TAMPA — After 10 seasons in a Bucs uniform, wide receiver Mike Evans wants to see if he’s a better fit for another team.

Evans, 30, will continue to negotiate with Tampa Bay but won’t sign a contract until he tests free agency for the first time in his career, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed.

The Bucs’ all-time leading receiver gave the team a chance to extend his contract prior to the start of the 2023 season, then cut off all talks on the eve of the regular-season opener Sept. 10 at Minnesota.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht said last week that re-signing Evans was a priority but admitted the team would have to “strain” to get their Pro Bowl receiver back in the fold.

“He bet on himself,” Licht said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “He’s an unprecedented player that we want him to be a Buc for life.

“We’re working towards that. It takes two sides. I know he wants to be a Buc. But to get the deal done, we’ll probably have to strain a little bit, but we’re working towards that right now. But a good deal always takes some time for both sides.”

Apparently, the Bucs’ deadline is no longer March 13 at 4 p.m., when the new league year begins and players can sign contracts with other teams.

Evans can officially begin to negotiate and even reach an agreement in principle with any team as early as March 11.

The five-time Pro Bowler is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro, finishing with 1,255 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, tying the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill for most in the NFL.

The seventh overall pick out of Texas A&M in 2014, Evans has never worn another NFL uniform. He signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Bucs in ’18, forgoing his first chance to test free agency.

Evans is believed to be seeking a contract that would average about $25 million per year. A similar comparison would be Davante Adams, who signed a five-year, $140 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in two years ago. It included a $19.25 million signing bonus, $65.67 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $28 million.

Adams, 31, was part of the same ’14 draft class as Evans but went in the second round to the Green Bay Packers.

Evans has more career receiving yards than Adams (11,680-10,781) and one fewer touchdown, with 94. He also helped the Bucs win Super Bowl 55.

The Bucs have until Tuesday to apply the franchise player tag, but Evans isn’t a good candidate for that designation. He already carries a dead salary cap figure of $12.198 million for 2024, according to Overthecap.com, due to the acceleration voidable years.

It’s unknown which teams will be interested in Evans, but the Bucs will face strong competition. Already, there has been speculation that the Chiefs and Ravens may have interest, among others.

That’s what Evans wants to determine by entering free agency while also proving his market value to the Bucs.