Buccaneers GM shares bold claims about re-signing Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht explained during a recent appearance on NFL Media's "The NFL Report" program how evaluating NextGen Stats and GPS data helped convince the club to re-sign veteran wide receiver Mike Evans even though Evans turns 31 years old in August. 

"(Evans) did not slow down at all," Licht said, as shared by JoeBucsFan and Eric Edholm of the NFL's website. "He had one of his best years. Of course, we look at all the GPS and all those things, and he was one of the fastest years that he's had. It's a tribute to his training. He's working extremely hard. As he's gotten up there in age, and as he's put years, logged years in, he's worked harder and harder in the offseason, and he's a freak worker right now." 

Evans and quarterback Baker Mayfield became fast friends after Mayfield signed a one-year contract with the Buccaneers last March, and the two helped the club claim the NFC South division title and nearly make the conference championship game. According to ESPN, Evans finished this past regular season leading the league with 13 receiving touchdowns (tied with Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins). The five-time Pro Bowl selection also contributed 79 receptions for 1,255 yards over 17 games. 

"So we weren't afraid of him losing anything," Licht said about Evans. "In fact, we think that he's still in his prime 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."

Ahead of free agency, Evans agreed to a two-year contract reportedly worth $41M that includes $11M "in the form of incentives and escalators" and $29M fully guaranteed at signing. Mayfield later passed on free agency and instead inked what many would view to be a team-friendly three-year deal to stay with Tampa Bay. 

"I couldn't draw up a better teammate than Mike Evans, which is why this became very emotional in the thought of losing him would be very detrimental to this organization," Licht added. "I'm glad we don't know what … would have happened if we didn't sign him before free agency started. I just know that I had a few cocktails after we got that one done."

Evans is a Buccaneers legend who has played exclusively for that club since he entered the league as a 2014 first-round draft pick. The one-time Super Bowl champion and Mayfield will now look to build upon what they accomplished as they begin the early days of their second year of working together.