Mike Evans Will Play In 2026!
February 17th, 2026
Plans to return.
Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans is going to play this season. It seems the Bucs may get first dibs.
This fantastic news was delivered by Jenna Laine of ESPN. Apparently, Evans’ agent called the Bucs today to let the Bucs know he will play this fall and to see if they can come to an agreement on the money.
Gilmore notified the team Tuesday of Evans’ intention to continue playing and they agreed that Evans will sit down with the Bucs in the coming weeks. They can come to an agreement on a contract extension at any time. Up until this point, the team was not clear if he would be continuing to play or possibly retiring.
So there you have it. As Baker Mayfield predicted, Evans as a fire in his belly to play more football and to win.
Joe would be very surprised if Evans is not playing for the Bucs.
February 17th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
Interesting because the report I heard said he was coming back to play football next year but was going to explore his options in free agency. This report must be an update from the news that broke at 4:30 pm.
February 17th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
Click bait – His agent said they were open to all free agent options.
February 17th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
Great news
February 17th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
You knew this before Evans’ agent announced it? Could have made money with that news.
February 17th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
Rick Stroud:
“Bucs receiver Mike Evans plans to play in 2026 and explore options in free agency, accordiing to his agent Deryk Gilmore. Bucs would be in play. “Yes, that’s correct. He is opening it up ,” Gilmore said. “That he will play next season with someone. It could be Tampa but Will definitely play a 13th season”
He’s going to FA. This team has a top 3 pick without him.
February 17th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
but i thought that he was going to play anywhere but for the bucs because he hates baker and wants to go somewhere with a “real” quarterback??
just like a few of the morons here said that only a bottom of the barrel oc would come here because no one wants to be “saddled” with baker..
February 17th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
He needs to go to the Chiefs, Bills, or the Texans.
Not a ice cubes chance in Hades Bowles can win a SB as a HC.
Mike knows this and he shouted it loud.
3rd and 28!
February 17th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
I’m not paying him 20 million a year anymore. We kept Bowles it’s time to go all in on the defense this offseason. If the defense still sucks he will have no more excuses.
February 17th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
According to the article, it says:
“Wide receiver Mike Evans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ all-time leading scorer, will play a 13th season in 2026 with the destination to be determined, his agent, Deryk Gilmore, told ESPN on Tuesday.”
February 17th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
We heard all of this before, two years ago. The Rams thought they had a signed him, before he came back to Tampa. I don’t expect anything different this time.
If he did leave, it’s an indictment on Baker and what Evans really thinks about him. But, again, I don’t think it will come to do.
February 17th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Yeah for Mike. Now fix that sorry A..Defense!
February 17th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
Great news! ME13 wants this team to get another ring
February 17th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
Wouldn’t it be ironic that Lavonte David stays because the Bucs kept Bowles, but they lose Evans because they kept Bowles (3rd and 28!).
I would be shocked if Mike is not back in Tampa Bay, though.
February 17th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Eric,
Mike Evans marketing value to the Bucs in terms of ticket sales, merchandising, national exposure, plus mentorship to young players us much greater than > his current value as a player. Let’s see what happens.
February 17th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Let Mike walk !! Not worth the money !! To much time on the bench every year older he gets !! 3rd and 28 Mike !
February 17th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Joe, please place an add between the end of the article and the start of the comment section so I’m not tempted to read all these negative remarks,…….soooooooooooooooo depressing!
February 17th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Big deal…let us know when he signs on the line that is dotted here in Tampa. That is the only thing worth celebrating
February 17th, 2026 at 6:36 pm
To solely blame baker if mike leave ls to a different team is just dumb as hell. I’d blame Todd before baker, and the Seahawks showed you can when a superbowl with a great run game and a great defense, and a mediocre qb which is take baker over Sam everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. So defense and Todd will play a big part in whether Mike stays or leaves, not baker
February 17th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
If a REAL CONTENDER KNOCKS, well, you fill in the rest ________________________________________________________
February 17th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Man, the assortment of moronic takes and flat out Bucs haters on this here site that claim to be for Bucs fans is truly astonishing and depressing. It makes it harder and harder to come back here and read the infantile drivel.
The fact that Mike Evans is going to keep playing is a positive thing. He has a great rapport with Baker, he loves Todd Bowles and and is very connected to the Bucs community.
Sure, he could go somewhere else, like Houston, because he lives in Texas, but to suggest that he’ll go to another team because he hates Baker or Bowles is beyond stupid and uninformed. He loves them both.
