When news broke that legendary Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans was going to forego retirement but test free agency in 2026, it was only a matter of time before his possible suitors started lining up.
Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, revealed last week that Evans, who turns 33 in August, will return for his 13th season in the league. But following an 8-9 record in Tampa Bay that saw the team miss the playoffs and lose the NFC South title to Carolina, Gilmore said that his client will test free agency.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that several teams have already expressed an interest in the future Hall of Fame receiver. Those teams La Canfora mentions include the 49ers, Patriots, Chargers and possibly the Eagles if the team trades away veteran receiver AJ Brown as many anticipate.
“Evans dealt with fluke injuries last season, which precluded him from posting a ridiculous 12th straight 1000-yard season with Tampa, and there remains mutual interest between him and the club,” La Canfora said. “But he is interested in exploring several reasonable options according to some close to him, believes he has more 1,000-yard seasons in him and is looking to be more than an ancillary cog in any offense he goes to.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today
“Those sources are adamant that Evans is closely studying the offenses, both quarterback, scheme and acumen of the offensive coordinator/play caller, and prioritizing those matters, along with the opportunity to win another Super Bowl, of course.”
La Canfora notes how San Francisco has head coach Kyle Shanahan, a gifted play-caller, along with quarterback Brock Purdy. Top receiver Brandon Aiyuk is expected to move on this offseason, and Evans could be the top receiver in the 49ers passing attack.
The Patriots also have a proven play-caller in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, as well as a young, talented quarterback in Drake Maye, who helped take the Patriots to the Super Bowl. Maye was a runner-up for the NFL MVP award, and doesn’t have an elite weapon to throw the ball to. Evans could fit that role in New England.
The Chargers parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman this offseason and hired former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to replace him. McDaniel’s offense features a pass-run balance, but features a vertical passing attack that could attract Evans – along with talented quarterback Justin Herbert to throw him the ball.
Bucs WR Mike Evans Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs Are Still Contenders For Re-Signing Mike Evans
Of course the Bucs are still in play to re-sign their legendary wide receiver, according to Jason La Canfora. Parting ways with offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, a first-time play-caller, was probably the first step in making that come to fruition.
La Canfora writes: “It was clear to executives from several teams that watched Evans last season that Tampa’s offense suffered from a deficient play-caller and quarterback Baker Mayfield was hobbled much of the season, too, limiting the scope of the passing game.”
After being targeted 12 times in his return from a broken clavicle and a concussion in Tampa Bay’s 29-28 loss to Atlanta on Thursday Night Football where he caught six passes for 132 yards, Evans was only targeted 18 times over the last three games – an average of just six targets per game.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Sam Navarro
As a result, Evans hauled in 10 receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns. In the season finale, a Week 18 win over Carolina, Evans was targeted just twice, catching both passes for 34 yards.
The Bucs hired former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to replace Grizzard this season. Robinson did feature Atlanta’s big receiver, 6-foot-4, 215-pound Drake London, quite a bit over the last two seasons. London played split end (X), like Evans does, but also saw a good deal of time in the slot just like Evans has begun to see later in his career.
With Robinson calling the plays for the Falcons over the last two seasons, London has hauled in 168 catches for 2,190 yards (13 yards-per-catch avg.) and 16 touchdowns. Perhaps being featured more in the passing game under Robinson like London will help sway Evans towards returning to the Bucs and finishing his illustrious career in Tampa Bay.
The bigger question for Mike Evans might be whether or not he thinks the Bucs can return to being Super Bowl contenders sooner rather than later.