Within the next few months, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must choose whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option on the contract of Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans. It likely will not be a difficult decision.
The new collective bargaining agreement to which the league and players agreed in 2011 included a codified setup for draft-pick contracts. All first-round picks now receive a four-year contract with a mandatory team option for a fifth year. That option must be exercised between the player's third and fourth NFL seasons. If it is not, the player will be due to become an unrestricted free agent after his fourth season.