He signed a very team friendly deal last time and may do it again. I would hope that the Bucs would take that into consideration and offer him a little more incentive to stay this time. He’s a top tier receiver, a sure Hall of Famer and has many miles left on his treads. Those here suggesting otherwise are simply clueless. He could go another 3-5 years without missing a beat. He garners 100% of the attention from opposing teams, loosening things up for the other Bucs receivers, and still manages to get his share.
Finally, a broken collarbone is not a sign of a player deteriorating with age. It’s a result of a violent sport where at any moment, in any game, something devastating like that can occur. He’s always had hamstring issues as has pretty much every other Bucs player that runs a lot. New trainer this year so who knows? Maybe the new trainer can solve that one!
February 17th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Yeah. If Mike plays elsewhere I’m sure Baker would take it as a personal insult. Munch is right. Sometimes a blind pig finds an acorn. Mike can still command big money in this game so you never know.
February 17th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
If I was ME, I’d want to know what Licht and Bowles had planned for fixing that defense before I committed to the Bucs. There’s plenty of teams out there with decent QB’s and better defenses which could use Mike Evans’ services.
February 17th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
Makes sense to see what the market will be before he signs again. Were it me, I’d just want to know what the rest of the league felt I was worth
February 17th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
I don’t know what the Bucs are paying Todd (and Todd, Jr), but Todd’s contract needs to be compromised to pay for Mike. Frankly Todd shouldn’t even be the HC after what we all saw last year.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Smells like pre-free agency period posturing to me. Saw the tweet his agent was quoted in and it was vague, as expected this time of year.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Mulch has been so quiet I thought he was on another Carnival Cruise or something. Good to see he still has Baker living in his head.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
1 Bucs , 2 Buffalo, 3 Chargers
February 17th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
I got a bad feeling about this…..
February 17th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Mike’s going to have 1300 yards and 15 TDs next year.
The Bucs had better make sure he does that here.
I think it will come down to the last second, and everyone will say he’s gone – like they did before 2024 – and he’ll be back. And if he doesn’t, again, that says everything about what he really thinks about Baker, if he was ‘injured’ last year, or just isn’t that good.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
Oh and no on Houston even though he is from Texas,, that playoff game against the Pats , Houston would have been better off w Rick Stroud at QB!
February 17th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Heck even Jerry Rice left the 49ers!!!!
Let Evans go and bring in Alec Pierce!
February 17th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Mike leaves because of keeping bowles.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
Just as I predicted.
As to those saying he may play elsewhere..lnot going to happen. He has already said it is the Bucs or retirement.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
Let’s go Mike!
Love you and your game.
Now get Lavonte back for one more rodeo.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:20 pm
Eric Says:
February 17th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
“I’m not paying him 20 million a year anymore.”
You never did, lol.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:21 pm
Mike’s agent is trying to chum the waters…Good for him.
I would hope the FO’s does not bid/overpay for the 33yr old version of Evans.
He is not going to be the guy Munch thinks he will be.
I believe he will be much closer to 600yds & 6td’s or less, at best….That’s if he can manage to play more than 14gms in 2026.
His extended history of re-occurring hamstring issues & visible age related decline in 2025 (when healthy & playing) should be very worrisome to the FO, regardless the fact that Mike is a 1st ballot HOF WR over his long & storied career…. Father time catches us all & 33 is usually not very kind to NFL WR’s.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:21 pm
His agent is saying what he said to drive up the price. We know he’ll be playing for Tampa.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
You people are absurd. Unreal that you are allowed to be this ridic. Mike Evans may be the best player in Bucs history. That might be debatable, but what isn’t debatable is bringing Mike back. First of all, a first ballot hall of famer stays right here where he belongs. You simply make it happen. Furthermore, did your eyes deceive you? Mike was balling out when he returned. He can’t stop a 3rd and 28. You act like it’s your money and we are buried by the cap space. That’s not the case. Relax and let’s let grown men handle this.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
Pay him the $20m.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:23 pm
Well said, cmurda
February 17th, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Just exactly what I said three days ago, on the article about Evans’ potential upcoming “retirement.” It wasn’t even a question, or was EVER in doubt. He was 💯 ALWAYS going to play in 2027. The only problem being, is that LICKT PAID the wrong one. I also, said that THEN. Lickt has miserably mismanaged the salary cap AND Roster Construction. We are possibly, going to have $40-MIL+ wrapped up into TWO, north of 30, banged-up WR’s. BOTH, coming back fresh off of MAJOR injuries/surgeries. It will be a lot more than that too, when it’s all said and done over the next couple of years total (in dead cap potentially and everything else), after you factor in Godwin’s third-year, and the fully guaranteed $$$$ for whatever Mike’s deal is worth. It’s not a good/smart way to run a team. Unfortunately, it is what it is.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
Scotty Mack Says:
February 17th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Man, the assortment of moronic takes and flat out Bucs haters on this here site that claim to be for Bucs fans is truly astonishing and depressing. It makes it harder and harder to come back here and read the infantile drivel.
