Mike Evans has been a staple in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense since he arrived to the team in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has been one of, if not THE, best wide receivers in team history, and is in pursuit of NFL history this season. With one more season of 1,000 yards or more, Evans can tie all-time great Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons at 11. Friday, in an interview with NFL Network, Evans revealed that that pursuit of history almost came in a different uniform.
While talking with NFL Network reporter Sara Walsh and former Bucs defensive lineman Gerald McCoy, Evans got into his contract situation last season and revealed that he had considered taking his chances in free agency, with the goal of winding up in either Kansas City or Houston.
I mean, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking Houston, Kansas City. I love Pat Mahomes’ game. I’m thinking those two teams. And I’m obviously thinking the Bucs.
Of course, the situation never got to that point, as Evans ultimately re-upped with the Bucs on a two-year deal worth $ 52 million before he ever got a chance to hit the open market. For Evans, the choice really came down to family, as he revealed his wife, Ashli, played a big role in his choice to stay in Tampa.
It was really her decision, is the reason why I decided to stay. She loves this place, and I obviously love this place, but she gave me the go-ahead like ‘we should stay here.’ I’m not saying I would have chose somewhere else, but I was gonna hit free agency, and then, we were at dinner; she said, ‘I think we should stay in Tampa.’
Now, Evans will get a chance to enter the record books with the only team he’s ever known in the NFL, despite the allure of playing with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, or with one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, C.J. Stroud, with the Texans.
