Mike Evans Could Get Bonus Money For Hitting 1,000 Yards

Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans is not only focused on making history this week against the Saints in the 2024 regular season finale, but also on securing a pay increase for 2025.

Evans has a LTBE (likely to be earned) contract incentive that could raise his $18 million base salary to $21 million next year if he achieves 70 catches and 1,000 receiving yards. With 65 catches for 915 yards this season and one game left, Evans is on the verge of hitting that milestone.

If Evans makes five catches for 85 yards against New Orleans, he will meet the LTBE incentive worth $3 million. This opportunity not only gives Evans a chance to add another 1,000-yard season to his career but also puts extra money in his pocket for next season, the final year of his current contract.

Additionally, Evans is set to earn a $666,000 bonus for ranking within the Top 10 receiving touchdowns this season. With 11 touchdowns so far, ranking fourth in the league, it is highly likely that he will receive this bonus with one game remaining.

Mike Evans’ Impact On Bucs, NFL Record Books Persists

Throughout his 11-year career, Mike Evans has displayed a remarkable combination of yards and touchdowns that few NFL receivers can match. He currently ranks 24th all-time in receiving yards with 12,595 yards and ninth all-time with 105 receiving touchdowns.

With double-digit touchdowns in six of his 11 NFL seasons, Evans holds the franchise record for single-season receiving touchdowns with 14 TDs in 2021. He can potentially tie or surpass this record with a strong performance against New Orleans this Sunday.

Evans also holds an NFL record for the most consecutive seasons to start a career with 1,000 yards, achieving this milestone for the past 10 straight years since being drafted in 2014.

Former Bucs DT Warren Sapp and former 49ers QB Steve Young

In Week 18, Evans needs just 85 yards to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to 11 straight years, tying the legendary Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. Rice missed out on 1,000 yards in his rookie season but went on to achieve this milestone for 11 consecutive seasons from 1986 to 1996.

Ironically, it was the Bucs who halted Rice’s streak of 1,000-yard seasons due to a knee injury sustained during a game in 1997. The Buccaneers defeated the 49ers that day, with significant injuries to both Rice and quarterback Steve Young.

Mike Evans’ Statistical Achievements

While Mike Evans has consistently reached 1,000 receiving yards in the past 10 seasons, some have been achieved by a narrow margin. With 85 yards needed against the Saints, Evans is poised to continue this streak into an 11th year.

2014 – 68 catches, 1051 yards, 12 touchdowns2015 – 74 catches, 1,206 yards, 3 touchdowns2016 – 96 catches, 1,321 yards, 12 touchdowns2017 – 71 catches, 1,001 yards, 5 touchdowns2018 – 86 catches, 1,524 yards, 8 touchdowns2019 – 67 catches, 1,157 yards, 8 touchdowns2020 – 70 catches, 1,006 yards, 13 touchdowns2021 – 74 catches, 1,035 yards, 14 touchdowns2022 – 77 catches, 1,124 yards, 6 touchdowns2023 – 79 catches, 1,225 yards, 13 touchdowns2024 – 65 catches, 915 yards, 11 touchdowns