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I 100% agree with you!
I may just continue reading the posts on the site and completely skip the comments section.
I have no problem with legitimate criticism directed towards Bowles or the team, but much of it here is (as you correctly characterized) moronic.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Yup.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
If he stays in Tampa I will be fine.
If he leaves Tampa I will be fine…
The sun rises and the sun sets each and every day.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:44 pm
Got a feeling he’s gone. Seahawks, 49ers, and Patriots got lots of cap space and I could see them being good contender fits
February 17th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Not in ANY UNIVERSE does it make ANY amount of sense to re-up with Chris Godwin (after that injury), when you already know you’re considering DRAFTING a WR. And, when KNOWING that you’re going to have to PAY MIKE NEXT. It’s just THE DUMBEST Sh!t EVER. It’s elementary. A total no-brainer. Or, should’ve been. It is for most. Just NOT JL. Though, I don’t believe HE’s ever been accused of being the “smartest” individual on the planet, or the “sharpest” tool in the shed.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:53 pm
I think Mike wants to stay in Tampa but if he cannot get a deal then I think he will listen to Houston and the Chargers. I doubt if he will go to KC, the Chiefs folded as bad as the Bucs in 2025 and he might see their window closing and the Bills are in a bit of turmoil too with a new HC and does Mike really want to play football in Buffalo in late November and December only to lose to the New England Vrabel’s as the Bills can never get over the top no matter how hard they try; goes all the way back to “wide right” at the Sombero in 1991.
February 17th, 2026 at 7:55 pm
Munch doing his usual pot stirring . ME13 will be back with Bucs because he knows Baker is a QB who gets him the ball. Before the injuries last year ME had in 2023 and 2024 a total of 25TD receptions. ME could see the same tape we all saw last season with the marshmallow middle not giving Baker enough time to look downfield. The 3rd string OG’s led to Baker’s injuries that Munch claims he was faking. Hoping and expecting Mayfield and ME13 will have an outstanding 2026. The best part of Baker playing great is Munch disappears and pouts.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Wait I gotta ask where the blind PIG finding an acorn came from?
Isn’t it a squirrel?
February 17th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
I love Mike and CGIII but last year they combined for 600 yards receiving and 5 TDs and their combined salary was $45 million. This team is going nowhere with Todd as the coach. It’s time to rebuild and the best way to start a rebuild is to let Mike and his $20 million salary walk. I wish him luck though, he’s been one of the greatest Bucs ever.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:12 pm
BucsFanSince1996 Says: (Scotty Mack) “I may just continue reading the posts on the site and completely skip the comments section.”
It’s because you can’t handle FACTS. So, you just bury your head in the sand. It’s Stockholm Syndrome. Just keep the status quo. Ignore what’s in front of your own EYES. Don’t “Think.” NEVER THINK. Definitely, NOT for yourself. Disregard the REALITY, and common sense. And, when all else fails… ATTACK The Messenger. Cause, it’s ALL ya got! It’s no different than the people who continue to ‘fall in-line’ with what the mainstream legacy media TELLS THEM. The TRUTH HURTS, when you are WEAK in your own convictions. You can’t take-it, because your beliefs are based WITHOUT reason. So, YOU get hysterical. It’s everyone else’s FAULT.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:17 pm
Gone like a 59 cadillac!
February 17th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
@ FortMyersDave Says: “I doubt if he will go to KC, the Chiefs folded as bad as the Bucs in 2025 and he might see their window closing.”
Another thing… There is a real possibility, and real world where Mahomes is not even ‘available’ for the first full MONTH+ of the season. He’ll have a tough enough time as it is right now, being fully ready for Week-1. And, that’s barring any additional injuries, re-injuries, setbacks, & etc. Yeah, he’d be CRAZY taking that kind of gamble at HIS age, and in THAT division. Plus, I think the Chiefs will be drafting a WR. If Tate falls to there, then YOU KNOW Andy ain’t letting him get away!!!!
