Mike Evans Has Enough Street Cred To Get Paid
January 24th, 2026
What kind of Team Glazer loot would Mike Evans be looking for?
If Bucs iconic wide receiver Mike Evans hits free agency, he could command a major salary.
That’s the calculation made by follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN. Whether that is from the Bucs or other teams, Barnwell is sure someone will pay Evans.
If he still wants to play.
Barnwell studied the potential free agent wide receivers for the coming offseason. The free agency dinner bell rings in less than two months, March 11.
In Barnwell’s mind, Evans will be the No. 4 free agent wide receiver available if he doesn’t retire.
Barnwell believes Evans’ camp, if he doesn’t retire, will be looking at Davante Adams-like money which is two years, $44 million with $26 million guaranteed.
Would the Bucs agree to that sort of deal? It might not make sense, given that they committed a three-year, $66 million deal to Chris Godwin Jr. last offseason and used their first-round pick on Emeka Egbuka, who was excellent in the first half before fading as the season went along. Tampa Bay needs to sign Jamel Dean, Cade Otton, Haason Reddick and Lavonte David (or their replacements) this offseason, and spending more than $20 million per year on a pair of wide receivers might not be the best use of its resources.
Evans is a franchise legend, though, and the rules can be different when those types of players are involved. It would surprising if he played somewhere else in 2026.
Joe wonders if Zac Robinson, the new Bucs offensive coordinator, was hired partely because he is sort of Liam Coen Lite. Robinson demonstrated in Atlanta he could get the ball to his main wide receiver target, Drake London.
Perhaps Evans could be lured back for one more season, given that Robinson’s offense, which is similar to Coen’s (an offshoot of Sean McVay’s offense) and obviously Evans had success with Coen calling the shots. Of course, Evans might just return because he loves playing for his beloved Bucs.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:04 am
They don’t need to sign Dean. They need to trade ignore him and watch for his next next hamstring, ankle, knee or whatever problem.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Give M1K3 the money that He deserves, and just let baker leave in FA or trade baker, since he is so great of a QB at the deadline. Don’t resign baker!!!
January 24th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Another year of 1k yds would be cool. Re-sign Mike and re-sign Baker!!!!
January 24th, 2026 at 8:18 am
I would rather pay Alec Pierce!!
January 24th, 2026 at 8:29 am
no more evans. no more dean. no more reddick. no more bowles. that’s 50 million go get healthy and younger players and a quality hc. if i were baker, i’d ride out the season. stafford will retire and mcvay would love to have you as his qb for 3 or 4 years. as long as bowles is there tampa will always be a .500 club. and everyone knows that’s the truth except licht and glazers
January 24th, 2026 at 8:32 am
sorry Mike, I love you but it’s time …. Hope to see him retire cause it would really hurt to see him in another uniform.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:43 am
It wouldn’t hurt us to sign a developmental QB, we really don’t have a backup, nor even anyone in the pipeline
January 24th, 2026 at 8:46 am
I still think we’re as good as anybody when we are healthy, although we need some help on the defensive front seven. But that’s with Mike Evans. If we let Mike go because of money we don’t deserve to win. If he would play 3 more years I think he wins another championship and then goes into the hall as one of the greatest receivers of all time. Which is what he is.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:53 am
HeavyE Says:
January 24th, 2026 at 8:13 am
“Give M1K3 the money that He deserves, and just let baker leave in FA or trade baker, since he is so great of a QB at the deadline. Don’t resign bake”
HeavyE, great idea to trade baker. A good trade for baker would be an even trade with the Texans for C.J. You will have plenty to gripe about next season and Baker will be playing for a team with a good defense and low qb expectations that won 12 games this year.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Lol at “needs to resign Dean”
January 24th, 2026 at 8:55 am
How do you not sign Mike back? He is your franchize period. I mean he is Tampa. What happed when he was out, what happened with the fans when he returned. Who changed the other teams’s defense when he was on the field. Clue, It wasn’t Baker, Godwin, Eubuka or anyone else on that offense. Who gives you a chance to compete for the playoffs. Really move on from Evans !. If you want to have a chance to win , I can’t see it. When he returned to the field in the Atl game, that told you all you need to know. He energized the whole team and the fans. Move on from Mike really!!, comon MAN, LOL. I will also say this he is not going to retire this year. Let’s really hope he wants to stay.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:55 am
I love Mike Evans, but he’s best days are clearly behind him. Is he worth $22 mil? I don’t know anymore. To be honest, when I first saw the article I thought a number closer to $30 mil was going to be bounced around. That would be crazy at this point. $22 mil…maybe. maybe not
January 24th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Nope!
