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.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:07 am
Wow.
I wouldn’t think it possible, but every single suggestion in the comments above is a bad suggestion. You would think, by odds alone, someone would get it right.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:11 am
Typical negative responses.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:13 am
Okay, so here’s the deal:
🏈 Licht does his best to get Evans to re-sign for $20-22 million per year for 2 years before he hits Free Agency
🏈 Otherwise, let him hit free agency. His agent will likely get higher offers
🏈 But it won’t matter. Mike will take less to stay. He’ll take the $20-22m
Who do you think talked Godwin into taking less to stay? Mike Evans is committed.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:15 am
We need Mike Evans here as a leader. EE certainly needs him. The entire team needs him.
I do believe this will be his final year though.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:22 am
Don’t understand what the problem is. Evans is a UFA & wants to test the market. Hey, go for it. Let the Bucs see what comes out of that, and if the best offer is reasonable, THEN make the decision about re-signing Mike. If some team puts in an offer that’s well up there, then thanks for the 12 years Mike.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:48 am
The Texans have the team and the cap space to sign Evans. They are only one or two pieces away from going to the Super Bowl. The Bills have to pay for Allen and the Chiefs have to pay for Mahomes.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:51 am
You guys are idiots! Don’t you remember the, “Third and 28” explosion!
Why WOULD he stay with this doomed franchise (next year) to play out his career?
To see his name on the Buc HOF? He’ll be on it anyway.
February 22nd, 2026 at 11:08 am
Bucsfaninoregon
Third and 28”?
You’re building an entire franchise obituary around one play. That’s not analysis — that’s emotional instability.
Let’s deal in numbers.
Since 2020:
• 5 straight playoff appearances
• 4 straight division titles
• 1 Super Bowl title
• 3 playoff wins post-Brady
That’s sustained competitiveness in the modern NFL — not a “doomed franchise.”
You want to talk quarterback play?
Over the last two seasons:
• 4,000+ passing yards
• 28+ TDs
• Top-10 in touchdown passes
• Playoff win
• QBR and passer rating above league average
That’s production. Period.
Meanwhile, the NFC South has:
• No dominant QB
• No dominant roster
• No stable contender outside Tampa
So why would he stay?
Because:
• He has offensive continuity
• He has a front office that drafts well
• He has a playoff path every season
• He has weapons
• He has leverage
Players don’t abandon division titles and playoff access because of one busted coverage. They leave chaos franchises. Tampa isn’t one.
“Doomed franchise” is something fans of 4–13 teams say to cope.
If you’re going to argue, at least bring something stronger than one snap from a defensive breakdown.
February 22nd, 2026 at 11:26 am
🏈 Pear shaped boomer who never played a sport in his life is always right – everyone else is wrong
🏈 Writing fan fiction for free makes him a swell fella. And tuff. It totally translates to NFL football analysis.
🏈 He’s right about one thing…these football emojis are so fun!!!!
February 22nd, 2026 at 11:35 am
I love Mike Evans & everything he has meant to the Bucs organization…But you just can’t overpay for a declining talent – even one with a HOF career behind him….So, using a Franchise Tag on him this off-season is ludicrous.
(If the Bucs do that, his agent should carry Mike on his back to the table to sign it…Because $28.8M is likely more money than he would get on a 2yr deal anywhere in the league!)
The NFL is an ever increasing data driven league behind the scenes…Teams have Ivy League educated numbers crunchers and performance science analysis checking very box imaginable…& the numbers rarely lie… 33yr old WR’s have shown a precipitous decline in on-field-performance and an increased likelihood of missing games due to injury.
Mike has all the warning signs attached to his data points…Re-occurring hamstring issues since 2019, decrease in on-field performance and visible on-field physical decline…All serious red flags.
If you removed his name & just looked at player X’s recent history and all the red flag data points without name recognition bias, the Bucs would not even consider signing Player X for more than $5-6M on a 1yr deal.
The Bucs already have recent history with a similarly built former All-Pro WR in age related decline….Look no further than Julio Jones… At 6’3″ 220lbs – his body failed him late in his career and on-field performance completely fell off the cliff by his age 33 season – when he spent time with the Bucs.
I’m not saying Mike will nose dive that hard, but all the warning signs are there that it could very well occur in fast succession.
As such, the Bucs FO & ownership can’t allow themselves to go all watery eyed reminiscing about the good-ole-days when Licht selected him as his very 1st draft pick, or the back shoulder throws to Mike along the sideline when they were an unstoppable thing of beauty & fall into the “Buc for Life” hero worship trap offering money well above true market conditions for a 33yr old WR.
(What kind of coin do you think DeAndre Hopkins or Keen Allen get offered in FA?? Pennies on the dollar compared to what Mike’s agent wants!)
