Jason Licht Said Bucs’ Intel And Advanced Stats Suggest Mike Evans Is “Still In His Prime”
March 19th, 2024
“Freak.”
Bucs icon receiver Mike Evans will be 31 by the time the regular season rolls around. But the data the Bucs have on him tells Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht that Evans’ tank has plenty of gas.
Enough that Licht said he could see Evans getting an extension to his current contract.
Licht appeared on an NFL Network-produced show called “The NFL Show,” which is apparently not on NFL+ or NFL Network. It’s on some platforms where it’s just way too much work and hurdles to sail for Joe to deal with.
Thankfully, this show is also in podcast form.
There, Licht talked about Evans. H referred to Evans as a “freak” for the way he keeps his body in shape. Licht also noted official NextGen Stats/GPS data show that Evans hasn’t slowed down at all . That was a big reason Licht had no issue bringing back a 30 year old receiver when often that’s about the shelf-life age for a receiver.
“Of course, we look at all the GPS and all of those things [from last season and Evans had] one of the fastest years he’s had,” Licht said. “And it is a tribute to his training.
“[Evans] has worked extremely hard as he has gotten up there in age and as he has put a lot of years in, he’s worked harder and harder in the offseason. And he’s a freak worker right now.
“So we weren’t afraid of him losing anything. In fact, we think he is still in his prime, very much so. I wouldn’t be surprised if we signed him to another contract extension after this one is done.”
Great news from Licht, who has a pretty good grasp of when players begin to slip.
Joe remembers when the Bucs signed Tom Brady just before he turned 43. People around the NFL scoffed thinking Brady was shot the way he tailed off towards the end of his final year with the Belicheats.
Licht told anyone who would listen that Brady’s passes had the same zip on them that he remembered when he worked for the Belicheats. As it turned out, Licht was right.
So if Licht believes an otherwise old man of a football player still has juice, Licht’s track record suggests he knows what he is talking about. Evans’ production is a great indicator, too.
Jason Licht on Mike Evans:
“We think he’s still in his prime. In fact, very much so… and I wouldn’t be surprised if we actually signed him to another contract extension after this one’s done, the way he’s motivated right now.” #GoBucs https://t.co/SPhk7QoPp1 pic.twitter.com/ktyRg7Ura7
— Collin Haalboom (@SI_Buccaneers) March 19, 2024
March 19th, 2024 at 3:49 am
Yep!
March 19th, 2024 at 4:52 am
Cool!
March 19th, 2024 at 5:31 am
Licht must love that Mike is his first draft pick for the organization! Me being an Aggie fan made it extra special too!
March 19th, 2024 at 5:49 am
Jason Licht … ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if we signed him to another contract extension after this one is done.’
I must be imagining things. I was almost positive that JL noted when Mike Evans signed this most recent contract that he’d be a BUC FOR LIFE. And based on the way this 2-year contract has been allocated in terms of CAP Hit, I’m guessing that he will be.
Mike’s 2-year contract was for $41 mil, with $35 mil guaranteed. According to Spotrac, he’ll get $23 mil cash this year & $18 mil cash next year. His 2024 CAP hit though is only $5.6 mil, with a Dead CAP of $29 mil (Bucs have an ‘Out’ after this year, but it would be incredibly expensive).
And according to Spotrac again, the 2025 CAP Hit is figured at $22.4 mil (as of now), so we’d still have a sizable ($13.1 mil) CAP Hit still due in 2026 … a VOID YEAR in other words. Not much of a stretch to believe that the Bucs have every intention of keeping Mike on the roster for several years after this contract ends.
March 19th, 2024 at 6:37 am
As long as he stays healthy and motivated he plays into his late 30’s.
March 19th, 2024 at 7:16 am
I expect a yearly rolling one year extension.
March 19th, 2024 at 7:30 am
One year extensions, or two years with the 2nd being a team option, are good on players in what is most likely their last few years.
It allows the team flexibility on when to draft a replacement or put it off for another year. Look at LVD. He’s 34 and people have been talking about drafting his replacement for 3 years while the Bucs are extending him on short contracts. Do we need to draft his replacement this year? Unknown. He just had one of the better years in his career. It’s probably more about how much longer he wants to play than about a drop-off in his performance.
March 19th, 2024 at 7:40 am
Don’t elite track athletes tend to peak in their early to mid 30’s?
I know you’re not taking hits in track like a football player, but Mike has always had a knack for seldom taking the big hit.
March 19th, 2024 at 8:17 am
LFG
March 19th, 2024 at 8:48 am
Mike’s done a great job in the offseason and he’ll keep it up. As long as he takes care of his hammy, he’ll be great. He’s already said that his concentration sometimes wasn’t 100%, leading to the couple drops, and he’ll be working on that in 2024. ME > 1K LFG!
March 19th, 2024 at 8:49 am
If he works on his endurance more this off season it’ll be an improvement. There were a few plays last season where it looked like he ran out of gas before reaching the goal line. I agree he has been very conscious of avoiding hits to those long legs.
March 19th, 2024 at 9:19 am
Signing Tom Brady was the best thing that could have happened for Big Mike’s career.
A Super Bowl victory – Tons of TDs – but perhaps most importantly, Brady taught Evan the best ways to safely remain in tip top shape as an aging player – while simultaneously extending his career by probably at least a couple of years…
March 19th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Mike needs to keep up what his so doing with his conditioning. And maybe put that same effort into his hands. Even he will say too many drops. Good to see the Franchise still here though.
March 19th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Seems like outside Gale Sayers 30 is prime for the HOFers.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:05 am
Checkout the age 31-32 stats of Rice, Fitz, Moss, and Owens.
Spoiler alert: Guess how old Rice was when he recorded 1800 yards?
Barring injuries, all had career years.
March 19th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
Pickgrin Says:
March 19th, 2024 at 9:19 am
Signing Tom Brady was the best thing that could have happened for Big Mike’s career.
A Super Bowl victory – Tons of TDs – but perhaps most importantly, Brady taught Evan the best ways to safely remain in tip top shape as an aging player – while simultaneously extending his career by probably at least a couple of years…
—————-
THIS RIGHT HERE. I think about this every tine we walk about Evan’s career
March 19th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Pickgrin Says:
March 19th, 2024 at 9:19 am
Signing Tom Brady was the best thing that could have happened for Big Mike’s career.
A Super Bowl victory – Tons of TDs – but perhaps most importantly, Brady taught Evan the best ways to safely remain in tip top shape as an aging player – while simultaneously extending his career by probably at least a couple of years…
—————-
THIS RIGHT HERE. I think about this every tine we walk about Evans’’ career
March 19th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Bet your ass he’s a freak.
March 19th, 2024 at 4:22 pm
By a simple eyeball test you could see Evans was at the top of his game last year. He seems to have slimmed down a bit, appears to be as fast as he’s ever been, and can outmuscle defenders for the ball with ease.
I’m a bit disappointed the Bucs only gave him 2 more years, since I think he’s going to be really good for 3 more years, then will probably fall off from that, which will mean he’s merely a good starter.
Regardless, I wouldn’t be shocked if next year is his best year yet – so long as Godwin can keep defenses honest and Baker doesn’t turn back into a pumpkin now that he got paid.