Jason Licht Says He And Mike Evans “See Eye-To-Eye”
February 26th, 2026
Does pending free agent receiver legend Mike Evans need a sales pitch to believe the Bucs can be a Super Bowl contender in 2026?
Joe posed that question to Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht on the latest Ira Kaufman Podcast, on which Licht was a special guest.
“I don’t think so,” Licht said regarding needing to pitch Evans. “Mike knows, he and I have had a lot of conversations over the last year, and I think he — I don’t want to put words in his mouth — but I think he sees what we have, the talent that we have, especially on his side of the ball, what we were able to do over the last few years when healthy. And I know he loves his teammates; I know he absolutely loves his teammates, all of them. I don’t know how much of a sales pitch I’d have to give. But I think he understands; I think we see eye-to-eye and he knows what we’re capable of.”
Licht added that he and Evans have talked regularly through the years and are close. Joe will add that Licht is unique among NFL general managers when it comes to how tight he is with players and how respected and revered he is in the locker room.
Lots of GMs struggle with those connections. It’s a strong suit of Licht and very likely will be a factor in Evans re-signing with the Bucs.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Licht is sounding like a dad & GM all at once.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
I know a lot want Jason gone. I’m not one of them. Jason has gotten better thru the years. He’s not perfect. He swings and misses just like every other GM the big difference and why he is still around is cause he hits more than he misses. Biggest knock on him is he hasn’t bin able to draft a pass rusher.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
“I think we see eye-to-eye and he knows what we’re capable of.”
8-9, 9-8, 10-7, 8-9 in the regular season. 1-3 in the postseason.
And zero SB appearances. That is the capability of this team under Bowles.
Mike needs to go to a team with a coach that has a game plan to win games.
Not to be their best friend and most everything soft and easy for them to just collect pay checks.
Champions pay the price of admission. Bowles apparently is broke in that regard.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
I have always been a big fan of Jason Licht but him keeping Todd Bowles has changed my opinion on him.
February 26th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
starting off 6 and 2, then 3 & 28!! Mike is scared, can’t trust this team no longer!! Better get Pittman on the line, Go Bucs
February 26th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
He is not Going Anywhere. Theye are like a Father & Son.
February 26th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
Ok, then commit to it! Go get some FAs on Defense. Hell, pay the moon and the stars for Crosby. Why not?
Make another run.
Get rid of the LOSERS and UNRELIABLES on the Defense. We know who thy are. Zyon. SVD. Hall. Kancey. Yaya. Braswell.
February 26th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Ocala:
I get the feeling because I’m in the same boat. I’m hoping that it was just a glazer thing and he’s carrying the company line and being very professional. I can’t believe that he actually believes that in his heart.
I do think he’s a quality personnel guy and GM. I hope he can get better with drafting dline and rushers.
February 26th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Why does Jason think the defense has sucked?
February 26th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Have no opinion (good or bad) on the job Licht does as GM when it comes to the draft.
That said I do not think highly of his comments:
Braswell’s going to shock the world.
Ramirez is giving Wirfs all he can handle.
It’s a true quarterback competition between Trask and Mayfield.
And finally bragging about the high percentage of draft picks on the roster doesn’t mean they are any good and I wish he’d just stop.
February 26th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
ModHairKen,
The Bucs were serious with winning a SB when they got Brady and Co. In 2020. They stopped getting serious with ” making another run” in 2021when they drafted a bunch of failed future prospects like Tryon and others instead of rookies who could contribute to defend title that year, failed to trade for a top centre when Jenson went down, promoted Bowles to HC after he lost conference final to Rams. In 2022 they messed up again when Leftwhich was allowed to stay on as OC when he was nothing without Arians red pen. Also, AB was paid peanuts, maybe AB could have kept it together enough to finish the season if he wasn’t paid like a WR4.
Lastly, signing Godwin to a 3 year deal while Evans got 2, shows who the Bucs wanted more. This situation was foreseeable.
Evans should leave for a team that is actually serious about winning a SB.
Evans should leave.
February 26th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
I was there when Mike went down with injury. I thought that may be the last time I see him. Then the bobblehead dolls. It’s not hard to see where this is going. He is expendable when you look at recent production. Let someone else overpay for half a year. Love him, but it’s time. If he can get a bag from someone else then he needs to grab it.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
@Warren Brooks Lynch – I got a similar feeling.
Licht’s first draft pick as a GM, no doubt he views him like a son, of sorts…