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Mike Evans, wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is a highly underrated player of this era. Quietly, Evans has achieved a remarkable ten consecutive seasons with over 1000 receiving yards at the start of his career.
In terms of career longevity, only Jerry Rice has more seasons with over 1000 yards. It is uncommon for a player of Evans’ caliber to reach free agency while still maintaining his productivity.
Many anticipated a decline in Evans’ performance last year following Tom Brady’s retirement. However, he proved them wrong by helping Baker Mayfield excel. Evans caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns, tying Tyreek Hill for the most touchdowns in the league.
The Buccaneers, who drafted Evans back in 2014, were eager to secure a contract extension. However, reports suggest that they have set a deadline of Monday to finalize the deal before free agency begins on March 11.
So, which teams could potentially sign Mike Evans and significantly enhance their passing game and red zone offense? Here are five teams that could express a strong interest in acquiring his services.
Could the Kansas City Chiefs become even stronger? Yes, and Mike Evans would be the perfect addition to help them achieve that.
With astute salary cap management and the successful acquisition of numerous talented young defensive starters through the draft, Kansas City has the financial resources to invest in the offseason. While their primary focus will be re-signing superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones, upgrading their wide receiver position is also crucial. It appears that Mike Evans might be willing to accept a slight pay cut to play for the league’s best team and potentially win more championships.
The New England Patriots have long been in need of high-caliber skill players. Partial measures have proven insufficient, particularly in terms of wide receivers.
With available funds and new decision-maker Elliot Wolf, the team must surround their likely rookie quarterback with an exceptional and dependable weapon. Mike Evans perfectly fits the description of what they require.
When a team has a quarterback as talented as CJ Stroud, who is still on a rookie contract, they must go all-in. This is where Mike Evans could make a significant impact.
Providing CJ Stroud with another weapon alongside Tank Dell and Nico Collins would transform them from being a sleeper to a legitimate contender for Super Bowl LIX.
The fact that Evans grew up in nearby Galveston could also work in favor of the Houston Texans.
Similar to the Patriots, the New York Giants have been without a true number-one target for far too long. Their attempt to acquire Kenny Golladay turned out to be one of the worst contracts in NFL history. Relying on mid-round draft picks has also been unsuccessful, and they are in desperate need of a major talent upgrade.
This is where Mike Evans could step in and provide a solution for the Giants. Although they have some salary cap constraints, they could redirect the funds intended for Saquon Barkley and allocate them towards signing Mike Evans instead. If they plan on selecting a quarterback early in the upcoming draft, this move would be highly strategic.
Undoubtedly, Evans will have numerous suitors. However, it is certainly possible for him to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Having spent his entire ten-year career in Tampa Bay, Evans has become deeply rooted in the community. Furthermore, the future looks much brighter for the Buccaneers compared to a year ago. They have made progress in resolving their salary cap issues, and with Baker Mayfield’s guidance, they reached the top of the NFC South. They even won a playoff game and are likely to be the favorites in the NFC South once again if both players return.
According to the Source brobible.com