Jalen McMillan Bummed About Mike Evans’ Departure, Excited For Future
June 2nd, 2026
Time to fly.
Mike Evans is gone. And he ain’t coming back, other than to be put in the Ring of Honor, flash his Hall of Fame ring, return for Super Bowl reunions or, perhaps, his jersey retirement.
(Joe thinks only Bucs players who spend their entire careers in Tampa Bay and are in the Hall of Fame should be eligible for a jersey retirement — though Joe might be open-minded to retire No. 12.)
There is no world in which Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan wanted to see Evans walk out the back door of One Buc Palace and take a pay cut to go to another team. But that’s exactly what happened. So while McMillan is bummed about that, he’s equally excited to see what he and Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka can do for the Bucs’ passing offense.
“Obviously, [Evans] was a huge part of this program,” McMillan said. “We can’t replace him. But, like I’ve been saying, he’s left this room in great hands.
“He’s given so much knowledge to us [as has Chris Godwin]. I mean, I’m just excited to step in and see what we could do. This is where we’re going to gain confidence. This is where we’re going to play without Mike.
“We played without Mike in a couple of games last year [and played well]. I mean, we’re just going to continue it.”
This is where Egbuka has a shot to establish himself as one of the league’s best. This is where McMillan can establish himself as a man not just to be taken seriously, but feared.
Joe is a big McMillan fan. KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles raves about McMillan’s mental toughness.
McMillan had a strong rookie season. He didn’t get much of a chance last year with his broken neck. Now healthy and likely to get a lot of targets, the table is set for him to become a force.
June 2nd, 2026 at 9:15 am
Some football players just get it. They love it. They love the game of football. JMac is one of them.
June 2nd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Like Bob Seger said-‘Turn the Page’. It is a New Era and time for these other Bucs to step up and shine. ME and his Hammie’s are off to the city of Needles and Homelessness and not coming back. None of these guys should be coming out tapping their helmets after running more than 30 yards. It is a New day in Tampa Bay. LFG!!
June 2nd, 2026 at 9:45 am
JMac NEEDS TO break out THIS YEAR! I personally Love the guy for what it seems most might have missed. However…. he CAN’T comfortably take another shot to his progression like he did last year. He got robbed last year, pure and simple. He MUST cover that “make up ground….PLUS. Take the lead this year, if he can. And without Evens around, Chris IS a “shoe in”, but after that? IT’S ANBODY’S GAME TO TAKE!
He’s GOT the talent to do it. He’s shown he CAN HANDLE THE LOAD (circa 2024) and his trajectory reminds me of Chris Godwin in that McMillan IS Clutch! Funny enough, that’s Great but then that’s also scary because he reminds me of Chris Godwin in All Aspects after last years removal from most of the season!
However, I’m a GIANT SUPPORTER of McMillans and as long as he can avoid the medical tent, LOOK OUT!
June 2nd, 2026 at 10:21 am
“We played without Mike in a couple games last season”….
And that was with Egbuka & Tez in only their rookie seasons, McMillian’s career & livelihood in jeopardy and a not all the way back yet CG
I don’t think our WR is in as bad shape as others do with Mike leaving. I also think our Offense will be less predictable and more versatile. Only concern on Mike leaving is a premier red zone target is gone. But I think we are in great shape overall and the young WR room is only gonna get better too!
June 2nd, 2026 at 10:25 am
You take an honest look at Evans declining production over the past two years and you reasonably have to conclude the trajectory is DECLINE and injury prone. A great player who is in decline. Licht made the right call
June 2nd, 2026 at 10:35 am
I’m excited to see what Ted Hurst can do as the new X receiver. Let’s say it, and embrace it, he’s the new Mike Evans. He’s taking his place in the line up. Oh he’ll play the Z, the slot, Evans did. Make no mistake, he’s the guy who’s going to run the boundry. He’ll be lined up like Mike was in the redzone looking for that jump ball over the DB. Mike’s gone, but keep an eye on Hurst. It’s time to look to the future.
June 2nd, 2026 at 11:15 am
NOTHING CHANGES IN THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL UNTIL THE HC IS GONE.
June 2nd, 2026 at 11:41 am
99 was retired Joe.
June 2nd, 2026 at 11:44 am
We are spiraling upwards not downwards. This roster is stronger than last year’s roster by quite a bit. We didn’t lose much production by Evans leaving and David retiring. I fully expect their replacements to do better than they were and we also greatly enhanced several other positions.
