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NFL Rumors: Steelers pressure Pickett, Saquon Barkley holdout, Mike Evans future

By Cody Williams

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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NFL Rumors, Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

NFL Rumors: Mike Evans, Bucs working on third contract in surprise move

Even before Tom Brady came and helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl, Mike Evans was putting up ridiculous numbers. That, of course, only continued once Brad arrived.

But now it’s a new era with the Bucs. Brady has retired and the club is looking at either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask as the starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Even if you’re bullish on either of those players, that’s a substantial downgrade — and it’s hard to be bullish given what we’ve seen from Mayfield and haven’t seen from Trask.

All of that comes to paint a picture of a semi-rebuild in Tampa Bay. And the future of Mike Evans has been a topic of discussion in that regard. He’s set to hit free agency this offseason, even with three years of restructures still on the Bucs’ books beyond this season. For a wide receiver who will turn 30 years old this season, though, some have speculated that Evan’s time with Tampa Bay might be done.

Evans and the Bucs have other plans.

According to Buccaneers insider Rick Stroud, Evans and the team are reportedly having discussions on a third contract now with hopes of getting a new deal done this summer. Stroud mentioned the Davante Adams contract (five years, $140 million, $65.67 million guaranteed) as a likely guiding point for a new deal with Evans.

For Tampa Bay, though, that’s a risky proposition. At 30 years old, you could argue that Evans might be nearing the end of his prime and, more importantly, paying a player top-of-market money at wide receiver at that age is quite risky.

At the same time, though, the Bucs figure to be heavily in the quarterback market next year, most notably with a loaded 2024 NFL Draft class at the position. Perhaps this is an indication of their plans there as a rookie deal at quarterback offers the flexibility to commit big money to Evans and Chris Godwin, who signed a big extension last offseason.

In any case, the thought that Evans might be done in Tampa Bay should definitely be put on hold. As things currently stand, that’s not in the receiver’s nor the Bucs’ plans.

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