REPORT: Mike Evans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Negotiating Contract Extension
Mike Evans is the most accomplished offensive player in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise.
That isn't up for debate.
Not only is Evans the Buccaneers' all-time leader in touchdowns (82), receptions (683), and receiving yards (10,425), but he's also proven to be one of the league's most consistent wide receivers throughout his career, and maybe ever.
Evans, who is entering his 10th year in the NFL, is the only player in league history to record 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 9 seasons. The next highest player on the list is none other than Hall-of-Famer, Randy Moss, who had 6 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start his career.
What is up for debate, however, is whether or not keeping Evans in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future is in the best long-term interest of the franchise.
That said, most people suggesting such a scenario, for the most part, are fans or media personalities with rooting interests for other teams.
READ MORE: Buccaneers' Star Wide Receiver Traded for Saquon Barkley in NFL Projected Trade
But like the fans in Tampa, it appears as though the Buccaneers' front office would never endorse such a blasphemous concept.
Reporting for the Tampa Times, longtime Bucs beat writer, Rick Stroud, has suggested that Evans' representatives and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently in the process of negotiating a third contract.
Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore, was quoted in the article discussing the situation.
“Mike loves Tampa. I know the feeling is mutual. His production is the best of all the guys out there. ... The Bucs’ ownership has to love that Mike isn’t even an off-the-field conversation but an on-the-field terror. I’ve got to think they would like to lock him up to a third deal.”
Head coach, Todd Bowles, seemed equally as bullish on Evans' value to the franchise when asked about the team's franchise wide receiver.
“Obviously, he’s talented,” Bowles said. “He’s a heck of a pro and competitor. When you stay with one team and you put up those type of numbers, that says a lot about you from a character standpoint and a talent standpoint. He continues to do it.”
Just as Evans' agent and head coach remarked, it's important to acknowledge the quality and consistency of Mike Evans' character in addition to all that he does on the football field.
That type of impact Evans brings to the locker room is crucial in terms of establishing and preserving a positive team culture. It's something he's done ever since he first landed in Tampa and more than likely something he'll continue to do until he leaves.
Which makes Mike Evans the ideal investment for any franchise, but especially the one that drafted him.
Furthermore, despite his 9 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Mike Evans is still just 29 years old. Which means even with the torrid pace he's sustained for almost a decade in the NFL, there's plenty of reason to believe the future will remain just as bright for Mike Evans.
And if Tampa Bay and Evans' agent are able to get a deal done this offseason, the future has a better chance of remaining bright for the Buccaneers, too.
For continuing coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, subscribe to the Bucs Banter YouTube channel.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the season.
