It looked like superstar wide receiver Mike Evans was set to hit the free agent market later this month after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers declined to use their franchise tag to keep him in Tampa. But it sounds like that won’t be the case, after all.
According to a report from Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Mike Evans have agreed to a two-year contract extension for the superstar wide receiver to keep him in Tampa Bay.
“Still a Buc: Mike Evans and the #Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a two-year deal to avoid free agency and keep him in Tampa, per his agents @DerykGilmore and Darren Jones. From the seventh pick in 2014 to potentially the Hall of Fame, Evans might do it all in a Bucs uniform,” Garafolo said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Mike Evans gets $52 million over two years to remain with the #Buccaneers. A big payday for a player who will be 31 on opening day but continues to produce at 1,000+ receiving yards per season. https://t.co/Tn0eLomcpm
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 4, 2024
“Mike Evans gets $52 million over two years to remain with the #Buccaneers. A big payday for a player who will be 31 on opening day but continues to produce at 1,000+ receiving yards per season,” Garafolo said in a follow-up post.
Obviously, this is a pretty significant update, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media.
The first draft pick of GM Jason Licht's in Tampa—taken a full decade ago—signs on for two more years with the @Buccaneers. Evans has built a really nice HOF case for himself, and is still playing at a high level. https://t.co/Uq5S0cL0JA
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 4, 2024
MICHAEL.
A BUCCANEER FOR LIFE.
EVANS. https://t.co/w3t4ZYtao8
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 4, 2024
Surprise resolution for Bucs and Mike Evans to keep him in Tampa: https://t.co/nn1PezPFIg
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 4, 2024
Baker going back to Tampa just skyrocketed IMO. Mike wouldn’t have resigned without the assurances of competing, right? https://t.co/66dImzWQ1i
— Xavier D. Triche (@Xavier_Triche) March 4, 2024
Really like the two year term for Tampa, and glad Evans remains a Buc https://t.co/JhsTHcDpNn
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@SpielbergerBrad) March 4, 2024
The #Bucs keep Mike Evans home. Always the best solution. https://t.co/Ic1Qw1vdCg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2024
Evans has produced more than 1,000 receiving yards in every season since joining the league in 2014. We’ll have to see if he can keep that going this year.
