Three reasons why WR Mike Evans will stay in Tampa Bay
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans will be one of the most coveted free agents this offseason. But here are three reasons why the five-time Pro Bowler isn't going anywhere.
Legacy
It's a rarity that players in the NFL spend their entire careers with one team. But Evans, who has spent all 10 years of his career in Tampa Bay, has publicly stated he wants to do exactly that.
"I've been on record saying how much I love this place and how much I want to be here," Evans said. "Not a lot of guys finish with one team. That would be amazing if I would get to do that, but we'll see."
The 30-year-old will have several suitors come free agency, but the Buccaneers should do whatever it takes to make sure he retires a Buc. He is projected to receive a four-year, $95.34M contract, per Spotrac.
QB stability
Before 2020, Evans caught passes from five different quarterbacks to begin his career (Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston, Josh McCown and Mike Glennon). However, he has had just two since (Baker Mayfield and Tom Brady).
Evans knows better than anybody how difficult it is to find a franchise quarterback and seems to believe Mayfield can be that for Tampa Bay.
"Baker's a hell of a player and he showed everybody that he's criminally underrated," Evan told reporters. "I was happy when we signed him. I knew he would be a great player for us."
Mayfield is also set to become a free agent and will likely have multiple teams interested in him after passing for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns. But it would be surprising if he isn't back with the Buccaneers next year.
If Mayfield is back, it will be even more of an incentive for Evans to return.
Run it back
It would have been difficult to find anybody who believed Tampa Bay was going to be one of the final eight teams in the playoffs this year. The Buccaneers' exit from the postseason proved they belonged too, losing to the Lions by just eight points (31-23) in the divisional round.
Coming so close to the NFC title game must have Tampa Bay hungry to get another chance at contending for a Super Bowl in 2024.
Evans, who has shown no signs of slowing down, gives the team the best chance to do just that after posting his 10th straight 1,000-plus receiving yard season.
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