Pros and Cons: Should the Jets sign Mike Evans?

Many analysts have been predicting that the Jets will try to trade for Davante Adams in the offseason to bolster a wide receiver group that had a disappointing 2023 season. However, there are a few other options out there who could be even better than reuniting Adams with his long-time teammate Aaron Rodgers.

The biggest name set to hit the free agent market this offseason is Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Could he also be the best option for the Jets?

Let's break down the pros and cons...

Pros

Talent and Production

The 6-foot-5 Evans has had an incredible career with the Bucs and just completed his 10th consecutive 1,000-yard season. He showed no signs of slowing down this season, as he posted his best numbers for receptions and receiving yards since 2018.

Evans also caught 13 touchdown passes this season -- two more than the entire Jets roster combined. While only five of those touchdowns came from inside the red zone, he has 54 red zone touchdowns in his career and he’s a big play threat who averaged almost 16 yards per catch this season.

Compensation

Unlike Adams, whom the Jets have to trade for, Evans is a free agent, so New York won’t need to part with any draft compensation to make a deal happen. That would give them a better chance of upgrading their offensive line depth to ensure Rodgers stays upright.

Durability

Evans has been a durable player over the course of his career. The most games he’s ever missed in a season was three, and he has only missed three total over the past four seasons.

Cons

Contractual Status

For the Jets to sign Evans, they’ll probably have to outbid multiple teams -- and the cost is sure to get expensive. Salary cap analysis site Spotrac.com currently projects Evans’ value to be $95 million over four years, and that could include a commitment of around $50 million in terms of guaranteed money. The Jets probably wouldn’t be able to get out of the deal until at least 2026 if it were to backfire.

Availability

It’s not certain that Evans will even hit the market. In November, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that some league sources believe Evans and the Bucs will eventually find a way to come to a long-term agreement. Evans has previously stated a desire to be a “Buc for Life,” but was rumored to have been frustrated that the sides were unable to come to an agreement before the start of the regular season.

The possibility of signing Evans to the franchise tag, even if just used as a placeholder, could further complicate matters.

If Evans does test the market, the Jets can offer him big money and a chance to play with Rodgers. But other teams will also come prepared to make a big push for him, with some able to offer other benefits such as recent postseason success, better weather, or local tax rates.

Age

Evans is eight months younger than Adams, but they’ll both be 31 for the majority of the 2024-25 season. Like Adams, Evans hasn’t had issues with injuries, so the Jets would be hoping he can keep producing at a high level into his mid-30s. However, 31 is the kind of age where you often see an elite receiver’s production dropping off, so whoever signs him could end up overpaying.

Verdict

While trading for Adams being the Jets’ main preference may seem like a foregone conclusion, let’s not forget that that New York explored the idea of trading for Evans at the deadline.

Even though that would have been a rental, the team presumably would also have looked to extend him. This tells us that they weren’t necessarily married to the idea of pursuing Adams in 2024 and see Evans as a viable alternative.

There will be competition for his services, but if the idea of having Rodgers throw him the ball over the next few years appeals to Evans, the Jets could have a good chance of convincing him to consider a move to New York.