Buccaneers GM Jason Licht Has Strong Forecast For Mike Evans' Future
Mike Evans gets a year older every season, but that doesn't seem to stop him from producing. Quite the opposite, in some cases.
Evans has been an ageless wonder throughout his career, and he put together one of the best seasons of his career in 2023 by once again eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving and also tying the season high for receiving touchdowns at 13. This ultimately led to Evans' extension on a two-year deal worth up to $52 million, but according to general manager Jason Licht, Evans may be in Tampa Bay for longer than that.
Licht spoke with Sam Wyche and James Palmer on their show NFL Report, and when asked about Mike Evans, he attested to his ability to stay competitive as he's getting older — and that he predicts Bucs fans will see more of him after his new contract is up.
"We weren't afraid of him losing anything. In fact, we think he’s still in his prime," Licht told Wyche and Palmer. "I wouldn’t be surprised if we actually signed him to another contract extension after this one’s done, the way he’s motivated right now.”
On one hand, if anyone can make this happen, it's Mike Evans. Evans hasn't shown any signs of slowing down so far, and he's remained one of the league's top producers at the position. Licht mentioned to Wyche and Palmer that the team looked at GPS data to measure how fast he was, and it was the fastest year he's had — Evans also told media after his re-signing that he believed he had his best year in getting yards after catch in 2023, too.
On the other hand, it was wise to only sign Evans for two years and we'll have to see where it goes from there. The NFL can pass you by fast — a recent example is wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones had a strong season when he was 30 years old in 2019, catching six touchdowns for almost 1,400 yards in Atlanta, and he was traded to and then released by the Tennesee Titans just two years later.
Regardless of what will happen then, though, we know one thing now. Mike Evans is back in town, and he's ready to produce for the 2024 season.
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