What is the Bucs draft compensation if he signs with another team.
I LOVE Mike Evans but he has hamstring issues and has lost his quickness.
Only if he signs a VERY cap friendly deal.
He is in the same spot that many other HOF players that ended their careers with other teams.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:56 am
“Barnwell believes Evans’ camp, if he doesn’t retire, will be looking at Davante Adams-like money which is two years, $44 million with $26 million guaranteed.”
Barnwell doesn’t know Mike Evans at all.
He would never play for another team, and he would only sign a one year deal at this point.
January 24th, 2026 at 8:59 am
People, Baker is not a free agent until 2027.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Mike Evans has a cap hit of $13,074,000 this year if he doesn’t play for us. Regardless.
Offer him his usual, but put milestones in it.
Of the $22m in 2024, I doubt he made anywhere near that due to injury, if they had incentives built in.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:11 am
SB~LV, I am surprised the auto mod let you post a link
January 24th, 2026 at 9:13 am
McDaniels is interviewing for Bills’ HC job. What’s up with that? Get with it, Glazers!
January 24th, 2026 at 9:19 am
He deserves to get paid by us. Reddick can go,Otton is not that impressive. LVD age is showing his age. Probably keep Dean because the rest of secondary SUCKS
January 24th, 2026 at 9:20 am
The compensation for Mike Evans would not be high at all…maybe nothing at all…because we have to lose more than we gain to even get the extra picks.
Mike has stated multiple times in the past, he won’t play for another team. He would retire first. He is truly a team first guy. Pure loyalty.
So there certainly would not be any compensation…because he would retire.
So the real question is this: if we have the cap to spare (he will count $13,074,000 against the cap regardless), do we want to see one more year of Mike Evans before he is done for good?
I vote yes. Offer some incentives and if he wants another year while EE develops, have at it.
Or…see if he wants to coach our WRs.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:22 am
I would love to see ME13 retire a Buc…
But I also want to see the Bucs spend their salary cap dollars in the most efficient way.
Is paying ME13 $26M a valid use of funds for a team that needs help at nearly every other position?
January 24th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Marine Buc, they wouldn’t pay him nearly that much. Barnwell doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:33 am
@ Bonzai
OK.
Let me re-phrase the question for you.
Is paying ME13 $22M a valid use of funds for a team that needs help at nearly every other position?
January 24th, 2026 at 9:37 am
I would not sign any of the players mentioned. Let them hit the market. Jerry rice and nineers moved on. So can Bucs. Also , I would trade Zion. And let l.hall walk.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:37 am
Re-sign Reddick?
Waste of cap cheese…
January 24th, 2026 at 9:38 am
I know Zac Robinson would like to have Mike Evans back. Can you slap a price tag on what Mike does for the pass game in its entirety? Defenses play us differently based on whether or not Evans is available.
Evans has been worth the contract money his whole career, doesn’t change and I’d even argue there’s enough evidence past & present that the ability to impliment a pass game changes based on Mikes’ availability.
Mike going down in Detroit did exactly that, and it showed in the following game as our offense was pathetic in New Orleans. The signs were there, yes we need Mike and he’s been worth the money for years.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:39 am
If he’s looking to win another SB before he retires the 26, 27 Bucs aren’t the team for him. Better chance reuniting with Coen up in Duvaaaal.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:39 am
Ask Godwin for pay cut.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:43 am
If that’s his market and he’s not interested in a hometown discount, you have to let him walk. This team has glaring needs on D that need to be addressed. That dough would go a long way spent elsewhere. You have a decent stable without Evans and could add to that via free agency or the draft. I’d rather toss that money at Koonce & Pitts, both young risers, than a HOF WR on the decline. Sorry Mike, love you but not your market value at this stage.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:47 am
I’d love to have Mike back, but the Bucs punted on the 2026 season by keeping a bumbling, hapless HC. He’ll probably sign elsewhere, and I don’t blame him one bit.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:49 am
@ Cobra
“Re-sign Reddick?
