ESPN: It Doesn’t Appear Bucs Will Break The Bank For Mike Evans
February 22nd, 2026
Waiting game.
Joe is not sweating what Mike Evans will do in two weeks when, if you believe his pessimistic agent, Evans will test the market when the free agency dinner bell rings on Monday, March 9.
Deryk Gilmore, who represents Evans, is a fearmonger who has played folks with his doomsday rhetoric of Evans bolting the Bucs. In other words, he’s cried “wolf” before.
So when Gilmore recently said Evans will play football but shop himself around as a free agent, an eye roll came from Joe. Here we go again.
Each time Gilmore has stoked fears in Bucs fans, Evans ended up re-signing.
In trying to examine a crystal ball to figure out how Evans is leaning, Jenna Laine of ESPN pointed out all the emotional reasons Evans would be inclined to stay, including his relationship with Baker Mayfield, close friendships with Bucs receivers, how Todd Bowles retained Evans’ position coach Bryan McLendon, and how new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is Liam Coen II. And Coen steadily found ways to get Evans open.
However, if there is a team or teams willing to break the bank for Evans, Laine isn’t sure the Bucs will use the franchise tag on Evans.
Could the Bucs franchise tag Evans? Technically, yes, but the feeling inside the organization is that Evans has given 12 seasons to the team, and he deserves to have [liberty] over where he spends the remaining years of his career. They also have to weigh whether the move would make sense financially, considering they’d have to pay him $27-28 million for one year when he was averaging $20.5 million on his last deal.
The franchise tag is a tool. The Bucs could use it on Evans just to buy themselves more time to work out a deal. The Bucs used this same strategy with Chris Godwin. Just because the Bucs may use it, it’s not necessarily a finality unless Evans signs the tag offer.
Again, Joe’s not losing sleep. Unless Buffalo or Kansas City or Houston offers Evans a deal he can’t refuse, Joe is confident Evans is wearing his Bucs No. 13 again.
February 22nd, 2026 at 5:32 am
He’ll be a Chief. You will cry later because of your overconfidence.
February 22nd, 2026 at 5:46 am
All teams must be in compliance with the salary cap at the start of the 2026 League Year, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11.
A lot of teams have to make moves to get under the salary cap by that date. KC did just free up a lot of money by restructuring Mahomes contract.
February 22nd, 2026 at 6:19 am
yes it would kinda be bugged out if mike goes to buffalo to freeze his balls off in the middle of nowhere…or goes to kc, and somehow he and froggy voice never actually climb on the same page for whatever reason – and taylor swift busts his balls for no particular reason as well…or if he chooses his old hometown of houston, and the slowly but steadily declining stroud, continues on his downward spiral since his rookie year…it’ll be interesting to see if mike chases the moola all of a sudden…or remains as stable buccaneer royalty, decked out in the pewter and redness
February 22nd, 2026 at 6:44 am
Why in the world would the Bucs want to break the bank for Evans?
Plus, the Bucs Fear the Beard anyway aka the Rooney rule!!!
As long as Bowles is HC and DC, the Bucs will go nowhere!!! and waste everyone’s time!!!
February 22nd, 2026 at 6:46 am
Can’t blame him if he decides to leave for a better shot at a ring, especially if he has as little confidence in Bowles as the majority of us. Can def see Bowles being the biggest deterrent to him staying actually. Certain Mike probably likes him as a person, but doubt he’ll say publicly how he truly feels about him as a coach.
February 22nd, 2026 at 6:47 am
Nor should they. Mike stays on a team friendly deal only. If he wants more than $20m let him fly elsewhere. CG, EE & JMac is a solid nucleus for a WR room and that dough needs to be spent on defense.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:09 am
He’s not going to Buffalo, or KC, turf, and cold. Houston, maybe, they also play on turf. Joe can’t bring himself to say it so I will. DUUUVAAL! Hook back up with Coen, and the up, and coming Jags. Lawerance throws it deep better than Baker. They play on grass, and their home games are coming to Orlando. He can keep his Tampa home. Coen, or Bowles, the choice is easy.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:12 am
jerry jones is the one to toss the brinks truck at mike, and mike would look good in that dallas uni…but that team isn’t winning anything any time soon
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:15 am
Mike will get right around 15-17 mil base with incentives based on a full season of production at another 5-7 mil. ME13 is NOT going anywhere except the HOF when he ultimately rides off into the sunset and may it be a while.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:22 am
Godwin sacrificed over 20 million to stay with the Bucs.
