Mike Evans In Houston, Reacts to Free Agency: 'I'm Excited!' Texans Target?
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans will be a prime destination when free agency begins on March 15. They have a projected $66 million in salary cap space. After a promising first season under the guidance of coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans will look to add players who can potentially take them beyond the Divisional Round in 2024.
The Texans could be in search of a veteran wide receiver to add to their impressive unit headlined by Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and one free agent target could be Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) attempts to make a reception during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Evans was in attendance during the Houston Rockets' 110-99 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night inside the Toyota Center. During a brief halftime chat, Evans told Texans Daily, "I’m excited to see where I am going to end up,” when speaking on his pending free agency.
Evans is a Galveston native, and signing with the Texans would be a homecoming party for the future Hall of Famer. 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.
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.
"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."
