Tampa Bay's Mike Evans has agreed to a five-year, $82.5 million contract extension that makes him the second-highest paid receiver in the NFL.
The deal confirmed Friday includes $55 million guaranteed and also makes Evans the highest-paid player with the Buccaneers with an average annual salary of $16.5 million. That's second among NFL receivers behind Antonio Brown's $17 million.
Evans acknowledged the extension, which runs through 2023, in an Instagram post, noting he will be "spending the next several seasons in Tampa Bay" with a singular focus on helping the Bucs win a Super Bowl.
The 24-year-old entered the league as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft. He has topped 1,000 yards receiving in each of his four pro seasons, amassing 309 receptions for 4,579 yards and 32 touchdowns.
The 24-year-old Texas A&M product is coming off a 2017 campaign where he tallied 71 receptions for 1,001 yards and five touchdowns across 15 appearances. Pro Football Focus graded him as the league's 14th-best wideout.
His best statistical year to date came in 2016 when he racked up 96 catches for 1,321 yards and 12 scores to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.
Evans responded to the new contract with an Instagram post:
"I'm excited to announce I will be spending the next several seasons in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers with one goal in mind: winning a Super Bowl with my teammates. I want to thank the Bucs, from the owners to the front office, for believing in me and allowing me to take care of my family. I want to also thank my agents Deryk Gilmore and Darren Jones for all of their hard work. I'm going to continue to strive for greatness on the field as well as in my community."
He'll continue to start opposite DeSean Jackson in one of the league's most explosive passing games. The Jameis Winston-led aerial attack ranked fourth in yards per game (272.9) in 2017.