February 17th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
Was never worried about who he would play for. He has another one or two seasons with 1k left in him. With all that we have been through with Mike, nobody should even think he would play for anyone but the Bucs. Been a fan since 76. Gotta say that he’s probably the best Buc we’ve had. JMO Yay Mike. See you next year!!
February 17th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
He goes to Atlanta with penix and Robinson Driving the bucs and Bowles crazy!
February 17th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
It’s because you can’t handle FACTS.
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Actually, it’s because commenters like you and your sockpuppets
post moronic stuff and characterize it as a “fact”.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
Who cares?
The guy will be 33 when the season starts
And he’s missed 12 games during the past 2 seasons
Teams are dropping old WRs like hot biscuits
Not holding on to them like they 25, and I their prime
February 17th, 2026 at 8:40 pm
“””In their prime”””
February 17th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Better yet he goes with Brady and the raiders developing Mendoza, keeping Crosby in LV $$$
February 17th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
Our best hope is that BOTH Mike & Chris can at least make it until the trade deadline, while looking good doing it! That way, then we can ‘move them’ BOTH at the deadline, and pick-up ‘multiple’ MULTIPLE 2027-PICKS in the most LOADED draft-class of all-time (according to Todd McShay). That’s are very BEST hope. Along with a Top-3/4 Pick, so at worst we can take Jeremiah Smith. If Love drops past 9-10-11 this year, then TAKE HIM. Might as well DREAM BIG LoL. You take HIM (and Bucky for one more year) with J. Smith, EE, JMac, & Ole Tez as your WR’s (with some nice solid pieces on your O-Line already in place), then we can LAND A TOP HC and GM. It would become a VERY attractive JOB with that kind of FIREPOWER. There wouldn’t be a better job during the cycle. Especially, with all those 2027-Picks to boot (and in ‘28, with another couple of moves). Sign a good “bridge-guy” at QB, and get the cap space in a great position, then get to ‘wheelin-n-dealin’ and start MAKING MOVES. Can already be a LEGIT Contender by as early as 2028-2029 with the ‘RIGHT’ HC and GM.
Most (if not all) of this CAN BE DONE. IF, as long as the Glazers step-in and keep an eye-on JL during this offseason. DON’T allow HIM to blow-up our cap and hurt us LONGTERM for this current DUMPSTER-FIRE/Train-Wreck. NONE of this ‘having onto’ our assets at the trade deadline, in order to help trying to SAVE HIS OWN, and TODD’S JOBS. The Bucs need to be thinking and focusing on immediate longterm future. One, that is WITHOUT Lickt & Bowles. If NOT, then we’re only delaying the inevitable. And, we’ll only be in much much WORSE shape. 💯 This Sh!t is OVERRRRRR. This is a Bottom-5 Team in the NFC. Time to wake-up and accept the REALITY. This current Bucs Franchise has NO SHOT whatsoever. NONE. ZERO.
February 17th, 2026 at 8:54 pm
He signs with Tampa, or he don’t sign with Tampa
And the game will be played, regardless
If you’re pinning your hopes on a 33 yr old WR
Then you’re in serious trouble with serious issues
February 17th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Raiders !!jeanty ,bowers and evens Nice! Bradys got a ball team!
February 17th, 2026 at 8:58 pm
Some fans seem to forget that the NFL is a results driven business & teams want to suck every last drop of value out of an asset until it becomes a liability.
Mike Evans at 33, after what he showed “when healthy” at 32, has become that liability. You cannot say he was balling – or hang your hat on Mike having 1 good game out of the 8 he played.
30 catches on 62 target for 368yds & 3 TD’s – with 37yds total YAC…No separation, more drops than we have seen from the man since his rookie season…And hamstring issues again – a re-occurring issue that’s popped up every single yr since 2019…Are all RED FLAG indicators that he has hit the age-performance decline in a major way. Age 33 is usually the “fall off a cliff” year.
You don’t pay the player for what they used to be…You don’t overpay for a declining asset & you don’t keep a liability on the books.
It’s not a charity, it’s a business. A business that should be more worried about winning football games than selling “retirement season” merch.
It doesn’t me he is not a HOF WR, he is. It doesn’t take way anything he has accomplished in Tampa, that’s set in stone…It’s just the reality of the NFL.