BSPN: Mike Evans Likely A Buc For Life
June 3rd, 2025
What will he do in 2026?
Lost in the excitement for the coming season is one potentially ugly fact:
Bucs icon Mike Evans is in a contract year.
It’s not like Evans is a young player. He’s on the wrong side of 30. Evans turns 32 in training camp. That is senior citizen age for star receivers.
Over at BSPN, follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell said he couldn’t help but think of Evans potentially walking away from the Bucs in March when Barnwell learned of Tampa Bay drafting Emeka Egbuka.
Barnwell typed he doesn’t get much of a vibe Evans will ever leave the Bucs, in part because two years ago there wasn’t a huge market for him when he was a free agent.
It’s difficult to imagine Evans wearing another team’s jersey, in part because so many of the people attending Bucs games are wearing his jersey. Team owners don’t like letting go of franchise icons without good reason. When Evans was able to negotiate with teams during the 2024 offseason, there wasn’t an enormous market for his services, and Tampa was able to bring him back on a relatively modest deal given his résumé. (Consider that Godwin got a larger average salary coming off a serious ankle injury.) I would be surprised if Evans played elsewhere before retiring, but the Egbuka addition might give the Bucs added leverage if they struggle to come to terms with their star wideout after the 2025 season.
Joe understands Barnwell’s point, but Team Glazer doesn’t too often get caught up in emotions. Remember, they let John Lynch walk. And Warren Sapp. And Derrick Brooks.
This area erupted when Team Glazer decided to move on from Brooks. And locals weren’t too giddy about Lynch bolting for Denver, either.
Team Glazer very much sticks to football and determines if a guy is worthy of returning, not relying on past accolades to dictate the future.
If Evans balls out again this year (when hasn’t he?), Joe would almost expect Evans to return, provided he doesn’t want to call it a career if he breaks Jerry Rice’s record for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
June 3rd, 2025 at 7:13 am
If I’ was a betting man I would wager he goes 13 seasons. 13, 1,000 yard years….. it is fitting
June 3rd, 2025 at 7:36 am
“….wasn’t an enormous market for his services….” Nah, just KC and Houston, 2 playoff teams I can think of off the top of my head.
“….Godwin got a larger average salary…..” A year later after the market reset.
I swear, these talking heads get assigned an opinion then figure out some half-baked “facts” to make themselves sound like they know what they’re talking about.
June 3rd, 2025 at 7:47 am
He is a Buc for life. C’mon now. Isn’t it obvious?
June 3rd, 2025 at 7:58 am
They were wrong about Lynch, Sapp was too fat and DB was clearly done when the Bucs moved on from those guys. Unless the bottom suddenly falls out, Mike is still a top 7 player at his position. He ain’t going anywhere.
June 3rd, 2025 at 8:09 am
Rice was an effective receiver at 40 and with the recovery methods that are available now, Mike could easily play that long. So just pay the man properly and ME13 will continue to offer not only great production on the field, incredible mentoring to younger receivers, and pillar of the community off the field. ME13 is my favorite Buc ever and I hope he is a BUC4EVER.
June 3rd, 2025 at 8:22 am
ME is already worth 55 million according to the site that estimates net worth of celebrities.
IE his money is ALREADY earning 5-10 million a year if he never plays another down.
WHY would ME even consider leaving Tampa? Hometown discount? Are you serious he’s already earned so much that his money makes enough money to live like a king even if he never got another penny.
Jason and ME will easily continue to negotiate contracts that keep him here.
ME is a HERO in Tampa!!! Why would he give that up for less money than his money already earns?
June 3rd, 2025 at 8:38 am
There’s something special to a player about being able to finish a career with the team that drafted you. For Evans I don’t think it’s any different. The only thing that could make him leave outside of a ridiculous lowball contract offer would be if the team went back in the dumpster. That’s it. He’s not playing for a loser again, and otherwise he’s a Buc for life.