February 22nd, 2026 at 11:46 am
It makes sense that Evans tests FA, we may not like it but from a business perspective its obvious since this might be his last contract he will be 33 and coming off his worst season with injuries. One of the best WR available will drive his price up.
February 22nd, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Mike loves Todd. He said so after the Atlanta game. 3rd and 28.
February 22nd, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Well said 99! Beer is good people are crazy!
February 22nd, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Houstons backup qb is good,with Strouds ups and downs,I see a qb competition.Mills has an opertunity to win it.im sure evens knows it!
February 22nd, 2026 at 1:26 pm
If you’re not sweating it’s because you don’t understand 1) how bad he wants to win, 2) how bad this team’s coaching is, 3) and how much other teams will want him. He would be extremely loyal, and I believe take less money, if we were actually gonna be a contender. We are not!
February 22nd, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Too much uncertainty surrounding Mahomes injury time-table. The Chiefs make no sense. I don’t think he’s a great fit in Buffalo, either. They need young speedy playmakers, and they already have PLENTY of 3rd-Down/RedZone Threats as it is with Cook, Knox, Kincaid, and Allen himself. Houston tho!? Hmmmmm… And, it’s HOME. So, if they want him… They can get him. It only takes just ONE other team, and Mike’s Agent for sure KNOWS THIS. 💯
February 22nd, 2026 at 2:37 pm
So many low IQ idiots running their mouths. They have no idea what the cap is, how he’s gone what, what players make – but they do know that whatever the number is, it’s too high.
Why? Because Baker lost a game after throwing the ball to the wrong place after Evans had already cut up field and Baker had the ball in his hands, yet threw it to the wrong place (not to mention Baker having two guys wide open on the other side of the field, and Baker not bothering to even look that direction).
But the Baker Boi(s) think Evans did something wrong on the play, so now they want him ran out of town. That’s where 100% of the hate on Evans comes from. Just demented morons who are not Bucs fans, never been Bucs fans, and will (thankfully) disappear the moment Baker leaves town.
As for Evans, give him a 5-year deal, wrap him up for life. He’s going to be dominate for another 3 seasons, then still be above average for another couple years after that. Stop with the year to year nonsense, give him a long term goal.
February 22nd, 2026 at 2:39 pm
I probably should’ve also mentioned Sweat Baby Ray-Ray for Buffalo, as well. He is really good catching the ball outta the backfield, and making plays in space. Seems-like, they used him on 3rd-Downs, as well. He’s that type of back. A good solid 3rd-Down Back.
February 22nd, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Yeah, because that makes a whole lotta sense. Give Mike 5-YEARS, when literally NO ONE ELSE, is offering him anything EVEN CLOSE to that. That’s a GREAT way to run a team there.
February 22nd, 2026 at 2:44 pm
99 the big fella- thank god we have chat gpt to steer this franchise 😂😂
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Whatever they give him, they should front-load it by paying most of the guaranteed money as a signing bonus, or however they have to structure it. That way they can make him look VERY attractive to (hopefully) ‘multiple’ top contenders at the trade deadline. Make it look like SUCH a ‘no-brainer’ that they CAN’T RESIST passing him up (for having most of the remainder of 2026 already paid-for, AND very affordable for 2027, where they can bring him back OR just ‘walk-away’ on the cheap). That way we can get back in return ‘MULTIPLE’ 2027-PICKS. In that ‘all-time’ LOADED draft-class. He’s got to make-it to the deadline fully-healthy, looking good, AND playing well, FIRST.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:15 pm
I’d take a ‘27 late 2nd at the deadline, in a HEARTBEAT. Again, he’s got to be completely healthy, and playing well, at the right price, in order to GET-IT. IF he is then maybe having that 2nd-year on his deal, could even earn us an additional 4th, for a 6th swap… If you can get at least 2-teams bidding!? That could be SO HUGE. A 2027 2nd, AND improving from an early 6th, to a late 4th. I’d take it all day long. Especially, with THAT ‘27 draft-class. Bring-on the rebuild, with a brand new HC and GM. I’m all-in.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:24 pm
@rod, slow your drinking down…..youre drunk already lol…go sleep it off
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Then, if you took that late 2nd (say #60) and paired it with the late 4th… Maybe, you could move up from #60 to #48!? That’d basically be a 1ST-ROUND PICK in most drafts, and you just turned Mike Evans into another 1st-Round Pick, & we would have THREE Top-50’s (including our OWN early 1st and 2nd’s), in THE “All-Time” MOST LOADED Draft-Class EVER, according to Todd McShay! And, we haven’t even talked about, or counted our other 3rd/4th/5th-Rounders, from Godwin, Vea, and a few others (Winfield Jr and Kancey maybe!?). We could REALLY load TF UP this upcoming trade deadline. Teams will be extremely, ridiculous STINGY with these 2027-Picks tho!!!!
