Report: Bucs won't offer Evans contract extension before season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not plan on offering veteran wide receiver Mike Evans a contract extension at this time, sources told Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Evans reportedly set a Saturday deadline for the two sides to get a deal done. His agent, Deryk Gilmore, released a statement last week regarding the contract negotiations.
"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," Gilmore said, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
"This is disappointing to Mike as he sees other teams step up to keep key pieces and players that are important to their organization."
He added: "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."
The 30-year-old is in the final year of a five-year, $82.5-million extension he signed in 2018. The Bucs are projected to have $58.1 million in cap space in 2024, according to Over The Cap.
Evans has been with the team since he was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He set an NFL record with nine straight 1,000-yard receiving campaigns to begin a career.
The four-time Pro Bowler has 10,425 receiving yards and 81 touchdowns in 137 career games.