Carlton Davis Speaks On Mike Evans
February 3rd, 2026
Mike Evans’ fan, too.
Though rumors were floated at the Senior Bowl practices last week in Mobile (Joe suspects planted by Mike Evans’ agent) that the Bucs’ Hall of Fame receiver has a less than 50 percent chance of re-signing with Tampa Bay, no one really knows what Evans will do as Joe burrows through these too-cold days of early February.
A man who knows Evans better than most doesn’t know either what Evans will decide, but former Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis doesn’t want to see Evans in another jersey.
Tom Tom Krasniqi of WDAE-AM 620 caught up with Davis at Super Bowl media night at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Tom Krasniqi asked Davis about Evans.
“I know a lot of fans would hate to see him leave, including me,” Davis told Krasniqi. “You know, it’s kind of like, ‘That’s our guy.’
“And I know he wants to stay. But you know, sometimes it’s a business and it doesn’t always work out. I know a lot of fans would hate to see him leave.”
So would Joe.
But hearing the words of Baker Mayfield on Rondé Barber’s streaming show on WFLA.com, Joe got a huge sense of relief. Hearing Mayfield talk, it seems that if Evans does play, much like Lavonte David, it will likely only be with the Bucs.
I asked former #Bucs & current #Patriots CB Carlton Davis about the future of his former teammate Mike Evans: “I know he wants to stay but sometimes it’s a business….it doesn’t always work out.” @953WDAE #SuperBowlLX pic.twitter.com/UlMZ9CF6KK
— Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) February 3, 2026
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Carlton Davis escaped the bottomless pit that is the Bowles defense.
Now he plays for a real HC with a brain. And what do you know, he’s in the SB.
If ME wants the same he needs to head elsewhere. And he knows it.
That is why he was so vocal after the putrid loss to the Falcons.
What was it again that Mike was yelling?? Oh, that’s right.
3rd and 28!!!!
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Tom Tom is my favorite local sports radio guy, hands down.
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:10 pm
Mike Evans time is up,
We were doing fine without him and Godwin last season
This team is too old, we need young players
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
when CD went to the Lions, folks were saying,” Now he plays for a real HC with a brain.”…lol….oh wait lol
bowles has to “coach it better” without a question..his job is certainly on the line this year…anything less than a NFC Championship appearance is a failed season for bowles and baker…
regarding MIKE, he’s earned my respect on and off the field…he can leave and chase another ring with HOU or stay…he’ll always be a BUC
GO BUCS!!!!
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:21 pm
“We were doing fine without him and Godwin last season
This team is too old, we need young players”
No we were not doing “fine” lmao
and we have been getting younger since 2022 when we had the oldest roster in the league.
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:33 pm
@Lakeland. When exactly were we doing just fine last year without them?
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Lakeland Says:
Mike Evans time is up,
We were doing fine without him and Godwin last season
This team is too old, we need young players
———————————————————————-
We need GREAT players, not young players, and Evans IS still great.
Brady was six months away from his 44th birthday when he last won a Super Bowl. Was he too old? JPP was 32, Suh was 34, AB was 33, Gronk was 32, David was 31, William Gholston was 30.
Father Time is undefeated, but it doesn’t catch up to all players at the same age. And having older veterans on the team when they can still play at a high level can help out the younger ones.
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:36 pm
If we sign Mike, I doubt we make any other splash in FA. It’s not fantasy football.
I like Mike, but we are loaded at WR. I don’t see how he makes us much better than last year. Hes aging, always misses games, hes contemplating retirement and too many mouths to feed on offense. Sapp, Lynch, Dunn, etc. all left and they still had some prime years in them. We can’t afford 40 plus for CG and ME at their current age and productivity.
Now, I would much rather keep Mike than CG. Maybe move CG if we sign Mike. Again, that was a ridiculous contract for CG. Adams only made a but more.
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:39 pm
We beat Seattle and San Francisco without Mike Evans
Two great teams
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:53 pm
We scored 68 points without Mike Evans in back to back games
Against San Francisco and Seattle
Two well coached teams with good players, and good defenses
That showed me, our offense can function without him
His replacement is already on our roster
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Not sure how we construe being as good a team without Mike Evans. Can’t get my head around that one.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:07 pm
I think Mike needs to realize how much he is loved and appreciated here. I think he also realizes how hos injuries and age affect his ability to be a #1 in any other teams plans. He could be part of our rotation and be a red zone monster. Let CG, McMillan and EE work the middle of the field. I think it all comes down to price and what role Mike is willing to accept going forward
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:07 pm
The 5 games he played in after he come back
We were 1-4, and averaged less than 20 ppg
It’s simple
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Lakeland Says:
February 3rd, 2026 at 1:39 pm
We beat Seattle and San Francisco without Mike Evans
Two great teams
—————————————————————————–
Evans missed 9 games last season. The record during those games he missed was 3 – 6.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:10 pm
I always liked Carlton… his dad, is a huge prick, however. First class low class hole!