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Jeremiah Smith at #4 (assuming QB’s go 1-3), then the #36 and #48-Picks to start-off the 2027 Draft with, would be SUPER EXCITING.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Liam Cohen II.
That’s a bit of an overstatement.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:50 pm
If they let him go then they better spend that $$$$ on the D.
February 22nd, 2026 at 4:06 pm
I hope he stays, but i think he goes…..too many times, he has taken discounts to help us….and he’s deep with Jason and us….i guess its up to him, but the injury history and missed games wont look good on the wrong side of age 30…i love you bigdog, just saying….a lot of money for part time? i dont know….
February 22nd, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Hot Rod is hopped up on wine coolers per usual on Sunday Funday.
His idol J-Winston recently declared he wants to play 12 more seasons ( seriously…he said that )…so his insistence of 5 year extension for Evans sounds reasonable by comparison.
February 22nd, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Im a 33 year old who’s made bank in my career Id go out with a championship not a 2-3 year deal with a team rebuilding just sayn
February 22nd, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Are you guys not aware of how NFL contracts work?
I said two years ago to give Evans a 5-year deal at that time. Evans is a 1st ballot HOF WR who is huge and doesn’t rely on speed – those guys age in a special way, they don’t fall off the face of the earth if they lose half a step like smaller guys. Evans has at least three more 1000-yard season in him. Said it before last season, he reminds me most closely of Terrell Owens, except Mike is bigger, and unfortunately Mike got injured at the same exact age Owens did. But look at how Owens bounced back the following year, then got even better the year after that, and put up yet another 1000 yard year 3 seasons later, but ‘falling off’ into the 900 yard range, all while piling up the TDs.
That is Evans.
He look last year probably as good as he’s ever looked, and certainly looks faster now than when he was young.
Evans is a special, elite talent. You idiots want to run him off are the same retards who cheered Lynch being cut and Sapp not being resigned because they were too expensive. You’re morons. You don’t run off HOF players until they’re washed up.
As for 5-years, again, do you not understand how NFL contracts work? If Evans did bust, or want to retire, so what, it’s a one-year hit to the cap – and the team is rebuilding anyways. Also, if you haven’t noticed, the cap is going up-up-up every offseason. If the Bucs had given Evans $100/5yr deal 2 years ago, it would be considered a huge bargain. Middling WR’s are going to be making $20m/year now. The only way he’ll take that money now is a big hometown discount.
In the end I expect Mike to sign back again, but man, stop the year to year stuff. At the very min make it a 3-year deal.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:18 pm
mike won a superbowl here…so considering that alone, he should not leave…
his legacy here is borderline-ing into royalty here…
mike is beginning to be way up in tampa sports lore…he needs to grind stats for a few years to be a top 5 all time guy – and if he’s no joke, he focuses on moving past fitzgerald into the number 2 slot…
in his last year or so, he can convert from the go up and get it guy, to the bigger possession receiver type guy, to grind stats as a bigger type receiver…he has the skill set to morph his game as he ages…
staying is vital for him…and padding the stats with one more brady-less potential superbowl win would be the icing on top of the icing…
so he should be careful not to chase the few extra beans, so that his agent can bump up his benzo or porsche with the extra loot from his inflated cut
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:18 pm
I don’t believe he would go anywhere else but Houston. There’s no way he relishes playing in the extremely cold temperatures in those other places in December and January.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:20 pm
If Evans isn’t retained, the Bucs have absolutely ZERO excuse for not picking up the best pass rusher they can get their hands on. An extra $20 million saved sure frees up spending for the defense.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Steve V. said – “Im a 33 year old who’s made bank in my career Id go out with a championship not a 2-3 year deal with a team rebuilding.”
Tell you what Steve. You tell me what team is going to win the Superbowl next year that will offer Evans a contract and I’ll give you 4-1 odds that they don’t win it.
In other words, nobody has a clue, including Evans, who is going to be the team that guarantees a championship. In most years, it’s the team that has had the fewest injuries – especially as the season comes to a close.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Brady new the chances when he left NE, Same difference with Evans ,he knows its time for him to fly..Go home to Houston with that lights out defense! Atlanta wins the division next season, Ill take the 4-1 on that!….Scotty!
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Stay or go as a long time bucs fan love Mike Evans. I want him to stay but hay he got to take care of his family first. He hasn’t made enough money to live comfortably the rest of his life. Just go with whoever pays you the most hopefully its the bucs if not oh well stay or go.
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:14 pm
Bradys raiders
February 24th, 2026 at 1:31 am
Should’ve fired Bowles and Baker. Maybe then we’d stand a chance.