Buccaneers exercise Mike Evans’ fifth-year option
By Bryan Holmes
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up the fifth-year option on wide receiver Mike Evans. Now they shift their focus towards a long-term deal.
In what was an expected move, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up the fifth-year option for wide receiver Mike Evans. From this point, the Buccaneers and Evans will work on getting a long-term contract agreed upon.
General Manager Jason Licht spoke with reporters about picking up Evans option.
"“Yeah we picked up his fifth-year option today. Mike, in terms of his future here, I know I can speak for myself and I’m pretty sure I’m speaking for everybody here, well I know I am, but Mike is a Buc for life. Today, we picked up his option. It wasn’t a very tough decision. We’ll take it from there. I can promise you at some point, I can’t tell you when, we’ll be contacting his agent to try to make him an offer that will make him a Buc for long term.”"
In each of Evans first three seasons in the NFL he has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and played at least 15 of the 16 games. Along with the productivity, he creates a matchup nightmare for defensive backs at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds.
This season he will have the pleasure of playing alongside DeSean Jackson, one of the most prolific downfield threats of our generation. This is especially exciting for the Buccaneers because their young star quarterback Jameis Winston likes to push the ball down the field. Evans, Jackson, and Winston are made for each other.
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The goal this season the Buccaneers is very clear; contend for a playoff spot. Regardless of this year, though, the number one thing on general manager Jason Licht’s mind had to be retaining the young offensive core that he has set up through the draft. This is the first step in the right direction for a franchise that has been struggling throughout the decade.