Joe has one team in mind that could make a serious push at Mike Evans if the best receiver in Buccaneers history ever goes on the market.
The free agency dinner bell rings in around six weeks, and Evans is one of the most sought-after free agents.
Joe is concerned about Houston. Evans is from nearby Galveston, which is a suburb of Houston. He attended Texas A&M, which is 90 minutes from Houston.
In a nutshell, Evans calls the Houston area home.
Joe thought — and still thinks — that Houston would be a logical fit, given how they burst this season with young star quarterback C.J. Stroud and numerous outstanding young receivers.
Evans joins a playoff club with a star quarterback, where he can be a strong, veteran, Super Bowl-winning presence in the locker room and a valuable leader for the young wide corps.
Apparently, Joe is not the only one who believes this. Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle wrote last week on the prospect of Houston making a push for Evans.
During the 2023 season, Evans was frequently discussed on Texans Twitter and local radio. That buzz intensified after he was sighted at the Rockets’ game versus the Pelicans on Wednesday.
It’s not unreasonable to think that the Texans might be an attractive fit for Evans. He grew up in Galveston and attended Texas A&M. He spends his offseason in Houston and frequently attends Rockets games.
However, Alexander thinks Evans may be too expensive for the Texans. He cited “league sources” as suggesting Evans is hoping for $25 million or more per year.
Adding him would immediately elevate the Texans to one of the finest offences in the NFL.
But there’s one significant reason Evans won’t be playing for his local team next season.
Money.
Evans’ market value is comparable to that of top-tier NFL receivers. Tyreek Hill, the highest-paid receiver, earns an average of $30 million per season at the age of 29. Davante Adams is second, earning $28 million a year. He signed a five-year, $140 million contract with the Raiders in October 2022, when he was 31, the same age as Evans now.
Alexander stated that if Nico Collins has another stellar season, he will receive money similar to Evans’.
While that is true, with Evans at 30, Joe does not see many, if any, teams offering him a contract for four years or more. If Evans signs a three-year contract with Houston, his pay would not exceed the team’s salary cap.
Alexander believes Evans will stay with the Buccaneers.
There’s also the truth that teams rarely let top wide outs depart without obtaining something in return. The Buccaneers appear to be the greatest fit to re-sign Evans.
When Evans was observed at a Rockets game last week, before Liam Coen’s hiring became public, he expressed excitement about choosing his next team and being courted by other NFL teams.
Joe is hoping that with Coen in town and Mayfield maybe staying with the Bucs, Evans will be enticed to return.
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