Selling Mike Evans
February 18th, 2026
Losing is hateful to Mike Evans.
Look, Joe isn’t sweating.
Yesterday it was learned that Bucs legend Mike Evans definitely wants to play football in 2026. Somewhere.
Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, a known fearmonger, said he will give the Bucs a chance to re-sign Evans but his client will test the free agent waters.
Yeah. Remember when Gilmore had Evans one foot out the door before?
The only thing that is going to chase Evans to the Chiefs or the Texans or the Bills or the Eagles or the Commandos is if he thinks the Bucs have no shot of getting back to the playoffs.
Evans, even a couple of years ago, said he had zero desire to return to the Lost Decade ways of the Bucs. If he thought that was happening, then he would have likely signed with the Chiefs.
So the best way to keep Evans is to sell him the Bucs are going back to the playoffs. If the Bucs can stay healthy, they have the offense to do this, no doubt.
But the defense? Well, that’s going to be a tough sell.
You saw the clips of Evans melting down on the sidelines during the defense’s choke job against Atlanta. You should have seen Evans crash out in the tunnel after the game. Joe was standing across from the Bucs’ locker room entrance and just about 20 feet away Evans blew up. Joe thought for a second Evans was about to collapse as he doubled over in rage, hollering as if someone kicked him squarely in the groin.
Bucs fans can sympathize because that’s what the Bucs’ defense was good forlast year.
That reaction from Evans was genuine and demonstrated how much he loathes losing. If Evans thinks how the Bucs tanked against Atlanta may repeat itself a few times this fall, then the Bucs better start bracing now for life after Evans.
Why would Mike Evans return to the Buccaneers? Legacy & Family. @TheChrisMathis is 95.7% sure Mike Evans will play in Tampa next season. Are you?#WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/GTfDAnGrFU
— 95.3 WDAE & AM620 – coming soon to 95.7 FM (@957WDAE) February 18, 2026
February 18th, 2026 at 5:15 am
Hey J03, we ai t buying the goods you ar selling….
February 18th, 2026 at 5:41 am
Time to face the facts that this team is nowhere close to a SB contender and is in rebuild territory. If Mike leaves or stays the Bucs are still aiming for a top 10 pick. Mike can still play and has some left in the tank but they shouldn’t break the bank for him at this stage of his career. Time to think about the future and the Bucs will need as much cap room as they can get for the new HC next season.
February 18th, 2026 at 5:53 am
I think his reaction to the end of the Atlanta game debacle was pretty obvious. All he has to do is watch that on repeat and it should make his decision for him.
February 18th, 2026 at 6:06 am
Evans will get offers because he is not one of the wide receiver divas. A class act will get offers from teams in need. As opposed to the head cases that rule that position.
February 18th, 2026 at 6:23 am
Every article, it’s always something. It might be the wrong name, unsightly missed spaces, or the wrong year. It’s like with each article, Joe takes turns with which thing goes wrong. There’s no accountability for it—as if Joe is just saying “we gotta type better, proof-read better, to make sure letters and numbers are where they’re supposed to be,” but it continues to be a problem—for years now.
Maybe the articles are too complex and need to be simplified to allow the Joes to type fast without having to think. Maybe it’s a good idea to bring in an outside voice—someone from the Roy Cummings tree—to help shake up the product on the interwebs. Something.
February 18th, 2026 at 6:33 am
ME13 has earned the right to test free agency. Some team will probably offer more $ than the Bucs will. It won’t be strictly about the money. Texans have a good receiving group along with Jaden Higgins who will be a second year player and is similar to, younger than, and much cheaper than Mike. I see KC and Buffalo as only real threats. Either way it goes Bucs win because he’s either here or opens significant cap space. No one can blame him for exploring all opportunities.
February 18th, 2026 at 6:41 am
buffalo jacksonville, Mike go to somebody close, the bucs are not close. the thing about losing mike is the defense will be playing with one more db bc they don’t have to account for him or double him so it will be even harder for our offense to move. i’m not at all sold on EE he disappeared when we needed him most. Tez could make more impact than EE as a long ball threat but the bucs don’t know how to use him. i would love to see Mike get another ring- patriots an obvious choice… EE stinks
February 18th, 2026 at 6:42 am
Seeing Jerry Rice play for Raiders has shown us it is 100% possible.
