New Orleans Saints Will Still Face Mike Evans Twice A Year
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have prevented WR Mike Evans from testing the free agent market. NFL Insider Mike Garofolo was the first to report Monday morning that the Buccaneers have inked their star wide receiver to a contract extension. The new contract for Evans is a reported two-year deal worth $52 million dollars.
Evans, 30, has spent his entire 10-year career with the Buccaneers. The seventh overall choice in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, Evans has 762 receptions for 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career. He's surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons and has at least 70 receptions eight of those years, including 79 catches for 1,255 yards and an NFL-high 13 touchdowns last season.
The New Orleans Saints have fared well when facing Evans over the years. In 19 meetings against the Saints, Evans has 61 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns while catching less than 60% of his targets.
New Orleans has fared even better against Evans since drafting CB Marshon Lattimore in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Lattimore has primarily shadowed Evans when the two NFC South rivals meet, often dominating Tampa Bay's star pass catcher.
In 11 meetings against the Saints with Lattimore in the lineup, Evans has only 17 receptions out of 29 targets for 302 yards and three touchdowns. Lattimore has given up less than 55% completion percentage when targeted in those matchups while recording one interception, breaking up 12 passes, and forcing a fumble.
New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) breaks up a pass to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Evans has been held to two receptions or fewer five times and 55 yards or less seven times by Lattimore and the New Orleans defensive backs. In those 11 meetings, the Saints have held the potential future Hall of Fame wideout to an average of 1.5 receptions for 27.5 yards.
Evans returning to the Buccaneers may alter the offseason strategy for the Saints. Since the offseason began, there have been rampant rumors that New Orleans will attempt to trade Marshon Lattimore.
Even without Lattimore, the Saints would have two top-tier corners in Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor. If they can re-sign unrestricted free agent CB Isaac Yiadom after a breakout year, then New Orleans still has one of the deepest cornerback positions in the NFL if they do move on from Lattimore.
Tampa Bay has edged out New Orleans for the NFC South championship for three consecutive seasons. Marshon Lattimore's ability to lock down and all but eliminate Mike Evans gives the Saints one edge over their division rival. Perhaps that alone is enough to keep Lattimore in a Saints uniform for at least another season.
