Mike Evans, Buccaneers agree on $82 million extension

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made sure to keep their Pro Bowl receiver for a long time, signing Mike Evans to an $82 million extension.

Mike Evans might have suffered through a dismal season with the Buccaneers in 2017, but they are making it up to him. Evans and the team agreed on Friday afternoon to a five-year extension worth a whopping $82 million, $55 million being guaranteed.

The deal is enormous, giving Evans the largest sum of guaranteed money for a receiver in NFL history on a single contract. The total value is also a record at the position, beating out DeAndre Hopkins by $1 million.

Evans has been the best player on Tampa Bay’s offense fore quite some time. Since coming into the league as a first-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2014, the 6-foot-5 beast has amassed four 1,000-yard seasons and scored 32 touchdowns. Last year, Evans caught 71 passes for 1,0001 yards and five touchdowns, arguably his worst campaign to date.

Still, it’s hard to blame Evans for the downturn in production. Jameis Winston was injured for a quarter of the season with a shoulder ailment, and the offense had few options to keep opponents honest. DeSean Jackson was brought in to compliment Evans, but the veteran ended up totaling just 668 yards and three scores.

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With the extension tacked onto his fifth-year option, Evans is staying in Tampa Bay through the 2023 season. The Buccaneers now have to figure out a way to put better talent around him, considering Evans is still waiting for his first postseason trip.