Bucs’ Evans sets Week 1 deadline for new deal

TAMPA, Fla. — Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and team captain Mike Evans has set a Week 1 deadline to receive a new contract from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with his representation indicating that Evans will look to play elsewhere in 2024 if no deal is reached.

Evans’ representation, Day 1 Sports and Entertainment, said in a release Friday that the wide receiver “wants the next phase of his career to be with an organization who wants him and wants him to help win a Super Bowl.”

“Which is why we have informed the Buccaneers organization that we will discontinue contract discussions as of September 9, 2023,” the agency said.

The Buccaneers open the regular season Sept. 10 at the Minnesota Vikings.

“I want to be in camp and practice to help Baker [Mayfield] get ready so we can win this year,” Evans said in a statement. “I don’t want to be a hold out and hurt our team.”

Evans is entering the final season of a five-year, $82.5 million extension he signed in March 2018. He is set to make a base salary of $13 million and received a $1.5 million roster bonus in March. His current deal includes three void years for 2024 to 2026.

Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, said the Buccaneers don’t want to pay two receivers over $20 million per year. Fellow Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin is entering the second season of a three-year, $60 million deal with $40 million guaranteed.

Day 1 said in its release that Evans has not received a new offer to stay in Tampa Bay.

“We have been working on extending Mike’s career with the Bucs for over a year, and we want the fans to know this is not a tactic and the ball is in the owner’s court,” the agency said. “That said, we are giving the Bucs until the start of the regular season to make him a Buc for Life, and if that cannot happen, 100 percent of Mike’s focus will be on football and his future and where he can continue to make an impact.”

Evans had expressed his desire to stay in Tampa Bay last month, a sentiment also highlighted in Day 1’s release.

“It’s no secret that I want to be a Buc for life,” he said. “It’s rare for players to stay, especially this day and age, to stay on a team for as long as I have. I want to just finish here.”

But Evans wants a deal that reflects his ability and contributions.

Evans has posted nine straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Buccaneers — the first player in NFL history to do so to start his career. He is third in NFL history for most 1,000-yard seasons, behind Jerry Rice (14) and Randy Moss (10). Evans also owns just about every Buccaneers franchise receiving record, including most career touchdowns (81), career receptions (683) and career receiving yards (10,425).

He is also one of the most visible philanthropic faces in the Tampa Bay community. He and wife, Ashli, recently awarded a total of $170,000 in college scholarships to 15 high school students and have personally contributed $345,000 to scholarships since 2017.

Asked Thursday whether the Buccaneers would make more roster moves to free up cap space to re-sign Evans, general manager Jason Licht said, “There [are] a few things that we can do. We have some ideas of what we can do for that, and obviously, we want to keep that between us. There are a few things we can do.”

The Buccaneers are still footing the bill on retired quarterback Tom Brady’s contract, which counts $35 million against the salary cap this year. Their $76.76 million in dead money in 2023 is the most of any team in the NFL. They are projected to have $46.91 million in salary cap space next season.

The team recently restructured the contract of center Ryan Jensen, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve last week. Evans has restructured his contract three times to allow for more salary cap flexibility. Wide receiver Russell Gage, who was also placed on injured reserve, took a pay cut this offseason to remain with the team.

The Buccaneers have multiple Pro Bowlers up for new contracts in 2024 in Evans, linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and left tackle Tristan Wirfs. White made waves this offseason when he publicly requested a trade after contract negotiations hit a snag, but he will play on his fifth-year option in 2023.