Evans, Brate Deals About Building a Core

The NFL's 2018 free agency period begins on Wednesday, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held a press conference on Tuesday featuring two high-impact players grinning about new contracts, flanked by the equally-pleased duo of General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Dirk Koetter. Did the Buccaneers didn't jump the gun on free agency. No; rather, they set the table for the work ahead by taking care of some very important internal business.

Tuesday's gathering at One Buccaneer Place wasn't an introduction; everyone in attendance was familiar with the two young men sporting shiny new six-year deals. It was more of a celebration of a plan well-executed, by team and by player, one that began just…