Bucs general manager Jason Licht made an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football and addressed the immediate future of wide receiver Mike Evans on the NFL’s trade deadline day. There have been some speculative rumors that suggest the Bucs could trade Evans to acquire a draft pick or two because the star receiver is in a contract year and Tampa Bay has not offered him an extension.

Licht was asked to comment on whether or not the Bucs would be possibly dealing Evans, and the G.M. was pretty definitive with his answer.

“I’m really looking forward to Mike continuing his great career here in Tampa and extending his streak of 1,000-yard seasons here with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Licht said.

That means Evans won’t be dealt on Tuesday to another team, and that’s the right call for Tampa Bay, which is right in the thick of not only the NFC playoff race with a 3-4 record, but also the quest for a third straight NFC South championship. The Bucs currently trail the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons, both of which have 4-4 records.

Jason Licht Did Not Comment On Mike Evans’ Long-Term Future

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

While Jason Licht addressed the short-term future of wide receiver Mike Evans, the best offensive player in franchise history, he did not give any indication about the future Hall of Famer’s status past 2023. Evans is in a contract year and is looking for a lucrative contract extension worth well north of the $20 million average that teammate Chris Godwin makes. The former first-round pick, who was Licht’s first ever selection as G.M., is believed to be seeking a contract worth at least $25 million per year.

Evans’ average salary on his current deal, which expires next offseason, is $16.5 million. In his 10th year in Tampa Bay, Evans turned 30 years old in August and was disappointed that the Bucs did not extend his contract in the offseason. The team wants to see how Evans performs in his contract year at age 30 to see if there is any slowing down in his game.

Evans currently has 33 receptions for 507 yards (15.4 avg.) and five touchdowns this season after catching 77 passes for 1,124 yards (14.6 avg.) and five TDs a year ago. So that doesn’t appear to be the case. Evans is currently on pace to catch 80 passes for 1,231 yards and score 12 touchdowns if he maintains his current pace.

The former Texas A&M Aggies star has set an NFL record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career with nine straight years. Evans could add to that record with another 1,000-yard season in 2023. He currently has 10,932 receiving yards and if he gets another 700 yards this season he will finish his 10th year with 11,632 yards, which would move him past Calvin Johnson and into 33rd place in NFL history.

With just three more 1,000-yard seasons from 2024-26, Evans could climb all the way into the NFL’s Top 10 in receiving yards. Every 1,000-yard season Evans produces just bolsters his Hall of Fame candidacy.

The Bucs are expected to let Evans test free agency in March to see what his market value is as he approaches age 31. Tampa Bay has let some prominent players hit free agency over the last couple of years, including cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean and inside linebacker Lavonte David, before re-signing all three to fair deals. Neither Davis nor Dean nor David received the amount of money they were hoping to get in free agency.

The same thing could happen to Evans next March. In fact, the Bucs might be banking on it.