Summarizing The Mike Evans Reports
March 9th, 2026
Good morning! Welcome to NFL free agency 2026.
The action starts at noon. The fun heated up hours ago.
Pending free agent Mike Evans, the greatest receiver in Bucs history, has the attention of Buccaneers fans and the nation.
Much is being said about Evans; too much has been nonsense.
Here’s a summary:
*Joe has to start with Evans’ agent, who has been peddling a steady stream of borderline gibberish for weeks. One moment he has Evans consdering all 32 teams; one moment he claims Evans has a list of diva-like demands few teams could meet. The agent also claims Evans has hot weather concerns about Tampa — while he lives in his broiling native south Texas and stays there to train in the offseason. Joe could go on and on. Evans’ agent is a known fearmongerer and has been all over the place desperately trying to draw attention to Evans. Why so many media take the guy seriously is beyond Joe’s comprehension.
*Next is longtime Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, who writes for Tampa Bay’s failing twice-weekly community newspaper. Stroud told ESPN radio that Evans will not play for the Bucs if he sniffs free agency at noon today. “If you let him out there and look around, you’re going to lose him,” Stroud said with gusto. Stroud claims Evans wants the Bucs to show him fresh evidence that they’re all-in on winning like they were when Tom Brady was quarterback. Joe doesn’t buy any of that noise.
*Joe also is appalled by the chirping from various media claiming Evans wants a guaranteed number of targets the Bucs cannot promise him. Evans is not that guy and never has been. Why insult Evans like that? Shame on you! More important, Evans has always had a lot of targets by league standards through his Bucs career. That would not change in 2026.
*Two true NFL insiders with deep, lasting and close ties to the Bucs, Adam Schefter and Peter Schrager, are not envisioning Evans leaving Tampa. But Jonathan Jones of CBS reports Evans’ career in Tampa is over — while Greg Auman of Fox Sports says Evans will let the Bucs counter any offer he gets outside Tampa.
*When Baker Mayfield was last heard from, the Bucs’ franchise QB was very confident Evans will play this season for Tampa Bay.
More Evans noise should be bubbling up late this morning or early afternoon.
Joe has been consistent for weeks — before and after talking to all kinds of powerful people at the NFL Scouting Combine. Expect Evans back in Tampa. But there still remains a slim chance Evans could be wowed and wooed away by a truly extraordinary offer (think $30 million annually) that the Bucs won’t meet.
March 9th, 2026 at 3:00 am
Good morning from Vietnam!
First time back and it is a beautiful country and extremely affordable for vacations.
I love ME and what he has meant and the success he has brought to the franchise.
It’s tough to say but he deserves to play his last days of football with a real Super Bowl contender…
Enjoy the rest of your career with a fresh start with a Super Bowl contender.
Love you Mike!
March 9th, 2026 at 3:52 am
It would be a shame if Bowles was kept on and that Mike Evans left. Something is definitely wrong with this team.
March 9th, 2026 at 4:03 am
its not my money, but id hate to see us pay top dollar for a WR that can only play half a year. 3/4 ok. He’s a red zone magnet, teams have to account for him! then there is the fact he is the best WR to ever put on a Bucs jersey, and will be our first OFFENSIVE player in the HOF one day
March 9th, 2026 at 4:23 am
We *must* re-sign him. Really, we should have tagged him in light of the fact that we lose 13 million in cap money if he leaves.
March 9th, 2026 at 4:32 am
It doesn’t matter, 9-8, 8-9.
March 9th, 2026 at 4:35 am
GET MIKE RESIGNED its the simple
March 9th, 2026 at 4:39 am
No injuries and a nice defensive draft and this is a 10-7 or 11-6 football team, IMO.
March 9th, 2026 at 6:40 am
Stpetematt, that 13 million is the thing all the talking heads never mention. So we can either have Mike Evans for 20, or not have Mike for 13. It’s a question of about 7-10 million, not whatever contract total he ends up signing.
And I do find it hilarious that all these “insiders” have different information. I guess some may be more “inside” than others.
March 9th, 2026 at 6:40 am
Evans and Mayfield will both be here at least a couple years. Problem is Baker gets in trouble when he’s forcing the ball to Mike. He was able to get him the 1000 yards the year before, but last year the two of them weren’t on the same page. Let’s leave out the yardage bonus and let’s play ball!