The Patriots offered him 80. He signed for 60.
Mike Evans will do the same. He just wants more than 1 year.
I’d be happy with 3 years.
He hasn’t slowed down at all since his rookie year.
In fact, he has gotten faster! And he can even break tackles now!
And he hurdled à guy last year!
Mike Evans has actually improved!
Same exact deal as Godwin. 3 years. 66 million.
Done.
Baker is still on a relatively cheap deal for a QB 1.
LVD will not cost 10 million this year.
If LVD signs, it will be at the vet minimum.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:26 am
Draft another Buckeye receiver..
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:29 am
I say let him go. The Bucs have to many mouths to feed. 20 plus million can be spent elsewhere. Evans Godwin Ebuka Mcmillen – YaYa Walker Nelson draft pic < Godwin Ebuka Mcmillin Tez – Hendrickson YaYa Walker draft pick. Much stronger team.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:33 am
Love you Mike and thank you for the twelve years. Reward yourself and go to a contender. Tampa Bay Bowles ain’t it my friend.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:36 am
i said it before, and i’ll say it again…
sign mike 3 years 50 mil……….it’s on point…
25 mil each, for the first 2 seasons…and the 3rd season mike plays for free…
mike should really do that…be the first guy in pro sports to play for free in the huge contract era…
mike likes to give back…and this would be one historical move to pad mike’s legacy even more…making big mike legit tampa royalty…
real talk
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:59 am
Mike Evans dropped off a little last season, which is to be expected. If the Bucs can’t resign him at the right price, they should let Evans walk. The defense needs an infusion of talent, especially starting talent.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:08 am
Question, if ME13 should decide to take his game elsewhere and in doing so plays in 17 games, only minor injuries and has 1200+ receiving yard with 10 tds! What would that expose about the Bucs overall organization?
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:22 am
This Happy Gilmore agent fella might just talk Evans into moving on for maximum monies. And it may be a blessing in disguise. No PR hit for the Bucs, 20 million or more saved on the 2026 payroll/cap and no more over-relying on Mike and his hamstrings…especially when they tweak. He’s been the best Buc receiver ever. But even Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Isaac Bruce played for multiple teams.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:33 am
He’ll stay.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:37 am
You have to keep guys like him. Still remember when the Reds shoved Tony Perez out the door for this new kid, Dan Driessen. Perez was the heart and soul of the team
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Let me ask this Joe, Why is no one considering New England. They were in the SB, have a young talented team, have a ton of money to spend, and made a huge offer to Godwin. If I am ME and considering moving on to get a ring before retiring, I would be looking squarely at the Patriots. Actually ME’s situation reminds me of Brady’s when he decided to leave NE. He wanted another ring and that was not going to happen in NE. Well ME may decide the same . Funny the Patriots seem so obvious, but no one is looking at them.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:56 am
I’d franchise him! He might only have one really good year left in him, with his yearly consistent injuries…so keep him here with new O.C and let him cement his H.O.F stats and career
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:00 am
Good luck big guy, go chase…nothing here this year.
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:14 am
Bucs shouldn’t sign Mike let him go to a team that’s closer to contending and the bucs should use that money to rebuild the defense that needs to happen sooner than later.
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:35 am
Franchise= $28 million, when he’s only gonna get 20-$25
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:37 am
Licht will resign Evans and continue his cap mismanagement by backloading his contract so the Bucs will still be paying him when he no longer playing. They’ll sign a couple of old has beens to cheap contracts for the defense. The defense will still suck. Godwin and Evans will be hurt half the year. Bowles will be fired. The new coach won’t be able to fix anything due to all the dead cap. We’ve seen what Licht’s continued sentiment gets us. Joe talks about the lost decade. Here we go again.
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:39 am
Agree with Ash. Thanks for the memories ME13, but the Bucs need to spend the money to get premier players on defense. Besides Mike can no longer play a full season with getting a hamstring injury that sidelines him.