How Mike Evans has put imprint throughout Bucs’ franchise

TAMPA, Fla. — Jason Licht nonetheless remembers the primary time he noticed huge receiver Mike Evans.

It was 2014. He’d simply develop into basic supervisor of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he knew his group wanted a quarterback.

“See, I simply acquired employed. … I used to be type of the lone ranger that 12 months,” mentioned Licht, who hadn’t gotten to know his scouts but exterior of conferences. “I might simply lock myself in my workplace and simply watch all the highest gamers. I began doing the quarterbacks one after the other.”

There was Blake Bortles (Central Florida), Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville), Derek Carr (Fresno State), Jimmy Garoppolo (Jap Illinois), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M), A.J. McCarron (Alabama) and Aaron Murray (Georgia). He was notably intrigued by Manziel, however for causes he did not initially anticipate.

A 6-foot-5, 231-pound receiver with a colossal catch radius was on the receiving finish of Manziel’s magic, and Licht could not take his eyes off of him.

“It was like, ‘Is Mike making him look good or is he making Mike look good?’ Then it simply type of, after time, it was simply apparent to me that Mike simply made this man look excellent,” Licht instructed ESPN. “And I am not taking something away from Johnny Manziel as a result of he was an important faculty soccer participant.”

A decade later — Evans is coming off of one in every of his greatest seasons. He was named to his fifth Professional Bowl and second group All-Professional for the second time in his profession. He completed with 13 touchdowns — tied for essentially the most within the NFL with Tyreek Hill.

Whereas the Bucs have come to a crossroads with Evans, whose final recreation with the group could possibly be as quickly as Sunday when the Bucs journey to face the Detroit Lions (3 p.m. ET, NBC) within the divisional spherical of the playoffs, Licht has plans to attempt to maintain his man in Tampa.

In 10 seasons, Evans has amassed 12,242 yards and 98 touchdowns within the common season and postseason mixed. He holds just about each receiving and scoring report in franchise historical past. He’s the one participant in NFL historical past to succeed in 1,000 receiving yards in every of his first 10 seasons, however his 10 1,000-yard seasons ties him along with his idol Randy Moss for second most behind Jerry Rice’s 14, and his 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons places him only one behind Rice’s 11.

Evans achieved this feat below one group with six totally different beginning quarterbacks, 5 offensive coordinators and 4 head coaches.

“It might imply the whole lot for the franchise, possession, all of us,” Licht mentioned of Evans spending his entire profession with the Bucs. “Mike and I — our relationship remains to be the identical and has by no means modified. And we have a mutual understanding of when we’ll start speaking.”

EVANS WAS AT the highest of the Buccaneers’ 2014 draft board regardless of different wants. Pittsburgh defensive deal with Aaron Donald, Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin and LSU huge receiver Odell Beckham Jr. have been listed subsequent. However Evans was No. 1.

He may sprint right into a full dash and tear the roof off a protection regardless of his bigger body, weave his manner by way of visitors with defenders diving at his ankles and confirmed impeccable physique management and focus on essentially the most sophisticated catches. And all Manziel’s improvising did not appear to faze Evans.

“I could not get anyone to persuade me that there was one other participant that was higher,” Licht mentioned.

Licht mentioned an undisclosed group known as and provided to commerce up a “couple of spots” into the No. 7 place, the place Evans was in the end drafted. He definitely may have performed that in a receiver class that additionally featured Brandin Cooks, Kelvin Benjamin, Marqise Lee, Paul Richardson, Davante Adams, Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry.

“I may have gotten a very good return on it, and it was shut,” Licht mentioned. “However then I simply mentioned, ‘No I can not do it.’ After which the individual on the opposite line mentioned, ‘Positive, go take your man, Mike.'”

And so he did. Evans was the one he sought when the Bucs defeated the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the 2020 NFC Championship Sport to go to their first Tremendous Bowl in nearly 20 years.

“I believe the favourite second was beating the Packers and me working after him on the sector going, ‘My first decide! My first decide!” Licht mentioned. “It brings a tear to my eye proper now.”

AHEAD OF THE 2023 season, Evans and his agent, Deryk Gilmore, gave the Bucs a Sept. 9 deadline for a brand new deal or no discussions would happen for all the season. No deal was provided on the deadline, and so they caught to their phrase this season.

A 3rd consecutive NFC South title might have softened any laborious strains within the sand, and he and quarterback Baker Mayfield have shaped a palpable chemistry of their first 12 months collectively.

There have been missed connections within the playoff opener — a 32-9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles within the wild-card spherical Monday — with six dropped passes, together with one by Evans. However Mayfield, who known as Evans a “particular participant” and a “security blanket” mentioned, “We’ll take our pictures with him. The type of man he’s when he is one-on-one — we’re on the lookout for him.”

At age 30, Evans has proven no indicators of slowing down. Towards the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, when the Bucs have been 4-7 and had dropped 5 out of six video games, Evans put up a masterful 162 yards receiving.

“That 75-yard landing — it confirmed that he hasn’t misplaced the pace in any respect. The truth is, in some methods, he seems sooner,” Licht mentioned. “Simply the trouble, the dedication. … He runs more durable with the ball, too.”

Added huge receiver Chris Godwin on the play, “I believe folks will sleep on his pace as a result of he do not actually get to love open up too many instances, not a whole lot of lengthy catch-and-run alternatives.”

