Mike Evans' 5th-Year Contract Option Picked Up by Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up the fifth-year option on wide receiver Mike Evans' contract Monday, general manager Jason Licht announced.

Licht made the announcement as part of his press conference ahead of the 2017 NFL draft. 

Evans, the No. 7 overall pick in 2014, has emerged as one of the league's best young wideouts. He recorded a career-high 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2016 while earning his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections.

"It's a great accomplishment, don't get me wrong," Evans said, per Scott Smith of the Bucs' official website. "I talk about wanting to be All-Pro because I think that's  more [exclusive], but just being a Pro Bowler, people look back on those. I'm happy that I got the Pro Bowl nod and [a chance] to be around all the great players."

The fifth-year option on Evans' contract is worth roughly $14.7 million, per Spotrac. Picking up the option was mostly a formality, giving the Bucs some sort of leverage in case they run into a snag negotiating a long-term deal.

It would not be a surprise to see Tampa begin negotiating with Evans' representatives now—if they aren't already. Evans is Jameis Winston's most important weapon in the passing game, still developing at 23 and has missed two total games in his three NFL seasons. Inking him to a long-term deal is just as big of a no-brainer as picking up his fifth-year option.

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