{"time":1772404736547,"blocks":[{"id":"mm89g2ee","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3d3116ed-9c28-4425-a4cd-579aa28a08e9/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3d3116ed-9c28-4425-a4cd-579aa28a08e9/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"3d3116ed-9c28-4425-a4cd-579aa28a08e9","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3d3116ed-9c28-4425-a4cd-579aa28a08e9/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3d3116ed-9c28-4425-a4cd-579aa28a08e9/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/3d3116ed-9c28-4425-a4cd-579aa28a08e9/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"2dl106CnW6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Mike Evans is gearing up for Year 13 in the NFL. But where he suits up is still a mystery."}},{"id":"qd5aIsZMXt","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ all-time touchdown king is set to hit the open market in less than two weeks, and if he makes it to March 11, he will be one of the gems of this free-agent class. "}},{"id":"R704ZZmDQs","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"His agent, Deryk Gilmore, confirmed on Feb. 8 Evans' plans to continue playing. The only question is which team he will sign with."}},{"id":"Wa3H7rSE1r","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Evans’ camp met Thursday with the Bucs’ brass, including general manager Jason Licht, at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. Laine reported Licht and coach Todd Bowles said the Buccaneers want Evans back."}},{"id":"AFc-qVA8tJ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Still, the Bucs re-signing Evans is far from a lock, regardless of the hype team officials voice publicly."}},{"id":"7G89s_gfNg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Evans is coming off a two-year, $52 million contract extension he signed March 4, 2024. The road to that extension was rocky. The Bucs, unexpectedly, did not offer Evans an extension ahead of the 2023 season, which could have sent Evans to free agency the next year. He and his agent set a September 2023 deadline for the team to offer an extension, but that date came and went."}},{"id":"8nqN4xHvnR","type":"header","data":{"text":"What’s Next for Buccaneers Star?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"qke4_h1tCR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Now the Buccaneers continue their hardball negotiating tactics into 2026, insisting they will aggressively pursue trying to re-sign him, as Laine reported Friday. "}},{"id":"YxKxrJi4Af","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"At the same time, coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht, meeting with reporters earlier at the combine, said Evans has earned the right to test the market, and the team isn’t going to stand in his way."}},{"id":"qnF89qi3S1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"If that's pursuit, it's not exactly aggressive."}},{"id":"hHMdKdWT4s","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The six-time Pro-Bowler and two-time All-Pro is expected to continue talks with the Bucs. The two sides can come to an agreement on a contract extension at any time. "}},{"id":"elOhdO0AdS","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"However, Evans can begin hearing other teams' pitches on March 9, when free agent negotiating period opens. The free-agent signing window opens March 11."}},{"id":"i8LmLTE615","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Evans, 32, reportedly is also in aggressive pursuit of items on his wish list, among them is playing for a Super Bowl contender. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Monday that Evans also is looking to sign with a team who has a top-notch offensive coordinator and a situation where there's promise for a high volume of touches."}},{"id":"hyVv9-DrQi","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"And if he hits free agency, contenders around the league may line up to make their case. Evans' resume travels -- big body, red-zone assassin, proven playoff performer."}},{"id":"xni8zsdLeg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tampa Bay looked like a legitimate threat after a 6-2 start last season; but then the wheels came off. The Bucs stumbled to an 8-9 finish and missed the postseason in a wide-open NFC South. Not exactly the kind of momentum that leans into a Lombardi run."}},{"id":"2EVQ2uyi8z","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Evans still has strong chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield -- which meets one of his reported criteria for where he will go in free agency. When he was healthy, he was the clear WR1 in this offense. In his active stretches (Weeks 1-3 and 15-18), he averaged eight targets per game and commanded a massive 39-percent air-yard share. That’s alpha usage."}},{"id":"n4fiFBUL9J","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Injuries limited him to a career-low eight games, snapping his streak of 1,000-yard seasons at 11. If he opts to remain in Tampa, he likely slots in as a volume-based, low-end WR2 given the crowded receiver room. But make no mistake, when Evans is healthy, he’s still a matchup nightmare. He also said in December that the collarbone injury made him realize how much he'd miss football."}},{"id":"D-zQalQJZb","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"ㅤ"}},{"id":"zz6H9-zebM","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members."}},{"id":"LbYW0stweM","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!"}}],"version":"2.31.0"}

Jhelum Mehta

Jhelum@RoundtableIO

Buccaneers Send Mixed Signals about Evans as March 9 Nears