Evans wants extension by start of season, yet to receive offer from Bucs
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans set a deadline of Sept. 9 - one day before Tampa Bay's first regular-season game - to receive a new long-term contract, his agent said in a statement Friday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
Evans - who's entering the final year of a five-year, $82-million deal he signed in 2018 - will cut off negotiations if he hasn't been extended by Week 1.
"Despite our efforts over the past two years - and the professionalism of Bucs general manager Jason Licht and assistant general manager Mike Greenberg - we have not received an offer to stay in Tampa," wrote Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore. "This is disappointing to Mike as he sees other teams step up to keep key pieces and players that are important to their organization."
Evans is seeking a contract similar to Cooper Kupp's three-year, $80.1-million contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included $75 million in guaranteed money, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
"We are giving the Bucs until the start of the regular season to make him a Buc for life, and if that cannot happen, 100% of Mike's focus will be on football and his future and where he can continue to make an impact," Gilmore wrote.
Gilmore indicated Evans will look to leave as a free agent in 2024.
"Mike wants the next phase of his career to be with an organization who wants him and wants him to help with a Super Bowl," he wrote.
Licht said in mid-August that he wants Evans to retire with the NFC South club.
"I can't see Mike playing anywhere else," Licht said. "I hope and think we can figure something out so he can retire a Buc. We want Mike to be here long term."
Following the retirement of Tom Brady, the Buccaneers seem to be entering a transitional phase, with a host of veteran players released ahead of free agency and an apparent focus on bringing in younger talent.
Meanwhile, former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask for the team's starting quarterback job.
Evans, widely viewed as one of the best players in Tampa Bay's history, set an NFL record last season with his ninth straight 1,000-yard campaign to start a career.
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