Report: Mike Evans-Bucs Talks “Got A Little Weird”
March 14th, 2026
Sports Illustrated national NFL insider Albert Breer didn’t hesitate when asked about how ex-Bucs receiver Mike Evans landed with the 49ers.
Previously, Breer spoke about Evans being San Francisco’s third choice receiver in free agency.
On Monday, when Evans hit free agency, he did not strike a deal with San Francisco right away. During the few hours or so after the free agency bell rang and before an announcement of Evans’ new contract, a report circulated that one NFL unnamed team was offering Evans $27 million on a one-year contract. It wasn’t the 49ers.
Breer told The Rich Eisen Show this week that information came from Evans’ camp and “there were some teams that didn’t believe that to be the truth.”
The Bucs reached a point with Evans, per Breer, where their attitude was “Well, do you want to come back here or not?”
Breer implied that Evans had no offer on the table from another team when free agency kicked off while the Bucs were waving their offer before Evans and his agent.
“I’d say things certainly got a little weird between Evans and the team,” Breer said of the Bucs. “… I think everything [the Bucs] said publicly about Evans is true. It’s just it seemed like it had gotten a little weird and awkward over the weekend.”
It’s rather obvious now that on Monday the Bucs realized how badly Evans wanted to leave Tampa and chase what he believed to be a better team.
Oh, well.
Joe wonders if Evans realizes the 49ers won six games in 2024 while Brock Purdy started 15 games?
Ira Kaufman Talks New Signings, Maxx Crosby, Reaction To Mike Evans’ Comments To San Francisco Media, And Much More
March 14th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
I would to love to see someone using #13 this season
March 14th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Joe your last line is my exact thinking…he bolted because of bowles they must have clashed last year and Mike must have turned on everyone, maybe he begged for travis hunter money and a chance at cornerback..we will never know..all I know is we have emeka egbuka,Chris godwin,jailen McMillan and tez and gainwell and otton…we draft good for defense and turn it around and we become the better team
March 14th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
The Bucs are the laughing stock of the league. Worse than the Jets, Giants, Browns, Titans. It’s now time to accept that fact, and short of selling the team, the Glazers need to blow the whole thing up and hope they get lucky with the next GM, that he actually knows about winning instead of all this other BS.
If this GM cares about winning, Bucs would have a winning head coach instead of the fat loser.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Hopefully the Bucs can, some how, some way, have a better record then the Niners this season. So TB can have the last laugh.. doubtful i know lol…I’ll always love Mike and I respect and understand his decision. Shanahan 100% over Bowles 10 times outta 10. BUT he shoulda been a one jersey Buc legend like DB, Ronde and Alstott. Ah well. I still like our WR room. Godwin has to stay healthy though.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Does Mike get #13 from Purdy?
March 14th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
I think maybe, just maybe the FO understood what I have been proclaiming for weeks…That Mike at 33yrs old – after what he showed “while healthy” during 8 games…Was not worth offering a 3yr contract or anything close to (reported) $20M aav that SF supposedly offered….Which I 100% support as a good business decision.
Turn the page…Draft Mike’s replacement at X WR in APR & move forward with a much cheaper positional group before Baker’s $50M/yr decision is made…And while preparing for Godwin to exit after 2026 to help pay for that next QB1 deal.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
My Son who is 11 and has multiple #13 jersey’s said it hurt his feelings when Mike left, and although he wishes him well for helping us win the Super Bowl he hopes we beat the snot out of him in the playoffs. I truly agree
March 14th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Does he also realize the whiners were SMASHED in the playoffs 41-6 by ther division rival?
Love ya Mike, and wish you well, but they aren’t one piece away.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Make or break year for Bowles and Licht. Come out hot or the Glazers start looking at a top 5 pick with a new QB and a full rebuild. This is not an “all in season” like ‘20 or the Gruden hire. Those years are rare. Better to go all in and win it all or blow a year and get a hopefully franchise QB and a highly valued coach. But I’m no owner or GM. Just feels like a one foot in season.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
He left.
Don’t act like the hurt ex.
Man up. Move on.
The Draft is next month!
March 14th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
Let’s jus keep it 1000 Evans don’t believe in baker mayfield..
March 14th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
So his leaving was weird and Coens leaving was weird. Does the big happy family, we love everyone routine make it so no one wants to be up front and honest with the team?
March 14th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
I thought the better team is the L.A. Rams or Dallas where he lives. But Shanahan is a drawer to them.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
See you in the playoffs Mike – if you make it
March 14th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
We already have Godwin’s replacement threefold. Finding a 50/50 ball winner that can stretch the field and play X is the problem.
