Zac Robinson Talks “Chomping At The Bit” To Use “Rare” Mike Evans
January 31st, 2026
The Joe typing here would wager large quantities of cash that Mike Evans will suit up for the Buccaneers later this year.
It feels inevitable, as Baker Mayfield explained.
New Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson didn’t want to talk much about pending free agent Evans during his introductory news conference this week. But hours after that, Robinson couldn’t seem to contain his Evans excitement during a visit with WDAE radio.
“Man, the fact that it’s a possibility [for Evans] to come back. Shoot, everybody would obviously love that in this building,” Robinson said. “…We’ll make sure that Mike feels like he always has here; he feels like he’s loved here and has a ton of appreciation. Like I said, I’ve been watching this guy for so long that, man, he’s a rare talent and a rare player. Obviously, a future Hall of Famer, all those things that go into it. We’ll kind of get there once we get there, but man, we’ll be chomping at the bit if that’s the case for him coming back.”
“… Mike is a true X receiver and those guys are so rare, those guys that can line up on their own. They can win down the field. They can dictate coverage. They can tilt coverage one way to open up other people on the other side. That is very rare in the NFL to have an X receiver who can do what Mike does. He’s done it for a long time and I’ve always enjoyed watching him play.”
Evans is rare, which is why he’s been the critical cog in the Bucs offense for 12 seasons. He uplifts the entire unit. As Mayfield always says, “the offense runs through Mike.” And that means much more than just throwing the ball to No. 13.
Evans’ presence is a literal game-changer, as Robinson explained.
Joe has no reason to believe Evans cannot deliver in 2026. Evans turns 33 in August. Joey Galloway had three consecutive huge seasons for the Bucs at age 34, 35 and 36. Keenan McCardell was a Bucs Pro Bowl receiver at 33 years old (2003) with an 84-catch season for 1,174 yards. Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens had monster seasons when they were 33.
Why not Mike?
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January 31st, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Fingers crossed. Hard to imagine a Bucs offense without Mike at the WR1 position.
January 31st, 2026 at 10:35 pm
Evans is rare and Bowlzo is ripe.
January 31st, 2026 at 10:56 pm
ZR’s quote was a plea. I hope it works!
I really thought that he would come back anyway. I think that he wants to play and that he only wants to play for Tampa Bay.
January 31st, 2026 at 11:40 pm
There is NO ONE on the team who can do the things 6′ 5″ Mike can do
January 31st, 2026 at 11:49 pm
Mike will be a true #1 for at least another 2-3 season. Still disappointed they didn’t lock him up to a longer term last time – but if I’m the Bucs, I’m giving a 3-year deal.
I said before last season I thought Evans career most reminds me of Terrell Owens, and Mike, like Owens, ended up getting hurt at age 32. The next year Owens, at age 33, he had 1180 yards and 13 TDs – which sounds about right to me if Baker bounces back. Owens then, at age 34, had 1355 yards and 15 TDs, then at age 35 had 1052 yards and 10 TDs, before falling off to 829 yards and 5 TDs and finally 983 yards and 9 TDs.
That’s pretty similar to how I think Evans career is going to play out. I haven’t seen a single sign of him slowing down – and Evans absolutely looks faster now than he looked in his younger years when he was heavier.