Mike Evans, Bucs Agree to 2-Year, $52M Contract Ahead of NFL Free Agency 2024

The third time is the charm for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star receiver Mike Evans.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the sides agreed to a new two-year contract worth $52 million on Monday, marking this the third pact Evans has signed with the team that drafted him seventh overall in 2014. He carried a $23.7 million cap hit during the 2023 season, per Spotrac, in what was the final year of his previous deal.

Schefter noted the new deal features $35 million guaranteed.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported in June 2023 that negotiations for a third contract for Evans had begun, and there was mutual interest in getting a deal done this summer. However, an impasse was eventually reached, and Evans said through his agent that he would discontinue contract negotiations if no deal was reached by Week 1.

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht told reporters at the NFL combine on Feb. 27 that the team hoped to make Evans "a Buc for life."

It now appears both sides got their wish.

Evans remained at the top of his game this past season, playing in all 17 games and leading the team with 1,255 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 79 catches.

Arguably the best homegrown offensive talent in Buccaneers history, Evans holds virtually every franchise receiving record with career numbers of 762 receptions, 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns. He is the only receiver in league history to begin his career with 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons.

The Bucs entered 2023 with a bit of uncertainty following the retirement of legendary quarterback Tom Brady, but they finished with a 9-8 record and won their third straight NFC South title. Baker Mayfield took over as the team's starter and had a strong season to help lead Tampa on a run to the NFC Divisional Round, where it fell to the Detroit Lions.

Thanks to Evans' new deal, Tampa Bay will continue to have one of the most reliable pass-catchers in the league for the next two years.