Stefon Diggs is a free agent projected to get around $13-14 per season deal. He sure seems worth looking at to me.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
JoeMikeEvansFan dot com
March 14th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Weird uccs. We wird.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
He decided to play someplace else. So be it. It was HIS decision to make. He had to start thinking about what is best FOR HIMSELF post-career, for his life AFTER FOOTBALL. Hanging around Silicon Valley with a pocket full of CASH available to invest, while being the new popular star in town, and mingling around at all of the major cocktail parties and events, is probably not a bad thing for hm. And, I’d say that 💯 played a big-part of Lynch’s overall pitch.
If you or your son bought #13 Bucs Jerseys… You did very well. You made a great choice. A future HOF’er, and ‘all-time’ great Buc. Hell, you can’t beat that! Coulda been A LOT worse. He helped get us SUPER BOWL, and gave us many great years!!!!
March 14th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Man I can only dream of a sold out home playoff game, Bucs in their playoff red unis, hosting the 49ers, and the camera right on Mike as he storms off the field whining because he just blew his shot at a second ring
March 14th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
It’s not “what he thinks” is a better team.
It’s a better team.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Homers are going to homer. The toilet will bring you a 4-13 season and week in and week out you all will be singing his praises.
Its a Bucs life.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
‘74 Bucs Fan Says:
March 14th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Make or break year for Bowles and Licht. Come out hot or the Glazers start looking at a top 5 pick with a new QB and a full rebuild. This is not an “all in season” like ‘20 or the Gruden hire. Those years are rare. Better to go all in and win it all or blow a year and get a hopefully franchise QB and a highly valued coach. But I’m no owner or GM. Just feels like a one foot in season.
======================================
Proving my point about the idiots who post here. The Bucs have a “franchise QB.” Had he not been hurt playing behind a junior college O line things would have been better over the last 8 games. Even with the injuries Mayfield had a statistical year nearly identical to Sam Darnold, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Is there any reason Culp can’t be the new X? Virtually same size/weight, plus he’s faster
March 14th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
@ Doughboy Says: “I thought the better team is the L.A. Rams or Dallas where he lives.”
Neither one of those teams have a need at WR. The Rams might DRAFT one, for Davante’s eventual replacement, but they definitely aren’t in any desperate NEED. Certainly NOT an old and banged-up one. Nor do they have the $$$$. It’s why they will DRAFT a WR. It only makes sense.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
@ Gipper – STILL as ‘delusional’ as EVER. You’re not even a real Bucs Fan. YOU are only a BAKER-Fan, and that is so obvious to see, on just so many levels.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
The huge upgrade at head coach is why he left. This is not rocket science.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
It feels like a LOT is said about you when New England kicks you to the curb after a season where you’re BY FAR the best receiver on a team absolutely starved for receiving and you’re such a toxic time bomb that is too dumb to stop getting into not-small-time trouble who’s 100% gonna get himself suspended sooner than later, if not something worse.
When Licht was doin the sports talk rounds last year, it felt like one of his major talkin point every interview was about only going after guys with quality character and even maybe not signing someone we could get, that would benefit the team roster-wise, but avoid specifically due to rotten character.
That doesn’t sound like a team that signs Stefon Diggs after the year or two he’s had off the field lol
March 14th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
third and 28 is why he left. Crappy defence and crappy head coach
March 14th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
Who Dat!
March 14th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Mike may have thought the SF 49ers are a Purdy good time right now. Certainly he thought that the SF 49ers were better than any team that the Tampa Bucs May Field.
March 14th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
Unless, it is a can’t miss “generational talent,” you DON’T go QB in the draft, until YOUR ROSTER is built for it FIRST. Period. End of Story. You sign a placeholder/vet/bridge, THEN you go and DRAFT your ‘franchise-QB’ to put in THE BEST position as possible to succeed with a STRONG ROSTER. Rebuilt O-Line, and WEAPONS. You get HIM on a ‘rookie’ deal, when it comes time that you have to PAY your talent. That’s The Way. TEAM-BUILDING 101. You get the RIGHT HC and GM. Plenty of PICKS in the beginning, and clear up as much SALARY CAP as humanly possible. 💯
March 14th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
And if guys like Evans, White or Dean left because of conflict with the front office/coaches… okay, adults can have beef without it meaning oh the team is terrible, no one wants to be here, look at these guys throwin shade on their way out.
Except… we’ve signed more players than we’ve lost thus far lol and not scrubs or naive newb players, most are seasoned veterans. Why would guys like Gainwell or Anzalone willingly sign here if it’s so terrible lol, as if only the players who are playing on a team realize the team is terrible so no one wants to be here. Like we even signed the DT from flippin Carolina lol why would Robinson (A’Shawn something?) come to a division rival, a TEN YEAR VET?? if this team were so terrible that Bowles or the Glazers unwillingness to part ways with the coaches are making superstars in their prime like Raschaad White or Evans, definitely not a top 10 WR at this point in his career, run for the opposite side of the country lol
Logan Hall was never getting resigned, he did nothing this season to change that fact.