Waste of cap cheese…”
Here is my deal for Reddick – $4M base plus $1M bonus for every sack.
That’s it and he should be a rotational player not the starter…
January 24th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Isn’t it odd that we’ve seen no interviews for Cornerbacks Coach, Defensive Line Coach, Safeties Coach, or Defensive Coordinator?
No defense has been addressed thus far.
Makes me wonder if something big is in the works.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Let him and his yearly ham string injury walk !
January 24th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Marine Buc, I think it depends on whether that money can actually be used elsewhere. With limited spots available and the unlikelihood that all the fap money will be spent…and the fact that he will count as $13+ million against the fap anyway… there’s a good chance it wouldn’t hurt.
Personally, I would like to see him become a WR coach.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:56 am
“It wouldn’t hurt us to sign a developmental QB, we really don’t have a backup, nor even anyone in the pipeline“
Haynes King & Jack Strand, we can get’em both for the cheap this draft cycle.
Strands my favorite of the two, he’s more of a classic pocket passer in comparison to King a QB who comes with the option of being a dual threat.
Year 1 install for Robinson, new location and team. Why not give him a young talent with the physical tools to play, but maybe needing some pro level refinement to be as ready if/when the time calls.
It’d make the preseason games a little more exciting this year, that’s for sure.
January 24th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Also, Reddick doesn’t deserve a new deal at all.
January 24th, 2026 at 10:01 am
Beeej Says:
“It wouldn’t hurt us to sign a developmental QB, we really don’t have a backup, nor even anyone in the pipeline…”
I’d settle for a Blaine Gabbert kind of guy at this point. At least he could actually play. Teddy was a cfomplete waste, and it was clear Baker knew it.
January 24th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Most important signing will be a NEW D/C.
January 24th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Not any more.
January 24th, 2026 at 10:27 am
From Sporting News:
“Sources: Mike McDaniel canceled his scheduled HC interview yesterday with the #Bills,” Schultz wrote on X. “Both sides remain in contact for a potential interview, and there’s still a strong possibility he moves forward with the
January 24th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Evans is a shell of his former self. Losing his speed, pushed off more this year than I’ve ever seen, and injuries have become a growing issue as he ages
We all love him and I wish Bowles hasnt wasted his late career, but its strictly a money/value issue and we need to let him walk.
January 24th, 2026 at 10:37 am
street cred = being able to walk thru the pj’s with a 100 dollar bill hanging halfway out your back pocket, in the summer, in a heat wave, and everyone’s in the street due to lack of air conditioners, yet no one grabs that 100 dollar bill away from you…because you got it like that…because you the man…because you earned it…and they don’t wanna receive the ole buck-fifty across the grill…
that’s street cred actually…
#IfYouKnowYouKnow
January 24th, 2026 at 10:38 am
@ Bonzai
“Marine Buc, I think it depends on whether that money can actually be used elsewhere.”
I agree.
But it sure would be nice if the Bucs could sign a solid ILB, a mid-level CB and a mid-level IDL for the same price as a WR who is entering the “Julio Jones” point of his career…
January 24th, 2026 at 10:40 am
What do you mean Evans had success with Coen? He’s had success most of his career when he wasn’t inquired and even when he was. TF.
January 24th, 2026 at 10:44 am
“Evans is a franchise legend, though, and the rules can be different when those types of players are involved.”
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ME is my #1 fav. player. It would be so disappointing to see him play for another team. I would resign him.
BUT, we also need a very expensive Edge
January 24th, 2026 at 10:56 am
Bucs need to sign 2 edge rushers, 2 LBs, a guard, a TE and another CB. Love Evans but he’s guaranteed a few missed games bc of injury and he suffers from the dropsies.
January 24th, 2026 at 11:02 am
There is no reason not to give Evans money. Especially if we are paying Toilet Bowles!
January 24th, 2026 at 11:05 am
I agree with Kenton Smith.
Bowles is now coaching for his job and Licht has moronically tied himself to that cinderblock. They aren’t letting Evans leave.
He’s probably the only FA listed that will be back unless David wants in again.
After that you still have cap space and the draft to try to load the D, find some depth players.
Money options are endless with no QB on the books for 2027… it’s a sink or swim year and Mike Evans is a lifeguard.
