Buccaneers’ Mike Evans expected to hit free agency in major decision

NFL

By Andrew Battifarano

One of the NFL’s top wideouts is expected to test the open market.

Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans is expected to go into free agency, though talks between him and Tampa Bay remain ongoing, The Athletic reported Friday.

Evans, per the outlet, plans to hear from all interested teams — including the Bucs — before coming to a decision.

This would be the first time the 30-year-old will hit unrestricted free agency in his career.

Earlier this week, during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, general manager Jason Licht expressed plenty of interest in keeping Evans with the Bucs.

“He’s an unprecedented player. We want him to be a Buc for life. We’re working towards that,” Licht said Tuesday, per ESPN. “Obviously, it takes two sides. I know he wants to be a Buc. We’ll probably have to strain a little bit but we’re working towards that right now.”

Evans, who last signed a five-year, $82,500,000 contract before the 2018 season, has been among the top receivers in the NFL since getting taken seventh overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Texas A&M product is a five-time Pro Bowler and was a second-team All-Pro this past season when he reeled in a league-best 13 touchdowns and 1,255 yards on 79 catches.

Evans has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first 10 seasons in the league and has gone over 1,200 receiving yards four times.

He should receive plenty of attention from teams around the league, and the Jets, a team that likely is looking for another receiver behind superstar Garrett Wilson, could, in theory, be a fit.

The Post’s Brian Costello reported after the trade deadline that the Jets made multiple inquiries about Evans, but the Buccaneers were not interested in dealing him.

General manager Joe Douglas spoke to reporters right after the Oct. 31 deadline passed and said the team tried to make things happen but to no avail.

“There need to be buyers, there need to be sellers,” Douglas said. “We made a lot of inquiries and had a lot of discussions about a lot of different positions but ultimately didn’t get any other deals done. That’s where we are.”