It’s hard to envision wide receiver Mike Evans playing anywhere else than where he’s spent his entire career to this point. That’s catching passes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There’s always a chance, though, and Evans most certainly is in the final season of the 2-year, $41 million contract he signed before the 2024 season — one that will bring his career earnings to approximately $155 million.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put Evans toward the top of his list of NFL stars most primed to sign a contract extension sooner than later.

In terms of public sentiment and making sure your fan base doesn’t riot, getting a deal done with Evans sooner than later would be smart for Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.

“Mike Evans might not seem like a logical candidate for an early extension,” Knox wrote on September 5. “He’s a 32-year-old receiver playing for a Buccaneers team that just drafted wideout Emeka Egbuka in the first round. However, Evans is also a franchise legend who continues to produce at a high level — he’s coming off his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season — and the Bucs have openly discussed a 2026 return.”

The Buccaneers open the season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, September 7, in an NFC South battle.

Evans has proven to be an ageless wonder and true pro football anomaly. He was tied with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill as the oldest player on ESPN’s annual list of the Top 10 NFL wide receivers as voted on by NFL executives, scouts and coaches.

“As multiple coaches noted, Evans pushed through an 11th straight season with at least 1,000 yards — a streak tied with Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history — despite a bad hamstring costing him three games,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on July 16. “Evans also cut his drops from nine to four this past season. The Bucs have done a good job preserving Evans with 671 snaps in 14 games (48 per game).”

In 2025, Evans will try to break Rice’s record with a 12th consecutive 1,000 yard season.

Evans was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft after an All-American career at Texas A&M. Through his first 11 seasons, Evans has 836 receptions for 12,694 yards and 105 touchdowns.

While it might seem like Evans is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor  tells us something different.

Evans’ current HOFm rating of 73.41 puts him far behind any modern era inductee save for Sterling Sharpe, who was inducted in 2025 after playing his last game in 1994.

Evans isn’t even first out of active NFL wide receivers; he’s fourth behind Tyreek Hill (93.01), DeAndre Hopkins (77.16) and Davante Adams (74.93).

The Buccaneers and Licht have been wheeling and dealing headed into the regular season opener.

Over the last week alone, they’ve signed two starters to massive contract extensions. First, right offensive tackle Luke Goedeke inked a 4-year, $90 million contract extension on September 3. That was followed by a 3-year, $48 million contract extension for cornerback Zyon McCollum.

That’s big money for a pair of players who have combined for exactly zero Pro Bowl selections or NFL All-Pro honors through their first 3 seasons.