Mike Evans will preserve his options open going into free agency for the primary time in his NFL profession, in response to the Athletic’s Diana Russini. Evans, 32, has spent his first 12 years taking part in for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Evans is coming off the worst season of his NFL profession. For the primary time in his profession, Evans completed with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards. He tied Jerry Rice for probably the most consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards, with 11. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro completed the yr with 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns. Evans additionally performed a career-low eight video games after lacking time final season with a hamstring pressure, a damaged collarbone, and a concussion.
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Despite coming off a down season, anticipate Evans to have loads of suitors in free agency. Multiple sources have reported the Chargers, 49ers, Commanders, and Giants as potential options if Evans doesn’t re-sign with the Buccaneers. The Bills had been additionally a staff anticipated to be in the combination earlier than they acquired broad receiver DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
The Buccaneers additionally will reportedly try to preserve Evans with the staff. Since being drafted by the Bucs with the seventh choose in the 2014 NFL Draft, Evans has been a go-to goal for quarterbacks reminiscent of Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, Jameis Winston, Tom Brady, and Baker Mayfield. Evans has led the staff in receiving yards in 9 of his 12 seasons and was the receiving touchdowns co-leader in 2023. Evans additionally received the Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2021.
If they will’t retain Evans, anticipate broad receivers Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan to have elevated workloads for the Buccaneers. Egbuka received off to a blazing begin as a rookie, changing into one of many early favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Once Evans, Godwin, and McMillan returned to the lineup, Egbuka was phased out in the second half of the season. Egbuka nonetheless led the staff with 63 catches for 938 yards and 6 touchdowns final season.
The Bucs need to rebound after lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2019. After the season, the Bucs fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and employed Zac Robinson.