Texans Free agency Target Mike Evans Re-Signs with Buccaneers

The Houston Texans will not have a chance to pursue free agent Mike Evans, who re-signed with the Buccaneers Monday morning.

The Houston Texans will be a prime destination when free agency begins on March 15. They have nearly $70 million in salary cap space. After a promising first season under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans will look to add players who can potentially take them beyond the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2024. 

At the start of the off-season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans appeared to be a target. However, Evans has decided to remain with the Buccaneers. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Evans and the Buccaneers agreed to a two-year, $52 million deal Monday morning. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a pass to score a touchdown during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field / Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The 30-year-old wideout played his college football at Texas A&M, where he recorded 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons before being drafted in the first round (No. 7 overall) by the Buccaneers in 2014.

He has since established himself as one of the greatest wide receivers of his generation. The 2023 season marked the 10th year he reached over 1,000 receiving yards. Evans has recorded 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns during his decade-long tenure with the Buccaneers. 

Evans has played two games against his hometown team, where he has posted 188 yards on 11 catches. During the Buccaneers' Week 9 loss to the Texans, Evans finished with 87 yards with four catches on Nov. 5 at NRG Stadium.

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"What Mike has been able to do consistently is beat one-on-one coverage — just with Mike and his catch radius, he’s such a big target, and he’s fast," Ryans said.

"You can’t get lulled to sleep. He has the speed, he has the size, he has the strength. No matter if you double cover him, whatever you may do, Mike always seems to find a way to make a play."