Bucs news: Mike Evans signs 5-year, $82.5 million extension

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Mike Evans have agreed to a five-year extension worth $82.5 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Since the start of the offseason, there was ongoing talk with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers surrounding star wide receiver Mike Evans' contract situation with the team. He was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal on a fifth-year option worth $13.2 million, which heightened the internal push to something done.

There had yet to be much development or discussion surrounding a new contract being worked out between both sides in the first month following Super Bowl LII. However, this has quickly changed, as Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Evans has agreed to a new five-year, $82.5 million extension with the Bucs.

Buccaneers’ WR Mike Evans agreed to a 5-year, $82.5 million extension that includes $55 million guaranteed, per sources.

Evans now under contract through 2023 season.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2018

This new deal now secures the Buccaneers' most explosive offensive weapon for the long haul. The 24-year-old is becoming one of the highest-paid players at his position with the likes of Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro wideout Antonio Brown.

Evans shared his reaction to the monster deal on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgHd2cZHoBs/

Despite dealing with nagging injuries throughout his career, Evans has become a highly productive asset in the passing game for Tampa Bay, notching more than 1,000 receiving yards and 70 catches in each of his first four seasons while hauling in 32 touchdown receptions over that span. He is coming off a strong 2017 campaign where he posted a team-best 71 catches for 1,001 receiving yards with three touchdowns in 15 games played.

In fact, he has joined Hall of Famer Randy Moss and Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green as the only players in NFL history to have four consecutive 1,000- yard seasons to begin their career. He also ranks third in franchise history with 309 career receptions, and his 4,579 career receiving yards are the most by a player in his first four seasons in Buccaneers' history.

On top of that, he has an opportunity to become Tampa Bay's all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns while being second in receptions, only behind James Wilder.