When you think of consistency in today’s NFL, there are few players who come to mind quicker than Bucs WR Mike Evans. He’s played all 11 seasons in Tampa Bay, reaching 1,000 yards in each of them.
The Bucs front office has developed a connection with players over the years, building a culture that keeps elite talent around. Both Evans and his teammate, Chris Godwin, have reportedly turned down larger offers to join the Rams and Patriots, respectively.
But, following the contentious negotiations in 2023, his agent set a deadline before the season. The Bucs didn’t meet it. Evans said he learned from the experience, but could they run into a similar issue following his current deal?
Bucs May Struggle to Retain Evans at a Reasonable Price
Even with Evans learning from the experience, he’s entering the final year of a 2-year, $41 million deal worth up to $52 million. While he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, Evans will turn 32 shortly before the season. I wouldn’t rule out Evans prioritizing a short-term deal. But, will the Bucs be able to keep him around at a fair price?
“GM Jason Licht’s first draft pick in Tampa remains one of the Bucs’ greatest players ever and a leader who is highly respected in the locker room and community,” wrote Dan Pompei of The Athletic this morning. “The Bucs won’t want to lose him, but the team also recently signed Chris Godwin to a contract extension and used a first-round pick on Emeka Egbuka. Retaining Evans, especially at a similar price, may be difficult.”
While Evans won’t reset the market, he should be able to find his way into the top 10. As of now, he’s just outside that group, at $21,000,000 in total cash, ranking 12th for this season. He’s just behind his teammate, Chris Godwin, who will earn $22,000,000.
While Evans’ production continues to impress, receiver contracts have exploded in recent years. The Bengals signed Ja’Marr Chase to a record-breaking 4-year, $161 million contract in March, making him the highest-paid non-QB in the league.
If he’s looking for an offer north of $25 million per year, will the Bucs be willing to bet on the 32-year-old? His consistency has separated him from the pack at the position. But, it’s hard to predict when any NFL player will hit the proverbial wall, especially at wide receiver.
Will Evans Be Able to Continue His Streak of 1,000-Yard Seasons?
Everyone knows about Evans’ 11-year streak of 1,000-plus yards to start his career. Even Jerry Rice himself has acknowledged Evans’ quest for the all-time record of 12 in a row to start a career.
Rice’s record has stood since 1996, but could this be the year Evans breaks it? I wouldn’t bet against the Bucs all-time leading wide receiver. But, there will be much more competition for targets than in past years.
The Bucs invested heavily at wide receiver, spending their No. 19 overall pick on Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka. Chris Godwin will be back in the mix. After getting off to the best start of his career, Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury during Week 7. That cost him the final 10 games in 2024. 2nd-year receiver Jalen McMillan could command a larger target share, based on his impressive performance filling in for Godwin.
That’s a lot of mouths to feed at the wide receiver position. I don’t foresee a huge step back for Evans this year. But, if there are signs of regression or another hamstring issue slows him down, the Bucs may need to start planning for the future without him.
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