Mike Evans
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans at the 2014 NFL draft.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves talking mostly about 2 things this offseason — the player who didn’t want to stay in Tampa and the seemingly never-ending list of players who don’t want to come to Tampa.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht addressed the exit of legendary wide receiver Mike Evans on Wednesday. Evans, who spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, signed a 3-year, $42.4 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 9.
“I don’t feel betrayed,” Licht told Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud. “He earned the right to make the decision…he loves this team. He loves everything about it…I think he wanted a new challenge. We had a verbal agreement that he could be here as long as he wants. I’m happy for Mike and happy he found a place he wants to be.”
That place ended up being anywhere but Tampa Bay, with Evans reportedly turning down more money from the Buccaneers to play somewhere he thought he had a chance of winning another title.
While it wasn’t the intended effect, the ancillary impact of Evans leaving — and the lack of high-impact free-agent signings — has been the Buccaneers being out-and-out dismissed as NFC contenders.
Evans Took Veiled Shots at Bucs, Mayfield
Evans took the passive-aggressive route and took shots at the organization on his way out the door, seemingly throwing Licht, head coach Todd Bowles, and quarterback Baker Mayfield all under the bus.
“I did my research on a lot of teams that I was looking at. I was looking at contenders, guys with good quarterbacks obviously,” Evans told The Associated Press after he signed with the 49ers. “So I was looking at here, Buffalo Bills, teams that needed a number one wide receiver. This was my number one spot on my own. And then I talked to (general manager) John Lynch and (head coach) Kyle Shanahan and it solidified it for me. I’ve always been a fan of Kyle. He just talked about how he sees me in this offense, and it just made me even happier. It was a no-brainer, really after I got on the phone with him.”
The Buccaneers selected Evans with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. He set the NFL record with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to open his career. That also tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s record for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history.
In 12 seasons with the Buccaneers, Evans has clocked an incredible $155 million in career earnings and could surpass $200 million in career earnings with his new contract with the 49ers.
NFL Insider: Things Got ‘Weird’ Between Evans, Bucs
Evans’ exit from Tampa Bay was anything but smooth, with the Buccaneers believing 1 thing about whether or not they had a chance to bring him back, but Evans’ actions indicated he had no intention of coming back.
“I don’t think the Bucs intended to lose Mike Evans, but you know, I’d certainly say things got a little weird between Evans and the team,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said. ” … people in his camp had told people that they have a one-year, $27 million offer on the table. I know some teams didn’t believe that to be the truth. But I think it was sort of indicative of what the Bucs were hearing, which is like, ‘Alright, do you wanna come back here or not?’ “