Evans stays with Buccaneers on 2-year deal
“When you play for one team for so long, you obviously think about what it would be like playing somewhere else,” Evans said Friday after finalizing a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the franchise that selected seventh overall in the 2014 NFL draft.
“I have a lot of friends on other teams, and it was a cool dream,” said the only player in league history to begin a career with 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving. “But Tampa is my home, and it’s where I’ve always wanted to be.”
Retaining the 30-year-old who tied Tyreek Hill for the league lead in touchdown catches (13) last season was one of general manager Jason Licht’s top priorities this offseason.
Now, the Bucs look to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had the best season of his career in helping Tampa Bay win its third straight NFC South title after joining the team on a one-year deal last winter.
“I feel like we can build on what we did last year. Hopefully we get him back,” said Evans, who finished with 79 receptions for 1,255 yards in 2023. “I trust Jason and the front office, no matter what happens.”
In addition to throwing for a career-best 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, Mayfield led the Bucs to an NFC wild-card win over Philadelphia before losing to the Detroit Lions in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Evans’ streak of 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in the second-longest in NFL history behind Jerry Rice’s 11. He’s tied with another Hall of Famer, Randy Moss, for the second-most in a career behind Rice’s 14.
P source: Henry returns to Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Patriots have taken a step toward securing some continuity at tight end, agreeing to terms on a new contract to retain pending free agent Hunter Henry.
The 29-year-old intends to sign a three-year deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because new contracts can’t officially be signed until Wednesday.
Henry caught 42 passes for 419 yards and a team-high six touchdowns last season. He has 133 receptions for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns since arriving in New England in 2021.