Six seconds previous to that play, the Panthers had grabbed the lead on a 1-yard landing run by Chuba Hubbard with 5:04 to go within the fourth quarter. Coming from the slot on the left facet, Evans ran vertically, turned his hips and raced previous cornerback Troy Hill after which CJ Henderson earlier than diving for the pylon.

“I’ve simply been blessed. God has blessed me tremendously with sturdiness,” mentioned Evans, who has missed 9 video games in 10 seasons. “I’ve nice folks round me that assist me keep my well being. That is been good for me.”

First-year offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ favourite play was in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, though he did not rating; Evans had two touchdowns in that recreation.

“The climb-the-ladder catch that goes all the way down to the 1-yard line. … That was unimaginable,” mentioned Canales, who additionally praised Evans’ demeanor in direction of teammates, as did Godwin.

“There aren’t sufficient good phrases to say about how spectacular Mike is,” Godwin mentioned. “He has performed one thing that no person in NFL historical past has performed and that could be a testomony to who he’s as an individual and who he’s as a participant. … He’s not some diva who’s demanding the ball.”

There have been stunners in opposition to the Houston Texans in Week 9 the place Evans fell backwards into the tip zone after a 53-yard seize (officers initially dominated it a landing however then decided he was down on the 1-yard line), and in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, working in opposition to A.J. Terrell one-on-one alongside the left sideline as Mayfield heaved a 40-yard go.

Each Mike Evans catch ever.

You are welcome. pic.twitter.com/igT6VkOPbS

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 7, 2023

“A number of the go-ball pictures the place it is like, ‘This man should not let him behind him’… Simply his option to discover a option to get previous the protection,” mentioned Canales, who believes Evans is a first-ballot Corridor of Famer. “Throughout the league, you see these guys working 21 miles per hour, 22 miles per hour, he is working his regular 20’s-ish however he is working by the man.”

Coach Todd Bowles added, “30 is an effective age for him. I believe he is in his prime proper now. I have never seen any dropoff. … It looks like he is ageless at this level with the stats he is placing up, the numbers he is placing up, the way in which he competes and the way in which he goes on the market to play.”

It has been a problem for brand new huge receivers coach Brad Idzik to search out recent issues for somebody that has “run each route within the ebook.”

“It is like, ‘How can we put a bit wrinkle on it to make it recent for him and make him really feel youthful and energized?’ And he does it,” Idzik mentioned.

Evans has performed an enormous function in Mayfield’s success in reviving his profession after three groups within the earlier two seasons. Mayfield has known as Evans the “greatest I’ve ever performed with.”

“His physique language on the high of routes and the way he communicates inside how he runs his routes is really distinctive and particular,” Mayfield mentioned. “We have seen guys try to double group him, however he nonetheless finds a option to win. It doesn’t matter what the protection is, he all the time has a plan based mostly on what route he has or how he’s going to attempt to win based mostly on leverage or protection. It is one thing you actually cannot educate. It is a God-given capability that he has.”

THE PASSAGE OF time has proven. It is mirrored within the group’s championship banners in an indoor follow facility that hadn’t been constructed when Evans arrived. It took six seasons earlier than Evans acquired to style the postseason, and he hasn’t missed one since with a Tremendous Bowl ring to focus on all of it.

As an alternative of breaks from his coaching after each season, he does a bit every day to take care of his bodily situation and credit that for serving to extend his profession.

He and his spouse have 4 youngsters. And making good on his promise to assist others if he ever reached the NFL, his Mike Evans Household Basis has awarded $470,000 in faculty scholarships to college students in Florida and his house state of Texas whereas supporting survivors of home violence.

Licht’s oldest son, Charlie, was 5 on the time Evans was drafted, and now he is 15. He too has been asking about Evans’ standing for subsequent season.

“My youngsters — they ask about Mike on a regular basis,” Licht mentioned.

When he was drafted, Evans autographed a No. 13 Buccaneers jersey that learn, “To Charlie: Your dad made the precise decide! #13 Mike Evans Go Bucs!”

“It is loopy,” Licht mentioned. “And he hasn’t modified as an individual both. He is like a member of the family in our family. I imply, he is acquired a relationship with every of my youngsters, my spouse, my spouse and his spouse. … He is the identical individual locally off the sector and along with his followers. He is a dream.”

Licht’s dream is Evans ending his profession as a Buccaneer, pointing to Ring of Honor and Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks, who spent their complete careers with the Bucs. It’s attainable with the group not carrying the burden of $75 million in useless cap cash like in 2023.

However strikes would must be made to make sure the group can re-sign Evans, Mayfield, All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. and inside linebacker Lavonte David, the longest-tenured participant on the group. A protracted-term extension additionally looms for left deal with Tristan Wirfs, however the group has the good thing about his fifth-year choice kicking in for 2024.

If that is Evans’ final hoorah, he is aware of the stamp he is left in Tampa is an impactful one. He continues to take issues day-by-day and refuses to reside past the second, however for no matter destiny has for him, he is aware of he’ll look again and replicate on issues in the future.

“It appears surreal at instances, however you realize I am within the second,” Evans mentioned heading into the playoffs. “So perhaps after I’m lengthy gone from the sport I am going to look again and actually take into consideration what I’ve performed.”