National outlet predicts Mike Evans signs with an NFC North team
Mike Evans has made quite the name for himself over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only player in league history to start his career with 1000+ receiving yards over his first ten seasons, Evans showed he's still got it in 2023. He finished with 79 catches, 1255 yards, and 13 touchdowns, the last of which […]
Mike Evans has made quite the name for himself over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only player in league history to start his career with 1000+ receiving yards over his first ten seasons, Evans showed he's still got it in 2023. He finished with 79 catches, 1255 yards, and 13 touchdowns, the last of which was tied for the league lead.
With the franchise tag reportedly being used by the Bengals on Tee Higgins, Evans should firmly sit among the top of the wide receiver free agent pool. As such, he will be a highly coveted commodity once teams can begin speaking with free agents on March 11.
One outlet sees Evans being wooed out of Tampa Bay. Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network predicts Evans to end up with the Chicago Bears.
The Bears will likely have Caleb Williams or Drake Maye under center next season, and enveloping either rookie quarterback with surrounding talent is a must for Chicago GM Ryan Poles. DJ Moore is a WR1, but there’s no reason the Bears shouldn’t examine bringing in another veteran pass catcher in March.
Assuming Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. are franchise-tagged, Mike Evans will be the top wide receiver on the market. That shouldn’t scare Chicago, which has nearly $70 million in cap space and could afford to give the 30-year-old a two-year deal in the $50 million range.
One of the most consistent players in NFL history, Evans has famously eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in every season of his decade-long career. His penchant for winning contested catches could perfectly complement Moore’s yards-after-catch prowess, and adding Evans wouldn’t prevent the Bears from drafting an early-round WR in April.
It's interesting to see Robinson calling for Evans to get a two-year deal. With Evans being arguably the top option available (along with Michael Pittman, Jr.), Evans should command a deal beyond two years from someone.
The only way a two-year deal might be a possibility is if the guaranteed money is extremely high. That's something teams typically are hesitant to do, particularly after DeShaun Watson's seemingly albatross contract with Cleveland.
It will likely take a three-year deal at a figure well north of $20 million to get it done. A to Z Sports' own Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDiminicantanio projected 3 years at $75 million with $55 million guaranteed to secure Evans' services. That's the Bears' contract with another year at the same annual average value tacked on. So Robinson could be selling the free agent market appetite for Evans very short.
We'll see soon enough on March 11 – unless the Bucs have satisfied Evans' contract requirements before then.
Buccaneers’ Mike Evans talks about staying in Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay star made his feelings clear