Would love for Mike to be a lifelong Buc as I am a longtime A&M Aggie fan, but can’t blame him if he feels another team is better fit
February 18th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Mike Evans will go down as one of the all time great Buccaneers!! That being said he had just over 300 yards receiving and 3 TD’s. Are you going to gamble on him not getting injured and spend $25-30Million? I’d like to see him retire a Buc, but the Texans might break the bank to sign him. Don’t think the Chiefs have the cap space as some other teams.
February 18th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Jacksonville would make the most sense.
February 18th, 2026 at 6:56 am
Tag him.
February 18th, 2026 at 7:05 am
Bee. mj. JBF sure has a varied group of people who comment regularly about our favorite team. Many have a good sense of what needs to be done to make us better. Many don’t have the sense to come in out of the rain. And you 2 have been soaking wet for a long time now. And now that Florida humidity has prevented your clothes from completely drying out and you guys are getting stinky! Phuuwee!
February 18th, 2026 at 7:20 am
If the Glazers and Licht are honest with themselves, they need to realize this team is in rebuilding the entire defense mode, thanks in part to JL draft pick duds on defense and the Mediocre HC. Bucs have lost plenty even with a healthy Evans bc of the horrible defense and no depth.
February 18th, 2026 at 7:30 am
Without Evans and a healthy OLine, Bucs aren’t going to playoffs
February 18th, 2026 at 7:31 am
Even if Evans has some more in the tank, I said let him walk. We have plenty of talent on offense. Some other club signs him the Bucs will get a 3rd round compensatory pick the following year. Evans will miss games again next year. Use that money and sign Hendrickson.
February 18th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Emotional outbreaks happen with super competitive athletes. Then the dust settle. They take some time off, spend time with family and realize the end is near for their career. This team is better with Evans, but the Bucs did nothing to fix the defense with leaving Bowles in charge. Had the Bucs fired Bowles and brought in a new staff, I’d say sign Evans and let’s fix the defense. But this coming year will get ugly with Bowles running the defense and the team.
Offer Mike a cap friendly deal and let him decide if he wants to go elsewhere for more money. If that happens, I’d go full Dolphins and get rid of all the overpriced players. Aw jr,, Zyon, let Dean walk in FA, restructure anyone who’s contract is too much. Tank and let the rebuild begin in now! We’ve already have seen the ceiling with Bowles and a great offense.
February 18th, 2026 at 8:27 am
I’d hate to see ME13 leave but if he did, as long as he wasn’t in the NFC South I would root for this young man still. He’s been nothing but a class act while here. If he don’t think we are SB contenders then he should go play for one his maybe last year.
February 18th, 2026 at 8:30 am
If he goes, it’s because Todd ran him off by being an incompetent douche. And the Glazers idiotically retained him.
February 18th, 2026 at 8:39 am
If I were Evans, I would not even engage in negotiations with the Bucs. I would be every bit as much out the door as White is.
February 18th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Have no issue with him wanting to play for a contender, this team is no where close to be being in championship form. Good luck to Evans and I hope he finds himself another chance to win a 💍.
February 18th, 2026 at 8:57 am
Every story and every thing related to the box this season and their future all centers around Coach Todd Bowles ! Free agents don’t want to come because they don’t believe Bowles will be around , guys like Mike don’t want to re sign because Bowles still here …. This team quit on coach this past year.! we have had a mid season slump every year that Bowles has been coach ! And yet we use fans are forced to endure another year of mediocrity !
February 18th, 2026 at 9:27 am
This is a LeBron moment. Return home to Houston and play for the vets min. We won’t have to play u till the super bowl.
February 18th, 2026 at 9:29 am
He gone.
February 18th, 2026 at 9:32 am
I wouldn’t overpay for him. He is injury prone and the Bucs need to spend big time on Defense. The guy can no longer make through a whole season without a serious hamstring injury. Plus if he really wants to play for a winner it won’t be in Tampa with our pathetic defense and poor excuse for a HC/DC.
February 18th, 2026 at 10:48 am
thx for everything Mike!!!!!
you’ll always be a buc in my eyes!!!
head to HOU and bring your hometown a ring!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 18th, 2026 at 10:52 am
Say what you will, but if Mike leaves, which if he goes to a contender “should” be for less money than what we’d offer him, is essentially telling us that Baker and this team isn’t good enough. You think Mike would be leaving if Tom Brady was still here? Don’t just throw this back on Bowles and his defense on why Evans would consider playing somewhere else. He’s not going just anywhere if he leaves Tampa, and it won’t be about the money.
