Mike Evans, Buccaneers Agree to Two-Year Contract

The standout wide receiver is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mike Evans, Buccaneers Agree to Two-Year Contract
Mike Evans, Buccaneers Agree to Two-Year Contract /
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Mike Evans isn’t going anywhere.

Evans, who was set to become a free agent this offseason, has agreed to terms on a two-year contract that will keep him with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network

Evans’s deal with the Buccaneers is reportedly worth $52 million. The news was confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 31-year-old Buccaneers wideout is coming off a stellar campaign in which he topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the 10th consecutive season—a record start for an NFL receiver’s career and one season away from tying the all-time mark of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, set by Jerry Rice. Evans also led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches in 2023, creating an effective tandem with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

In what was supposed to be a transitional year for the Buccaneers after the retirement of Tom Brady, Evans helped lead the team to an NFC South title and a postseason victory.

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht recently expressed the importance and desire to keep Evans and Mayfield on the team. And the feeling seemingly was mutual with Evans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans recorded 1,255 receiving yards and an NFL-best 13 touchdown catches this past season :: Lon Horwedel / USA TODAY Sports

“Mike just called me last night and said I want to be a BUC for Life,” agent Deryk Gilmore said, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine. “Myself and Darren Jones have worked hard to get this deal done

With Evans taken care of, the Buccaneers can now shift the focus to retaining Mayfield, who threw for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions this past season.


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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.