TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — After much speculation, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is officially staying in Tampa.
Evans’ agent confirmed the Bucs agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract, which averages $26 million per season.
According to Evans’ agent, the deal is the largest for a wide receiver of his age on his third contract with the team. Evans is 30 years old and could potentially finish out his NFL career as a “Buc for life.”
“Smart move for the Bucs to be able to pay Mike Evans handsomely. He’s now the fourth highest paid wide receiver at $26 million,” said Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. “For years, he was well below market value. Chris Godwin was the highest paid wide receiver in Tampa making $20 million, so he might have more left in the tank. We’ll see.”
Evans will be 33 when his new contract is up, but he can keep playing as long as he wants. Reynolds says he can work out one-year deals with the Bucs, like linebacker Lavonte David is doing.
“Just like Randy Barber did at the end of his career, signing a series of one-year deals. You see that now with Lavonte David doing the same thing,” Reynolds said.
The Bucs found themselves with $49 million in salary cap wiggle room ahead of the looming March 13 free agent deadline. They’re on a race against time to re-sign other key players, including Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“We’re focused on signing ours right now,” Bucs’ General Manager Jason Licht said in a news conference last week. “If we can re-sign Mike [Evans] and Baker [Mayfield] and Lavonte [David] and Chase [McLaughlin] and Antoine [Winfield Jr.] and Tristan [Wirfs], we should be throwing another boat parade. That’s a pretty good class there.”
Since signing with the Bucs a decade ago, Evans was part of a Super Bowl-winning team and shattered the record for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