June 3rd, 2025 at 8:47 am
Let’s just say for argument that the Glazer’s decide to not keep Evans. He will probably just retire. Really, it all just depends on this year. If he scores 10 touchdowns and gets his thousand yards he will get resigned for at least 1 more year if he wants another year. It’s hard to replace that kind of production. But then we will have to resign Goedeke and maybe Hall and Otton. Maybe even White. Gives me heartburn just thinking about it so I’ll just shut up now and enjoy the season
June 3rd, 2025 at 8:55 am
Let’s hope Mike can play 3 or 4 more years and make his 1000 consecutive year record will become The Record to stand for years to come
June 3rd, 2025 at 9:07 am
Thanks Joe, this is good news to start the day
June 3rd, 2025 at 9:09 am
I’d say he hangs them up if he doesn’t reach the 1000 yd milestone this year or whenever that happens…but with a humming offense and a great QB in Baker, he should be fine, unless he gets hurt again and misses key games
June 3rd, 2025 at 9:27 am
More knowledgeable fans on here have suggested Mike couldl do 1 year deals and has said he would like to be retired so he could try to be on the Olympic flag football team which is 2028. So he is under contract 2025 then does a one year deal for 2026 then 2027 then retires. Glazers would like it if the contracts are well priced like Lavonte’s.
June 3rd, 2025 at 9:31 am
They were big time wrong on John Lynch.
June 3rd, 2025 at 9:35 am
Love to see Mike play at least two to four more years and retire a Buc! He is the heart and soul of our team.
June 3rd, 2025 at 9:45 am
Mike gets another 1000 and we win the Super Bowl!! and Mike walks off into the Tampa Sunset!! Go Bucs
June 3rd, 2025 at 10:07 am
Mikey is a Buc for life. Hall of fame player, teammate, person. Love our Mikey.
June 3rd, 2025 at 10:22 am
here’s to your health mike
June 3rd, 2025 at 10:28 am
Unless he gets injured I have no doubt he will get his 58.8 ypg.
20-25 WRs somehow manage this “miraculous” milestone every year.
Rare air.
😂
June 3rd, 2025 at 12:18 pm
First Last Says:
I would wager he goes 13 seasons. 13x 1,000 yard years….. it is fitting
^^^^^^
I agree. Add to that, the only WR in history to never have less than 1000 in a year.
June 3rd, 2025 at 12:19 pm
I think Mike ages better than most receivers because of his go go gadget wingspan compared to other receivers.
When it comes to catching balls in the red zone or any target where you can use that wingspan – well Mikes got it.
Should allow him to be all time top 4th to 6th in receiving TDs when all is said and done.
June 3rd, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Lynch had a great career in Denver, and Sapp knotched 10 sacks one season with the Raiders. We lost two icons way too early because of Jon Gruden, not the Glazers. Gruden talked out of both sides of his mouth with the players. He couldn’t be trusted. Age caught up with DB. All three should have finished their careers here together. Imo, Gruden reached his peak as an OC, and owes everything to Monty Kiffin and the D.
June 3rd, 2025 at 1:04 pm
I remember watching Derrick Brooks on Pros VS. Joes and he got stiff armed by an average Joe twice with severe trouble bringing them down , DB 55 left the game at the right time.
June 3rd, 2025 at 2:50 pm
It all depends on how this season plays out. If he gets the yards but just misses another SB then ME is back. If he doesn’t get the yards then I think he retires. If he gets the yards and we win a SB I think he retires.
June 3rd, 2025 at 3:39 pm
UsfBucs
“If he gets the yards and we win a SB I think he retires.”
That certainly makes sense but with athletes who really knows. I was stunned and ultimately saddened when Brady didn’t hang it up after the boat parade and go out on top…like Giselle wanted.
I’ll never figure that one out. Would an EIGTH Lombardi really made much difference on Tommy Boys’ resume. Of course not. He had done it all. He not only had 3 more SBs than Montana…4 more than Mahomes…he had shown clearly that he was the straw that stirred the Patriot drink not BB.
But let’s see if TB is around at 73 with a lady 50 years younger than him. Hopefully he has better taste but after that horrid decision to not retire and that horrid roast for which he has apologized, I’m no longer certain about his judgement.
June 3rd, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Poor Doosh has been trying to run off Mike Evans for at least 5 years at this point.
He’s a Buc for life, without question. Licht’s very first draft pick…
June 3rd, 2025 at 4:38 pm
It’s all about that hamstring. He’s had trouble with it for the last 5 years at least but has typically played through it. Hopefully he stays away from too much strain until the season starts. If the hammy is good he’ll sign again.
June 3rd, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Sapp’s my fav all time, but it was time for him to go.