Mike Evans Rumors: Insiders Believe Bucs Will Find Way to Re-Sign WR to New Contract

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans entered this year as an impending free agent after he and the Bucs were unable to come to terms on a contract extension last offseason.

Now Evans looks primed for a big payday after starting the year with 43 catches for 737 yards and six touchdowns through nine games. There's sure to be outside interest, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that a few league insiders believe Tampa Bay "will find a way to re-sign Evans."

"He's basically a lock for 1,000 yards every season, and his downfield ability has held up well over 10 NFL seasons," Fowler wrote.

"He'll be 31 in August but reminds us of a Calais Campbell-type player, only on offense -- his body type will help him age well for a contender. Some people in the league believe the Bucs will find a way to re-sign Evans, allowing the franchise staple to retire in Tampa Bay."

Evans is in the middle of his 10th NFL season, all with Tampa Bay. The four-time Pro Bowler has amassed at least 1,000 or more yards in his first nine seasons and is well on pace to go 10-for-10 in 2023.

Evans' consistency and production have been impressive over the years considering that Tampa Bay has undergone some turmoil at the position, minus a three-season stretch when Tom Brady largely excelled in town (2020-2022).

Tampa has started six quarterbacks for multiple games over a 10-year period (Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tom Brady, Baker Mayfield).

Evans started with Glennon and McCown as his signal-callers in 2014 before Winston arrived in town.

Winston mostly started from 2015-2019, but his inconsistency and inaccuracy led to benchings and Ryan Fitzpatrick taking over on a few occasions. Winston got the job back in 2019 and threw 33 touchdowns but also tossed 30 interceptions.

Brady then arrived in Tampa and was sensational for two years before age finally caught up to him a bit in 2022 and struggles ensued. Now Evans is excelling with Baker Mayfield, who's gone through his own ups and downs but has done well in Tampa Bay.

Ultimately, Evans has starred in Tampa no matter who has thrown him the ball, and that's certainly notable as he enters the free-agent market. He's a potential Pro Football Hall of Famer who has plenty left in the tank despite playing a decade in the league, and teams will certainly be interested in paying lucrative deals for him this offseason.