re working towards that right now…”
The feeling appears to be mutual. Tampa Bay Times’s Rick Stroud posted on X, quoting Gilmore shortly after having heard the news: “Mike just called me last night and said, ‘I want to be a Buc for life,’ Evans’ agent Daryk Gilmore just texted. ‘Myself and Darren Jones have worked hard to get this deal done.'”
“Mike just called me last night and said, ‘I want to be a Bucs for life,” Evans’ agent Daryk Gilmore just texted. ”Myself and Darren Jones have worked hard to get this deal done.”
Mike Evans Reacts: ‘Fire Them Cannons’
Shortly after the contract announcement, Evans took to Instagram with a photo of himself in Tampa Bay’s throwback creamsicle jerseys with the caption, “Fire them Cannons.”
Following one of the most impressive seasons to date, Evans will be back on the field for the Buccaneers.
After 10 consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, the wide receiver is on par to make the 2024 season his eleventh with the Buccaneers. Currently, he is only four 1,000-yard seasons away from breaking the all-time NFL record held by Jerry Rice.
For Buccaneers fans, this is fantastic news.
Evans has been the bell cow for this organization for the past 10 years. In that time, not only has he managed to rack up the stats sheet, but he has also won the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award three times. With Evans heading back to Tampa, Bucs fans may be gaining insight into who the quarterback will be.
Mike Evans Deal Could Swing Baker Mayfield
Seeing as how Evans’s agent emphasized playing with an “elite quarterback” as one of Evans’s primary concerns, could this mean that the Bucs are getting close to an agreement with quarterback Baker Mayfield?
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding potential landing spots for Mayfield, with the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons having been two of the most recent. However, the news of Evans re-signing could swing Mayfield back toward the Buccaneers.
On March 2, NFL insider Jordan Schultz quoted Evans’s agent.
“Mike wants to play with an elite quarterback in an offense that will showcase him… He doesn’t want to play with a rookie QB. Winning a Super Bowl is a key priority.”
It may be safe to assume that Evans wouldn’t just sign with the Buccaneers if they didn’t also have their quarterback position figured out.
Mayfield is coming off of a Pro Bowl season, throwing for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. The Buccaneers could very well attempt to keep the Mayfield-to-Evans connection alive by keeping the two together.
On February 7, just ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl, Mayfield was featured on “Up and Adams” where he spoke very highly about Evans.
“If I’m back in Tampa, I would love to have Mike back. The guy deserves to be a Buc for life.”