We knew Dean was leaving since he restructered his deal, good player but whatever we were set on moving on from him I guess.
White was never getting resigned either, almost certainly due to attitude and not his play.
Losing Evans sucks but I had a feeling he’d wanna goto a team perceived as legit in the mix for SB conders like LAR, SF, KC or BUF… any of them except Philly lol.
Feels like the Bucs maybe woulda paid close to what he ended up getting, but I’d wager TB wouldn’t commit to 2+ years, getting 4 is kinda nuts but I saw only 1 year is actually guaranteed so
SF could definitely be good and Evans will certainly be a key cog in their offense, but they don’t seem like they’re realistically an Evans away from winning or even being in a SB, not after Seattle dismantled them so completely. They could be the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team in that division, which Tampa could be in that same situation… but Atlanta and New Orleans look significantly behind us and Carolina could continue improving, but their season sure felt fluky.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Look at all the amazing free agents that are busting down the doors of One Buc Place for a chance to play with Baker Mayfield!
We got…
And aged LB from Detroit… and an aged LB from Detroit!
Also we got Cade Otton coming back at full price, no hometown discount for a chance to play with Baker!
March 14th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
I’ve def been more in agreement with IraBucsFan over JoeEvansFan thus far on the whole Mike Evans landing
March 14th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Joe wonders if Evans realizes the 49ers won six games in 2024 while Brock Purdy started 15 games?
————–
One thing is for certain, he watched first hand Baker Mayfield single handedly knock the Bucs out of the playoffs with his terrible play down the stretch. Mike worked his rear end off to get back for the playoffs, only to see Bum Baker lose games a middlingly backup NFL QB wins.
Baker is not a winner, he’s a streaky choke artist who might play a good game in week 5, but in week 16, with the season on the line, collapses like a lump of … Just like he did in the playoffs vs the Redskins in the 4th quarter, and just like he did in the playoffs vs the Lions with 2 mins left.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Munch,
Take the bet that if Mayfield has a year equal to 2024, you never post here again and you get fired out of a large cannon at RayJay stadium without a helmet.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
baker had to play hurt cause the bucs didnt have a capable backup. everyone paid the price for the moronic bridgewater fiasco. especially jmac.
just another day of moronicness at one buc place.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
@Rod Munch
STFU please. We get it – you think Baker sucks and everything is his fault..
March 14th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Sounds like ME wanted to feel appreciated by the Bucs with a big payday, while the Bucs know an older play is at risk of slowing down or more prone to injuries.
Hopefully ME and the Bucs thrive without one another.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Fans should probably stop marrying players they move on all the time. The team is the only constant, wish Mike well it’s definitely best for both parties to move on.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:40 pm
Evans did post a short farewell to Bucs fans just recently thanking Bucs fans for their support over the last 12 years. Better a little late than not at all. I wish him well and don’t blame him for making a career choice that he thought was best for him at this point, whatever the reason or reasons!
March 14th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
I’m just very excited that today is the ‘opening weekend’ of THE SEC BASEBALL Schedule, & a ‘triple-header’ to boot. Baum-Walker was JACKED earlier, for this HUGE #3 vs #5 matchup to get things goin!!!! Beautiful day there today. Two more games to go today/tonight on SECnetwork. The ‘new-rules’ has made games soooo much smoother, and has REALLY sped them up. NIL has allowed soooo many more of the very TOP Prospects to go to school. I mean, TOP PROSPECTS and 1ST-ROUND PICKS are now littered all across College Baseball, & especially in THE SEC. The stadiums are getting bigger and better with luxury suites, pitching labs, player and stadium amenities, & ALL OF IT. Universities are inventions BILLIONS of DOLLARS into their Baseball Programs. Especially, in THE SEC where literally EVERY team is spending TENS & TENS of MILLIONS. It’s an arms race right now, and it is AWESOME.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
He knows Jason Licht isnt story
March 14th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
The Bucs taking the “common sense” route
Why sign an aging WR, especially one that have missed 12 of 34 games
And we have a solid WR corps
Great job Licht 👍👍👍
March 14th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
MelJR,
If Munch doesn’t survive the cannon shot at RayJay, you are next.
March 14th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Direct result of keeping Bowles.
And what have they done since then?
