NFL Free Agency: Mike Evans signs new contract
Mike Evans is staying in Tampa Bay. Evans, who has been with the Buccaneers since they selected him seventh overall in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, has signed a deal to remain with the team. The deal is for two years and $52 million, including $35 million guaranteed, his agent Deryk Gilmore shared with Adam Schefter on Monday.
Evans, 30, was one of the premier receivers heading to the free agency market this month. A 10-year veteran, Evans has been a model of consistency since entering the league. He’s recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in every season he’s been in the league, the longest such streak to begin a career. Evans’ 10 consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns are the second-most in NFL history, trailing only Jerry Rice (11). Rice leads all wideouts with 14 1,000-yard seasons overall; he is tied for second with Randy Moss.
Evans had his best season since 2018 this past season, hauling in a team-leading 79 receptions for 1,255 yards, to go along with a league-leading 13 touchdowns. He earned an AP second-team All-Pro selection and the fifth Pro Bowl selection of his career.
The former Aggie posted on Instagram to celebrate his new deal. He posted a photo with the caption: Fire them Cannons!
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.
More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents
Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match that round pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.