March 9th, 2026 at 6:51 am
Do you really want to be known as the GM that let ME13 get away?
I think Jason Licht whose future is tied inextricably to Todd Bowles due to Lichts’ failure to demand the Glazers fire Todd after ” The Debacle” last season better not lose Mike Evans.
However, Joe is correct that a 30 Million dollar offer might be hard to match by Tampa. Firmly believe Mike stays where he loves it-right here in Tampa.
March 9th, 2026 at 7:16 am
If I were Evans knowing this team has no shot at even a playoff run under bowles why would I stay?
Owners really screwed this team up…again.
March 9th, 2026 at 7:48 am
This is reaching Stamkos levels of nonsense. Like Stammer, Mike is a legendary player with deep ties to the community and fans. Similarly, he’s nearing an age where his production on the field is expected to dip. Does that mean he’s out of gas—not at all. Look at the much improved season Stammer is having this year. But all things being equal, and judging the situation dispassionately, this team can survive without Mike. Reallocate that $ smartly, and maybe they can even thrive.
March 9th, 2026 at 8:08 am
What most fail to realize is the intangibles that a HOF WR like ME13 brings are worth millions also.
Do you really think Egbuka has such a good rookie season without the sage advice and tutelage of Evans? Nope.
Mike is a pillar of the community and always represents Tampa in the best way.
Glazers make a pile on Evans merch sales.
Mike Evans is not a star-Mike Evans is a superstar.
March 9th, 2026 at 8:09 am
The Evans discombobulation panic continues.
March 9th, 2026 at 8:19 am
No one but Mike Evans is going to make this decision.
March 9th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Derrick. The bucs ain’t a Superbowl team and it’s time to face reality about that. I don’t care what Mike Evans does if he leaves good and if he stays good it will be another excuse for Baker Mayfield if he leaves and if he stays it will be Todd Bowles, the OC fault or he was injured excuse wich is my favorite. No NFC Championship the bucs must move on from Bowles, Licht and Baker Mayfield those 3 got to go because they will never win or go to a Superbowl.
March 9th, 2026 at 8:42 am
Providing an excellent draft and good FA signings with about a 22 player roster turnover the Bucs could easily be a Super Bowl team. Do not forget this squad beat the Seahawks in Seattle.
March 9th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Sorry to say this but 13 is DONE with radio!!!
A$$ defense. A$$ HC.
All them HC out there this year they stuck with radio
March 9th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Offense with new OC could be Superbowl caliber. Defense is far from Super Bowl caliber, and special teams is an unknown right now. Is it possible Mikes strong arming Jason L to get some high level FA defensive players? Because JL does not usually make those moves.
March 9th, 2026 at 9:08 am
If they thought he would leave they would’ve tagged him. IMO
March 9th, 2026 at 9:10 am
He is not going anywhere. If he leaves, he would have to learn about his new city, new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, players, realtors, transportation, climate (although probably one year), weather. Schools, places to live and the unsettled feeling that I just made the biggest mistake for changing teams when the fans of Tampa loved me and my family for over a decade. They drafted me and they embraced my spirit. Those number 13 jersey’s will be gone in the new stadium and the new fans wouldn’t understand his touchdown celebration. Mike is a stately figure in Tampa Florida, he is not starting over for one year or two, max. The Glasers will have nothing to do with the greatest offensive player in franchise history leave the building. No way, no how.
March 9th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Your are so always Onielbuc. Lets get an even shorter QB Kyley Murray in FA or fifth team Darnold in a trade. Get an even shorter QB or one on even more teams over his career.. Lets do it.
March 9th, 2026 at 9:43 am
Lickt has to bring back Mike, in order to save face for the Godwin disaster. You can’t choose Chris over Mike. Especially, when you then proceeded to already draft Godwin’s replacement. Also, Baker is not the same QB without MIKE. I mean, just think how MANY times Baker looks to Mike to bail him out. Hell, lots of times, Good Ole Bake Bake just throws it up to him. And, more times than not Mike will come down with it! What is Bake’s record WITHOUT MIKE… Maybe, 4-8!? Ummmm, that’d be good for about a .333% win percentage. I mean, it’s a BIG struggle for him to throw for even 200-YARDS, without Mike Evans in there.