Got a DB, an ILB, an edge, and a DT… None of which are known for getting to the QB. And they made the team older. And they lost their best CB.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
It’s done and over. Time to move on, fix the holes in leadership and personnel that the Bucs face right now going into the draft and training camp.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
We’ll be lucky to win 6 games this year. Buckle up for the biggest disaster season ever and a total meltdown by fans. Bowles won’t survive this. Jason L will be lucky if he does.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Rod munch,
Maybe take a break from the Baker obsession and try evaluating a roster like a grown adult instead of posting emotional hot takes every time a headline drops.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Evans may change his mind their first time he has to wait on one of Purdy’s softballs while a safety is bearing down on him. Purdy makes Bridgewater look like Bert Jones.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
“David Says:
March 14th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Direct result of keeping Bowles.
And what have they done since then?
Got a DB, an ILB, an edge, and a DT… None of which are known for getting to the QB. And they made the team older. And they lost their best CB.”
Dean was never staying, we weren’t gonna give a 3 year contract to a 29 year old db.
A’Shawn Robinson is a HUGE upgrade over Gaines/Hall, Al-Quadin Muhammad is a HUGE upgrade over Reddick, Alex Anzalone is a HUGE upgrade over Voss.
Literally nothing you said was correct
March 14th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
According to these highly educated posters
It’s a solid business decision to sign a 33 yr old WR for $20+ million a season
A WR that missed 8 games the previous season
A WR that had a 49% catch ratio, 30 receptions, 368 yards
It makes a whole lot of sense to sign him for that kind of money
When his position is a position of strength
It makes even more sense, when you’re in desperate need of defensive players
And you have a very limited cap space
🤔🤔🤔🤔
March 14th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
The Buccaneers know Mike’s body better than anyone. He can’t be counted on for more than 10-12 games. Chronic hamstrings do not get better with age. Would I have wanted him back. Yes! Do I mourn his loss, no. Wide receiver is not an issue. This offense is good enough to make the playoffs.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Munch will never change. He is an old crotchety retired…person who thinks his opinion is everything. But in reality he is pissed off that Baker has proven him wrong more times than we can count. Baker will be back to performing at top 5 or 10 qb play and Munch will have to shut up for that time all the while hoping Baker gets hurt so he can say I told you idiots so. Same song different verse with him. He is a very slow learner. When the staff puts together a good enough team we will run deep into the playoffs. Baker has never been our problem.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Baker is a top 10 QB in the NFL. Maybe just outside the top 5. He’s excellent when healthy and protected.
March 14th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Wow, 39 year old Josh Johnson signs with Cincinnati. We drafted that dude 18 years ago
March 14th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
Beeej Says:
March 14th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Wow, 39 year old Josh Johnson signs with Cincinnati. We drafted that dude 18 years ago
_____________________________________________________________
Biggest mystery in sports. That dude has nude pics of somebody
March 14th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Okay, enough about Mike Evans! Sh!t is annoying af! How many more articles can you do about him? It’s getting sooooo old, soooo fast. Quit living in the past and move on. The reasons don’t matter anymore. We have a newer group of young talented receivers that we can focus on, and not this old, run-down racehorse that needs to be taken out to the pasture. Can we just focus on the future now, and not some guy that didn’t wanna play here, or couldn’t contribute and actually suit up for most games. Most people think we got off lucky that I talk to, saving us a ton of money, and not signing an over-the-hill receiver that would only be here ’cause we felt we owed it to him to sign him again.
March 14th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
Not sure why so many people are trashing Mike. He gave everything he had for 12 years and helped us win a Super Bowl. He just realized what a lot of people including me saw. The defense is trash and Bowles is not an NFL head coach. At best he is a defensive coordinator and if you look at his defenses except for the Super Bowl year they were mediocre at best and some years down right garbage. Don’t blame Mike for wanting to win another Super Bowl and leaving the Bucs to do it. This team is not winning a Super Bowl anytime soon.
March 14th, 2026 at 6:19 pm
Mike doesn’t believe in Todd Bowles. Just remember 3rd &28. Baker wasn’t on the field for 3rd & 28 or 4th & 14. Mike knows this team goes nowhere with TB as coach. Sample size is too large, that he’s a .500 coach, and that’s about it.
March 14th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
Joe (article obviously inspired by this Caddyshack quote)
Bill Murray as assistant Greenskeeper Carl Spackler
“But, seriously, no b.s……if you ever want to rap or anything.
You know, just talk….or just get weird with somebody….
You know…buddies for life
You drop by my place any time.
March 14th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
if you’re familiar with san fran, mike is getting a crib at the cross section of haight st. & hamstring lane
March 14th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
maybe mike thinks he can rack up 4,000 yards in 3 years in san fran…
like he will hit a whole new gear over there with no hammy’s…yes as we speak mike is having his hammy’s removed from his body like they remove wisdom teeth…
anything is possible