3 reasons the Chicago Bears shouldn't pursue Mike Evans in free agency

Though the Chicago Bears have D.J. Moore, there's a clear need for more wide receiver talent on the Bears' roster. If the Bears draft Caleb Williams or a different quarterback— or even if Justin Fields stays put— there will be a need for pass catchers.

And Mike Evans could be a guy the Bears are looking at, though they shouldn't be.

The Chicago Bears should not consider Mike Evans in free agency

The Buccaneers and Mike Evans are reportedly not close on coming to an agreement on Evans' next contract. Evans is set to hit free agency this off-season, though the Bucs could franchise tag him.

The Bucs had a "soft deadline" of Monday, Feb. 19, to get a deal done with Mike Evans, and yet, that day has come and gone with no deal in place. In fact, the two sides seem to be relatively far apart.

Mike Evans could be franchise-tagged and traded, as it's highly unlikely that Mike Evans would play under the franchise tag this upcoming season. Evans is getting older, so every season matters as far as getting as much money as possible.

The clock is ticking for the two to reach a deal, or else, Mike Evans could see himself on a new team next season. As a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion, could the Chicago Bears add Mike Evans to their wide receiver pool?

They could, but it might be a decision they regret later if they make an offer he can't refuse.

Chicago Bears' Reason No. 1: Mike Evans' age is a big factor

As of Feb. 19, 2024, Mike Evans is 30 years old, and he'll be close to 31 years old by the start of the 2024 NFL season.

When discussing players in their prime, rarely is that player in their thirties. For playmakers, that likelihood drops even lower. In this case, Mike Evans could be close to retirement.

After this most recent season, Mike Evans has been in the NFL for a decade. That's a long time to do most jobs, let alone playing in the NFL as a wide receiver. Considering the quarterbacks Mike Evans has played with, the production he created is impressive. In fact, Evans is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' all-time leading receiver in franchise history with 11,680 receiving yards.

But does that mean the Bears should strike now? No.

The accomplishments and accolades filling Evans' trophy case are a reason to believe he's an incredible receiver. But, for a team trying to build a Super Bowl contender, it might not make sense to go out and get a receiver who's going to be 31 next season.

Of the top 20 receivers in receiving yards, only four of them are 30 years old or older. One of those four: Mike Evans. Wide receivers just don't usually play at a high level once they've cracked 30 years old, and that trend likely isn't changing anytime soon.

In the Chicago Bears' quest for greatness, Mike Evans' age might keep him out of the equation.

Chicago Bears' Reason No. 2: Mike Evans' price tag is too steep

Per Spotrac, if the Chicago Bears wanted to sign Mike Evans is free agency, it would cost approximately $23-million per year to bring him in. However, there's belief that Evans wants a contract between $25-and $30-million per year.

Now, the Bears' cap increased by releasing Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair, but that money will likely be used to re-sign Jaylon Johnson.

And while the Chicago Bears have plenty of cap, would it be smart to use that money to pay an aging receiver top-of-the-market money? I'd bet Ryan Poles pushes against that thinking. I would support this move over the Bears using this money to sign Danielle Hunter, for example. If deciding between those two free agents, Mike Evans wins rather easily.

But just because it's an easier decision, doesn't make it the right decision.

Chicago Bears' Reason No. 3: This draft class is full of wide receivers

On day one of the 2024 season, Mike Evans would likely be better than most— if not all— of the receivers in this upcoming draft class. Even with that, the Chicago Bears shouldn't be inclined to sign Mike Evans in free agency for $30-million per year.

Whether it be trading up for Marvin Harrison Jr., or hoping Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze are available at No. 9, the Bears have plenty of opportunities to bring in receiver talent.

Plus, it's not just these three receivers who should intrigue NFL general managers. There are a plethora of NFL-caliber receivers in this draft class, and that's becoming the norm, year-after-year.

It's becoming a true testimant to Ryan Poles as a team-builder that his ideology is to build through the draft. That said, it makes more sense for him to draft a receiver, or multiple, than to sign Mike Evans to a money-rich contract.

It's rare to draft a receiver who has over 11,000 recieving yards and 94 TDs over 10 seasons, but the hope is to draft someone similar and be able to pay them for a fraction of the price.

The Chicago Bears, if they decide to keep Justin Fields, could also double-dip in the wide receiver pool, drafting both Marvin Harrison Jr. and either Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze. Those three receivers are likely the three best, and being able to draft two of them would be franchise-altering in an incredibly positive way.

The only issue will be when it's time to pay both receivers after four consecutive first-team All-Pro performances by both drafted receivers.

In all seriousness, though, the ideology of drafting unproven talent over paying proven talent is a debate as old as time. Whether the Chicago Bears will change their philosophies over Mike Evans, who's to say? For that answer, we'll have to stay tuned to Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears this off season.