March 9th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Chris was always replaceable (then you throw-in THAT injury, age, etc.). So much so, that Lickt drafted his replacement (to a tee) in the exact same draft, right after handing him 3-years/$66-MILLION, with $44-MILLION fully-guaranteed. Mike’s size and length alone (even at his age now) makes HIM a freaking unicorn.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Free agency doesn’t start until Wednesday.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:12 am
fearmonger is the preferred term not fearmongerer – The Grammar Police
March 9th, 2026 at 10:12 am
“Mike is a pillar of the community and always represents Tampa in the best way.”
Not when he kneeled during the national anthem. Should have cut ties with him and any other kneeling pansies then.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Henry. When I was a youth in 1969 and the Black Panthers were burning down Chicago I remember comments from neighbors about what we should do about that. Then I heard my dad’s contradictory comments. Something along the lines of if they’d done the same to his grandparents he’d have burned their shlt down along time ago. There are 2 sides to every story. And, thank you dad.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Joe. You’re not gonna let Henry get away with that and not post a rebuttal. Are you? At least scrub his nonsense from this page at the very least. This is a Bucs site. I think there are white supremacy sites available for those needing that.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:40 am
So if mike comes back, he’ll be on the books for around 20. Godwin is already on the books for 34 and baker for 55. Pretty stupid to blow your load on 3 players when you have gaping holes everywhere. Sounds like Godwin and baker need to restructure.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:47 am
@ Kenton Smith – Scrub it, and White Supremacist!? YOU are stupid. Dumb AF. A lot more than I originally thought. You’re absolutely BRAINWASHED, and entirely incapable of thinking for YOURSELF. So, I won’t even try explaining your lack of DEPTH. It’s just pure ignorance. Garbage.
March 9th, 2026 at 10:50 am
Mike Evans knelt in one game in 2016 and one game in 2017 to protest Donald Trump. Bravo to Mike for having the stones to stand up for what he believes. Freedom of speech and the right to protest are protected by the Constitution-You should read it sometime.
March 9th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Today is ” Legal Tampering Day”. Everyone in the NFL knows it and most fans do too.
March 9th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Kenton is on the money.
March 9th, 2026 at 11:15 am
Did my part
March 9th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Any wise Bucs fan would be showing #13 some love right about now
March 9th, 2026 at 11:30 am
To many of these statements and reports paint Evans as a selfish player. Which we all know he is not. He is certainly not a diva either. I think he stays for team friendly deal. I still think at the end of the day staying with the same team that drafted you this far in your career means a lot more than what is being publicized.
March 9th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Come back M1K3! This team needs You!!! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
March 9th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Slacker baker, did restructure his contract. Created 14 million dollars in cap savings. So really Chris needs to restructure. Mike Evans has been injury prone the last 2 years. If the price gets to steep you have to let him go. Spend money on defense, get an edge rusher, some db depth and maybe some o-line depth also. Defense and offensive line injuries killed this team, as baker wasn’t able to play with his starting offensive line all season
March 9th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Rick Stroud is always wrong so I’m happy he thinks Mike is gone
March 9th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
You can ALWAYS TELL who’s an “actual”, long time fan and who the transplants are when speaking of just how easy it is for some to say goodbye as you talk about money that you technically have No Clue on How, What, or Why when it comes to our ICON Mike Evans….
If it’s a matter of monopoly money for you then you Haven’t Been through the hard times with us and just “EXACTLY WHAT” Mike Evans means to us and what it would mean to the faithful for him to finish his career here.
Of Course we would understand him leaving due to a coach that never deserved to run this team into the ground but made it his lifetime Fook Up to do so.. THAT IN A NORMAL BALANCED AND MAKING SENSE WORLD IS A SIN!
However. Regardless. Sure wish he’d finish up right Here where He’s Loved Forever at home..
It’s easy to see who’s, who….
March 9th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Nothing I posted was racist you racist morons Kenton and Todd or is it Mutt and Jeff.
March 9th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
Sorry Henry. Bet your dad was a chicken shlt just like you are.
March 10th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
He’s going to a top 5 coach, a top 5 offense and a top 10 QB. Not to mention the way the 49ers draft and develop. He wont have to watch the side show BS like Third and 28. He’ll have a better chance to chase a ring.