During a recent appearance on the "Schein on Sports" SiriusXM program, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht opened up about why re-signing veteran wide receiver Mike Evans was a must-accomplish goal of the offseason.
"I literally lost sleep over this," Licht said about Evans' free-agency situation, per the JoeBucsFan website. "And the moment we got it done, I had an emotional breakdown just knowing and thinking back [on] everything. What he means to this team, what he has meant to this fanbase, what he has meant to me and my family. It was a very emotional moment. It was paramount, like I said, to get him back."
Evans has played exclusively for the Buccaneers since they made him the seventh overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. Per Brianna Dix of the club's website, the one-time Super Bowl champion holds franchise records of 762 receptions, 11,680 receiving yards, 94 touchdown catches and 1,321 targets.
Before Evans reached free agency in March, he and the Buccaneers agreed to what is essentially a two-year contract reportedly worth $41M that includes $11M in incentives and escalators. According to JoeBucsFan, new offensive coordinator Liam Coen revealed that Evans has already spent time at the team's facility during voluntary springtime workouts learning Coen's offense.
While speaking with show host Adam Schein, Licht praised Evans for continuing to show younger players and newer members of the organization what is expected of them before, during and after seasons.
"He works so hard and he does it in such a way — he doesn’t want attention to matter," Licht added about Evans. "And all he has done is have 1,000 yards receiving in every year of his career. He is truly amazing. And, what an example he sets looking forward. And you want your first pick in every draft to set the tone for the entire draft [class]. But he set the tone for the entire era since I have been here."
As noted by ESPN, Evans finished the 2023 regular season leading the league with 13 receiving touchdowns (tied with Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins). Such production helped Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield earn a new three-year contract from the club in March that kept the band together for at least one more season.
