Bucs GM: We want Mike Evans 'to be here long term'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht wants wide receiver Mike Evans to finish his career in Tampa.

"I can't see Mike playing anywhere else," Licht said, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. "I hope and think we can figure something out so he can retire a Buc. We want Mike to be here long term."

Evans is set to enter the final year of a five-year, $82.5-million extension he signed in 2018. The 29-year-old has a $23.6-million cap hit in 2023, according to Over The Cap.

The Buccaneers and Evans reportedly began negotiating a new contract in June. He's been with the team since Licht selected him seventh overall in the 2014 draft.

The four-time Pro Bowler is the only wide receiver in NFL history to start his career with nine straight 1,000-yard seasons. He had 127 targets last campaign, his most in a single season since 2018.

"I expect him to get a lot of targets," Licht said. "His production could go up in terms of volume. I can tell these quarterbacks both really like Mike a lot."

Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are competing for the starting quarterback job. Mayfield outplayed Trask in the first preseason game, throwing for 63 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions.

Evans has 683 catches for 10,425 yards and 81 touchdowns in 137 career games.