Buccaneers GM Jason Licht Releases Update Regarding Mike Evans Return

At the combine, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jason Licht stated that the team wants to re-sign Mike Evans.

The NFL free agency period is just a couple of weeks away, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are doing whatever they can to return Mike Evans to the team. 

Evidently, making the playoffs this past season and defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round makes things tricky for the Buccaneers. They're now much more inclined to try and return Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield to try and build on an impressive season.

The Buccaneers went 9-8 to win the NFC South, which doesn't project to get much better before next season. With this, there continues to be an opportunity for the Buccaneers to put together postseason opportunities.

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Before the season, it would have been easy for the Buccaneers to throw the towel and trade Evans, or eventually let him walk in free agency. Their good play is a big reason they should return the star wide receiver. 

At the NFL Draft Combine, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht commented on reports that contract talks with Evans are "far apart."

"How recent was that? There was another one that said we were getting closer," Licht joked. "We're working very hard on that. On both sides, both ends are, and trust me, we all want Mike."

In each of his ten seasons with the program, Evans has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards with the Buccaneers. He's been one of the most reliable, underrated wide receivers in the league during his time with Tampa Bay, making the Pro Bowl in five of those seasons.

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This past season, in the Buccaneers' first with Mayfield under center and without Tom Brady, Evans posted 1,255 yards receiving yards on 79 catches with 13 touchdowns.

"Mike did a heck of a job. He came to work every day, he came into play every day, as you can see as a result from his statistics. You know, he he's been here for like a decade and he's done the same thing every year," Licht said. "He's been very consistent. He's very dynamic yet he's very humble off the field, but he's a confident player. He's one of my favorite players. I have a lot of respect for Mike and everything he does. He's earned what he done."

While Evans has control of his next franchise and location, it's no secret the Buccaneers will do everything in their power to ensure the 30-year-old ends up back with Tampa. Licht has reaffirmed the franchise having Evans as a priority this offseason. 

It's not just Evans, though. Licht mentioned that re-signing other pending free agents would be a victory for the franchise, with the free agency class being one with plenty of depth.

"Well, yeah, there always are, but like I said before, like we're focused on signing ours right now," Licht said. "I mean, if we can re-sign Mike [Evans] and Baker [Mayfield] and Lavonte [David], Chase [McLaughlin], Antoine [Winfield Jr.] and Tristan [Wirfs], I mean, we should be throwing another boat parade. So, that's a pretty good class there."

The Buccaneers' last season gives the franchise a good reason to go out and return as many of those free agents as possible. Whether they do that or not is yet to be seen, but needless to say, Licht and the Buccaneers will be busy this offseason.

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