The B.C. Lions got a bargain when the team restructured Dane Evans’ contract while acquiring him in a trade from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The 29-year-old will earn $94,000 in hard money behind Vernon Adams Jr. this season as part of his agreement. That includes a $70,200 base salary, $13,800 in housing money and a $10,000 signing bonus.
Evans also has a number of incentives he can unlock, including a $10,000 bonus the first time he takes an offensive snap during the regular season and $2,000 each time he starts and plays more than 51 percent of B.C.’s offensive snaps.
The University of Tulsa product will also receive $2,000 if he is named a West Division all-star, $4,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, and $5,000 if he is named the league’s Most Outstanding Player.
In total, Evans can earn a maximum of $151,000 in 2023 if he were to reach all of his incentives. Although, that seems unlikely as he isn’t looking to unseat Vernon Adams Jr. as the team’s starter, though it’s impossible to predict how the season will unfold.
The six-foot-one, 218-pound passer earned approximately $435,000 with Hamilton last season as he threw for 3,883 yards with 16 touchdowns and a league-leading 16 interceptions. He went 6-9 as a starter and fumbled the ball more than any other QB in the league.
Evans struggled in the Ticats East Semi-Final loss to Montreal, throwing for 123 yards and one interception before being pulled in favour of backup Matthew Shiltz. He was set to earn approximately $450,000 with Hamilton in 2023 prior to the trade to B.C. and the restructuring of his deal.
The four-year CFL veteran dubbed the 2022 season the “toughest mental year of sports” in his life. His time as the Tiger-Cats’ starter came to an end shortly following the team’s exit from the postseason as the Tabbies acquired the rights to Bo Levi Mitchell from the Calgary Stampeders.
Evans played 63 games as a member of the Ticats over the past five seasons, throwing for 8,807 yards with 45 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He carried the ball 125 times for 511 yards and 10 touchdowns.