June 2nd, 2026 at 11:57 am
Bucs scored 38 against Seattle without Mike bucs are more then fine it was the defense that was the problem as they were healthy and struggled and the offense was injured and struggled.
June 2nd, 2026 at 1:07 pm
I think J Mac was very honest and on the money. He did not want to see ME leave, who did. However he is a competitor and is happy to have more opportunities now. I think I remember hearing ME say the wide receiver room was in great shape. When I heard that it was my clue he planned to leave. I mentioned earlier ME time here was closing it just happened before any of us were ready and in a way no one wanted to see. The Buc receivers now have more opportunities and ME has a better chance of getting another ring in SF.
I think while sad it was a win for the current Buc receivers and ME. However admit seeing him leave was tough thing to swallow.
June 2nd, 2026 at 1:32 pm
No retirement of 13. I agree with Joe. If you want to have your number retired in Tampa, you need to spend their entire career here, make the HOF here, and probably would need to win a SB here, as well.
Number retirement is rarified air. There are only a few of those you can hand out per franchise, given the need for 53 active jersey numbers.
…and do you know who should never be retired? Guys that quit on their teammates. The one and only exception to this rule should be guys like Lynch, who didn’t move on — he was moved on from.
June 2nd, 2026 at 2:06 pm
JMac has a huge heart and loves ball. He came back from a broken neck last year and really made an impact. Too bad Evans doesn’t have that kind of heart. Evans gave up on the Bucs and quit – without telling Godwin. I understand Joe needs website hits at any cost and so keeps bringing up Evans – because there’s nothing else to talk about.
June 2nd, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Whatever. Sure. He’s the Mike Evans replacement. Yep.
June 2nd, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Not a good look
Have you seen Hurst in the end zone? Looks like megatron!! We’re going to have to find a nickname for our passing attack. Even more so when Daniels takes Bakers spot
June 2nd, 2026 at 2:54 pm
3.28.Evans. He’s not the Mike Evans replacement. We have 6 other very good wide receivers. Now SF has one more quality receiver. What were we supposed to do besides match or better any offer he got?
June 2nd, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Mike Evans will be 33 on August 21st of this year. At that age and his injuries plus the amount of money he would have gotten this year has and will help us signing players we already have this year. He is already counting 13 million this year, but we will free up that 13 million next year. It was time to move to go!
June 2nd, 2026 at 6:00 pm
All these doom and gloom posts about Mike and nobody is talking about JMac.
IMO he has a 50% chance in leading this team this year.
Call me crazy but it is 3rd year WRs that historically GO OFF.
Look it up and do research its true.
He came back and looked good but we force feed Mike.
Egbuka might also but if we get 850 and 8 from Godwin I will be happy honestly.
All the outlets that talk about the Bucs mention EE and Chris bit forget about JMAC.
Add in Hurst and Tez and this is easily a top 5 WR grouping.
June 2nd, 2026 at 6:35 pm
Anybody got any news on Shep? He’s a heck of an asset to the receiver room. I believe he had more yards than Mike last year, didn’t he? I’m betting he makes the team and more than that he’s going to make a big play or two this season.
June 2nd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
I’m personally looking forward to the new offense. If we stay healthy on the oline I think our offense might take off. I loved ME and he is one of the great Bucs of all time and one of the best WR of all time but too often BM was trying to force passes to ME when he was on the field.
June 3rd, 2026 at 12:20 pm
If he is really bummed about getting more touches than he might need to rethink his future
June 4th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Evans must have learned about loyalty from his dad. Should of been more like uncle from what I gather. Good riddance!!
June 4th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
I will really be glad when the media (Joe included) moves on from the ME13 stories . He turned his back on a TEAM he professed he loved, on a fanbase (BUC NATION) he said he love playing for & walked away before he gave them a chance to prove that last season was a fluke. Remember he was one of the injuries that really hurt a not real talented team last season. So now he has taken his talents to the other Bay . He may be right , i see why he could be down on the Bucs in 26 after the owners didn’t fire THE HC that really lost his team . Don’t get me wrong , I appreciate what he has ment: to the Bucs & what he accomplished while he was a happy Buc. I love the guy but the media should let him GO . Cover the players that are BUCS & move on please. Let the SF media have him, Good luck ME13 but good bye. GO BUCCANEERS!!!! The way he left seems a little like he was more concerned with personal stats than being a TEAM first players .