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Lakeland Says:
The 5 games he played in after he come back
We were 1-4, and averaged less than 20 ppg
It’s simple
——————————————————————
The collapse of the team was due to horrible defense, special teams, Baker playing with multiple injuries, and the inexperience of the OC.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:15 pm
The Seattle and San Francisco games were the games that showed me, we can win without Mike Evans. We lost other games without him, due to piss- poor coaching, bad offensive play calling etc
But the bottom line is
We can win without him
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Like David it’s Bucs or no one.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Lakeland — the team cannot replace ME in the Red Zone.
Mike has an 82-inch wingspan and stands 6′ 5 inches.
There is no one like him on any NFL team.
Other ‘tall’ receivers in the NFL stand 6′ 4 inches and have 78-inch wing spans.
They are physically not able to get as open as Mike in the end zone.
Mike can high point a ball about 5 inches higher than Tet McMillan or Drake London.
Sure, you can win without him — but why would you want your quarterback to be so less efficient close to the end zone — that makes no sense to me.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Lakeland — Mike is 10th all time in receiving TD’s.
He did that most years without a great QB.
Brady understood it — he got him the ball in the Red Zone even when he had Gronk on the team as well who was the greatest Red Zone TE ever.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Drafting a 1st round reciever and then paying top dollar to multiple old recievers isnt a great business plan. I love Mike, but there’s a ton of miles on those tires. If Godwin wasn’t tied up to a ridiculous contract I’d be all for bringing Mike back, but this is getting crazy.
This team needs another running back and a tight end more than it needs to pay for Mike Evans memories.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Geno711
What I’m saying is that the Bucs should be preparing without Evans
Either he goes, or he stays, life goes on
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:31 pm
this team is better with MIKE without question….
however, when MIKE was on the field, baker often times starred him down…
i love our weapons but i think we have too many, “cooks in the kitchen” for baker…
GO BUCS!!!!
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:40 pm
During our 1-4 collapse
Baker were ttrying to force the ball to Evans
Against the Falcons, you would think Evans was our ONLY WR
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:43 pm
I hate not seeing Big Mike in a Bucs uniform but this team is not a player away from SB. Spend the money [wisely] elsewhere (defense please).
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:45 pm
And when they resign Mike Evans to a 20 million+ contact
They will have close to 50 million tied to two 30+ injury prone WRs
And then these Evans lovers will cry when the defense stink again
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:46 pm
I was astonished by how few times he was targeted in the schemes we were using. He had PLENTY of juice when he returned.
February 3rd, 2026 at 2:46 pm
“””Contract””
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:06 pm
I would target him in unique ways like slot time etc.
I think he is still capable of T.O. type late years and it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a couple left. Maybe 1200 and 13 TDs type season.
Tell me you wouldn’t take that for $20 Million.
This OC will use him better and all will be forgiven.
Raheem Morris even knows how well he is going to do with this loaded offensive roster. I bet we see 4 wide more often in hurry up sets.
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Evans is “injury prone” now lololololol? I swear some of you must think you can make up any BS you want and no one will bother checking.
Yes, he missed a bunch of games last year due to major injuries.
Prior to 2025, he had missed a total of 12 games in 11 seasons, and 2 of those were from suspensions. So that’s 10 games total that he missed from injury over the course of 11 seasons. That equals less than 1 game per season being missed due to injury on average.
Meanwhile the league average for players is 2.2 games per season. I wonder how the math education is at Lakeland High…
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Love Mike but I would love some defensive playmakers having that much cap tied up in two aging receivers isn’t the way they need defensive stars that’s gonna cost
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:26 pm
The only one that should be deciding Mike Evans’ future should be Mike Evans.
If the Bucs try to lowball him and won’t pay him what’s fair to re-sign, they can go straight to hell.
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
“They will have close to 50 million tied to two 30+ injury prone WRs
And then these Evans lovers will cry when the defense stink again”
Doing one doesn’t mean we can’t do the other.
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Mike’s going to do what he thinks is best for him, his legacy, and his family.
The Bucs are going to do what’s best for their business.
We should be okay either way – IF our new OC is up to the job, and I believe he is!
February 3rd, 2026 at 3:52 pm
Anyone against re-signing Mike Evans for 2 more years is a moron.
He looked faster than ever when he came back fresh after breaking his collar bone.
Mike Evans is good for at least 3 more 1,000 yard seasons.
He’s a vital piece to our offense.
So our two solid backup guards. And a solid backup RT.
February 3rd, 2026 at 4:54 pm
I think Joe and Baker and others saying he will be back is a kiss of death.
I’m not sure why, but others confidence in Mike returning leads me to believe he might find a new home to finish his career.
Is he on board with Zac Robinson?
Is he on board with Todd Bowles?
Those are the 2 questions that will decide his decision, I would imagine.
Bucs will pay him well, that’s not a worry. I also don’t worry about drafting Egbuka and paying Mike and Chris. Cap is climbing, easily affordable.