Consider this, there is nothing special about the NFC, I think it’s fair game for any team to make a deep run, and that includes the Bucs. Evans is making a mistake chasing rings. The likelihood it works out for him, historically speaking is not good.
February 18th, 2026 at 11:55 am
Bradys Raiders! New HC ,1st pick ,great RB ,tight end and yes Crosby stays! Great place to play! Add Mike = playoffs Bowles’s Bucs home on the couch next season..Hopefully Leict will help out his franchise Qb!
February 18th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Remember Mike yelling 3rd and 28 in the tunnel after the Bucs blew another game. He deserves better than Bowles. He’s going to explore free agency and he deserves to.
February 18th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Evans knows 3rd and 28 wasn’t Todd’s fault. Players love playing for Todd and he’s a defensive mastermind. Mike will even volunteer to play defensive back for Todd. Just watch.
February 18th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Joe says:
“So the best way to keep Evans is to sell him the Bucs are going back to the playoffs. If the Bucs can stay healthy, they have the offense to do this, no doubt”
——————-
Yes doubt. This is basically the same thing Joe’s and others said last year about the offense before it took a dump. I’d be happy to blame injuries but we DID NOT improve when we got healthier.
What we have is offensive potential (lots of it), but NOT offensive prowess. Hopefully Zac can squeeze more performance from our potential. Not sure if I’d trust last years offense even if our D was top 5
February 18th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
If ME was smart, he’d go elsewhere. Tampa is in the middle of the next lost decade.
Todd fired everyone on defense except himself and closest henchmen. Then hired the in-house assistants who worked under the removed staff.
Nothing breeds complacency and apathy more than refusing to make bold moves to correct ongoing issues.
The defense will continue to be our Achilles heel until a change at the top takes place.
Bottom line. Todd Bowles sucks as a HC\DC.
February 18th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
The Brady comparisons are has bit weak. Nobody is as good. Darnold won by not doing any thing stupid. Drake had a fumble six
February 18th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Mike Evans is a future hall-of-famer and a real standup dude. However, having prefaced that the Bucs have so many needs in Defense, Offense and Special Teams. Not to mention, the Glazers and Lichtenstein in their infinite wisdom fired everybody on the coaching staff except the emblem of mediocrity: Todd Bowles.
My only solace and comfort going into the 2026 season is if the Bucs stumble, crash or burn there will be no scapegoats left – Bowles gets to carry that water. This team is a long ways from SB contention. Go Bucs. Go Canes. Everyone play nice. GB. Cheers.
February 18th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
Mike Evans is a future hall-of-famer and a real standup dude. However, the Bucs have so many needs in Defense, Offense and Special Teams. Not to mention, the Glazers and Lichtenstein in their infinite wisdom fired everybody on the coaching staff except the emblem of mediocrity: Todd Bowles.
I look forward to 2026 being Bowles’ Swan Song. This team is a long ways from SB contention. Go Bucs. Go Canes. Everyone play nice. GB. Cheers.
February 18th, 2026 at 7:20 pm
Why say we are not ready for a SB run? With pass rush help and a healthy O line and receivers and a healthy Baker. We can win. Oh and a LB who can cover. Special will be better too. It has to,cant get ant worse. I mean how many games did kick coverage cost us. 2 games maybe 3
February 18th, 2026 at 7:21 pm
*special teams*
February 18th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
Good lord. All you guys do is piss and moan. It’s all Bowles. Well how about the guy who Joe calls the Ring of Honor GM.
The offense is Super Bowl caliber. All credit to Jason, not the HC, all the GM. But that same guy is picking the players for the D. Other than Vita none of those guys start for any other NFL team. (A couple years ago that would have included AWJ – no more.)
So a defensive roster everyone agrees has to be overhauled is all on Bowles. Such BS. No discussion about what we can do to turn the ship around. And any suggestion is met with no way because of Bowles.
None of you guys are actually fans. Just a bunch of whiners. I’m done with this site.
February 18th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Byeeeeeee
February 21st, 2026 at 12:06 am
Tough to sell ME on on a playoff caliber defense when my Aunt Margeret can tackle better and aint afraid to. Also hard not to agree with him on not wanting to finish his HOF career on a team returning to losing ways. I reallly hate to say that last part…
Go Bucs!