January 24th, 2026 at 11:07 am
By all accounts Mike was our best player in camp, no reason to assume he’s regressed. Doubt having your shoulder pile-driven into the ground by a 200 pound dude comes out any better as a young 20-something
January 24th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Reddick? Dean?
Clearly this guy’s a genius.
Mike has never been unreasonable about a contract, don’t imagine he would be now.
January 24th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Mike ain’t going anywhere!
Buc for life!
2 more years at least.
Go Bucs!!
I love my team win or lose!
January 24th, 2026 at 11:31 am
MarineBuc – You are correct but don’t tell that to all the pearl clutchers in here where logic doesn’t fit in to their fandom. The Bucs are in zero position to have 2 20 million dollar receivers. Older ones at that. It’s dumb, it’s stupid, it’s idiotic.
January 24th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Evans has had hamstring issues his entire career and despite that has had a Hall of Fame career and put up stellar every single season except for 2025. A broken collarbone is what did him in during 2025, which is hardly age related.
Only 15 teams’ #1 receivers (less than half) didn’t miss multiple games last year due to injury. Those uninjured receivers were:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Chris Olave
DeMario Douglas
Justin Jefferson
Puka Nacua
Tre Tucker
Michael Pittman Jr.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Courtland Sutton
Jerry Jeudy
Ja’Marr Chase
DJ Moore
Tetairoa McMillan
Khalil Shakir
Zay Flowers
January 24th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Resign Reddick? Maybe for half a ham sandwich and a warm grape soda!
January 24th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
Barnsour shows his Buccaneer knowledge…or lack thereof…by declaring they need to re-sign Dean ( Licht clawed back millions from him in exchange for free agency this year…he’s a goner ). Signing Reddick for anything other than veteran minimum and/or to the practice squad would be insane.
January 24th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Nobody will allow a high quality edge rusher into free agency. We would have to draft one and picking 15th is way too late to do so. We will have to first get great help at LB and DT in the draft and sort out edge maybe with a trade. DT is super important in Todd’s defense so drafting another one is a good idea.
January 24th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Also, maybe David Walker works out…
January 24th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Mike needs to take a team friendly deal at this stage of his career or go somewhere else and chase another ring. I am ok with that. This season is going to suck anyhow. I wouldn’t blame him one bit. The Godwin contract was a YUGE mistake by Licht. Neither of these guys can stay on the field lately. Sorry but it is the truth.
January 24th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Winfield could make a great hybrid safety/limebacker. Bowles already uses him like that sometimes but maybe he should just move to LB and we draft a better speedier safety for pass coverage.
January 24th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
ME13 will decide his future. If he does retire, I wish him the very best. I do hope Bucs will get a decent backup QB. We need one. I hope the new OC is good, and if so, will hang out here longer than 1 season. Also, that mebbe the injury plague will back off! When the 49ers recently lost, the talking heads recently carried on about the team’s injuries. They sure weren’t the only team. Bucs been getting blasted by them.
January 24th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Love Mike one of the greatest Bucs of all time. With that being said this team needs to start making business decisions if it wants to win another Super Bowl. That 20 plus million could be spent on defense. Then again it might not matter with Bowles being the coach
January 24th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
awj at 5’8 192 would get trucked on a regular basis as a LB…
and he’s had concussion issues in the past…
it would be the worst move ever…
some rando spot duty with bowles creativity is fine…anything beyond that is madness just due to his size alone
January 24th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Love Mike and want him as a Buc until he decides to retire. Hard decisions to make on both sides. No matter where Mike goes, many of us will be rooting for him.
January 24th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Trade Baker,let Evans walk,keep Bowles
.Now that’s the winning formula!
January 24th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Let Evans walk and draft another Buckeye receiver. Draft a qb in later rounds.
January 24th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
I’ll take CJ over baker in a trade! Please let this happen! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
January 24th, 2026 at 9:32 pm
Why is everyone talking about Reddick, hell no. A wasted roster spot and money that could have been well spent to someone else.
Mikes not going anywhere, he’s a Buc for life.
January 25th, 2026 at 3:27 am
I cant blame him if he went somewhere else…this next season under todd will be a disaster…..we’re really only a 4 win team this past season if it wasnt for Baker’s last 60 second heroics…