Buccaneers reward Evans, Brate with long-term contracts

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have finalized new contracts with receiver Mike Evans and tight end Cameron Brate.

Evans agreed to a five-year, $82.5 million extension last week. Brate signed a six-year, $40.8 million deal on Tuesday, when the Bucs formally announced the agreements.

The deals, locking up two of Jameis Winston's most consistent playmakers, run through the 2023 season.

Evans' extension includes $55 million guaranteed and makes him the second-highest paid receiver in the NFL behind Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown at an average annual salary of $16.5 million.

Brate's contract includes $18 million in guarantees.

Evans has started 60 of 61 games while catching 309 passes for 4,579 yards and 32 touchdowns since entering the league as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft. The 24-year-old is one of three receivers in NFL history - along with A.J. Green and Hall of Famer Randy Moss - to begin a career with four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving.

Brate originally joined the Bucs as a college free agent out of Harvard in 2014. He was cut twice and spent time on the practice squad before eventually earning a starting job in his third stint with the team.

Over the past two seasons, the 26-year-old Brate had 105 receptions for 1,251 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Jimmy Graham (16) and Kyle Rudolph (15) are the only NFL tight ends with more TD catches since the start of 2016.

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