INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Evans’ free agent plans are one of the most anticipated aspects of the NFL offseason.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ star wide receiver is an unrestricted free agent and is expected to command an ultra-rich market that will make the Galveston native one of the highest compensated offensive players in the game, according to league sources.
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While Evans will undoubtedly cash in with a blockbuster deal and is currently expected to head to free agency, the Galveston native and suburban Houston resident is not expected to be part of the Texans’ free agency plans, per NFL sources.
It’s just how much Evans could earn as a free agent, perhaps averaging as much as Tyreek Hill’s $30 million annual average or Davante Adams’ $28 million annual compensation.
The thinking is that the Texans like their young wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell and wouldn’t want to overshadow them with Evans or spend that much money on one single player, even one of Evans’ caliber and accomplishments as a likely future Pro Football Hall of Fame selection.
Evans caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and a league-high 13 touchdowns last season.
Nothing has dipped about his game at age 31.
He has prototypical size at 6-foot-5, 231 pounds and he can still run and jump with the best of them.
The Galveston Ball graduate has been named to five Pro Bowls, is a two-time All-Pro and has caught 762 career passes for 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns.
The Texans, as general manager Nick Caserio stated at the NFL scouting combine, are interested in exploring a potential extension for Collins this offseason following his breakthrough season. He’s coming off an 80-catch, 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown year. Wide receiver Noah Brown is a free agent the Texans have some interest in retaining, per a source. Robert Woods, 32, is coming off an injury-plagued season and could be released to create $5 million in salary-cap room for the Texans, who have an estimated $67.4 million currently with several free agent needs to address. That includes running back, defensive end, tight end linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver and safety.
Just because the Texans aren’t going to be involved in a pursuit of Evans doesn’t mean they’re not looking for wide receivers. Beyond meeting with LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a formal meeting at the NFL scouting combine, among other receivers, the Texans are expected to explore free agent wide receivers.
Among the wide receivers that make sense for the Texans: the Cincinnati Bengals’ Tyler Boyd, the Buffalo Bills’ Gabe Davis, the Washington Commanders’ Curtis Samuel and the New England Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.