“I Don’t Think We Would Allow That To Happen”
February 23rd, 2026
“Jason, I know this isn’t real.”
Interesting choice of words today by a Buccaneers legend.
Hall of Fame Bucs cornerback Rondé Barber hopped on WDAE radio to talk about the state of the Bucs and the big PGA Tour event coming up in Tampa.
The subject of Mike Evans’ future arose and Barber, who loves to talk about his deep connections and relationships inside One Buc Palace, won’t permit himself to consider Evans moving on from Tampa Bay. Barber wouldn’t talk about potential other fits for the greatest receiver in Bucs history.
“I don’t think we would allow that to happen,” Barber said. “And I hope we don’t.”
Joe was intrigued to hear Barber say he doesn’t think Team Glazer and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht will “allow” Evans to walk. Could that mean the franchise tag is an option for Tampa Bay?
The deadline to use the tag on Evans is March 3. The team and Evans could then negotiate a new contract until mid-July as long as Evans doesn’t sign the tag agreement, roughly a $28 million contract.
That’s a steep price for Evans, but Joe has no doubt Evans will find market for at least $20 million for 2026.
Heck, coming off a torn ACL, then-31-year-old Stefon Diggs got $23 million a year in free agency last year from New England on a multi-year deal.
Barber seems to know what Joe believes — that the Bucs won’t give Evans a reason to think about leaving town.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:10 pm
I said this last week. I don’t want Evans to go somewhere else but, in my opinion he has earned the right to choose where he ends his career.
I don’t think he would leave for more money. I believe the only way he walks is if he can go to a team that is in better shape to go to the SB.
I am not in favor of using the franchise tag on Mike Evans.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:17 pm
The WHOLE culture is soft starting with the owners!
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Teams don’t tag vets in 30s it just looks bad. If a player makes it that long they always deserve the right to look around. Trust the relationship that was built to bring them back. If they leave no hard feelings. The deal was in place due to hoping he break the Rice record anyways. Wouldn’t surprise me if he left for Houston or came back.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:35 pm
You are too stupid and naive to think that Mike didn’t have conversations about this very thing with Tom Brady and Gronk .
Tom Brady will ALWAYS be a New England Patriot playing for the Bucs is just a footnote in small print on his plague in Canton .
Don’t over pay for a over the hill WR !
Let someone else do that!
Let Mike go to a Super Bowl contender if there is one willing to pay him.
Folks!
Do you not understand that caliber of talent the Bucs have
1-7 at the end of the season in 2025
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:39 pm
Im okay with us using the franchise tag if we have to. He is, after all, the franchise. With him on the field we win about 2 out of every 3 games. Without him on the field, we lose 2 out of every 3 games. That’s the definition of a franchise player!
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Franchise tag is ludicrous. We’re stupid if we pay even 20 mil for Evans. Sure we all love the guy and want him to stay but it’s not in the best interest of the team at that price. If Mike wants the money or a better superbowl worthy team then good for him. Thanks for all the hard work and memories. But for Mike to stay he needs to give the home town discount like Baker has done and retire as a home town hero. 15 mil tops.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Knothead71 Says:
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:10 pm
I said this last week. I don’t want Evans to go somewhere else but, in my opinion he has earned the right to choose where he ends his career.
I don’t think he would leave for more money. I believe the only way he walks is if he can go to a team that is in better shape to go to the SB.
I am not in favor of using the franchise tag on Mike Evans.
respect the loyalty angle — but this isn’t just any player. This is Mike Evans — 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons, 100+ TDs, Super Bowl champ, and the most consistent offensive player in franchise history.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t rebuilding. They’ve won the division, have QB stability with Baker Mayfield, and are still very much in the NFC mix.
You don’t let elite cornerstone players walk out of “respect.” Contenders keep their difference-makers. If Evans leaves, it won’t be because Tampa can’t compete — it’ll be a choice, not a necessity.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:49 pm
If he leaves, it’s because of 3rd and 28
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Bucs went 2-7 at the end of this past season due to injuries- especially to guards. Defense played okay down the stretch. They should be able to improve dramatically this year if we can be active in free agency. And of course, the draft. Keep Mike, or regret it terribly.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Listen I get having respect for Mike but you don’t let him walk for free. At the end of the day it’s still a business. You franchise him and let him know if he still wants to leave after the moves in FA that you would trade him to that team but you at the very least get draft picks after paying the guy 20+ mil and him being injured most of last year. I think the Bucs have been very fair and respectful to Mike in return. Let his agent find a trade partner if it boils down to that.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:56 pm
2 years, 40 million all guaranteed. That’s should do it.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:57 pm
We have enough cap space and moves that we can make to create more. I dont see how it doesnt happen.
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:59 pm
If he was too afraid of letting GODWIN walk (after THAT injury), then I don’t know HOW he lets Mike!? But, NOTHING else made ANY sense about it anyway. So, there ya go! Just a HORRIBLE move extending Godwin like THAT. Made ZERO SENSE. It was absolutely SHOCKING. Especially, while KNOWING that you are drafting a WR in the 1st-Round, and when you KNOW that Mike is due the next offseason. On another note… I told all these “Pitts-People,” to just STOP. That there is NO-WAY in HAIL that they’re letting HIM go. PERIOD. Especially, as soon as their brand new HC takes a good look at him in person. Especially, STEFANSKI. Who actually I USED HIS TE’s. Who took less talented one’s than the FREAK Pitts, and made ‘em look pretty damn good. They put up some real nice numbers there. Again, there was NO-WAY possible ANYONE was allowing HIM to walk.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Mike is a legacy player for us, what he means to the franchise on and off the field hold value. Doubt the Glazers would want to let the one player in this modern era of Buc football that you immediately think about when the team is mentioned in any sports talk.
“Obviously, you got Mike Evans” how many segments of sports shows talking about this team over the years have repeated this? Seriously.
Just think of the marketing $ they’ll throw at a Mike Evans farwell(maybe) tour. T-Shirts, anything you can slap a 13 on, and a mini-documentary.
Very possible Mike also sees value in staying put and being a 1-team guy and how that’s just another layer of discussion when his name will be mentioned with the greats, whether they’re Bucs or not.
You think Chicago Bulls, you think MJ. You think idk, Padres, people of a certain age will say Tony Gwynn. Point is, those guys are legacy players. Aaron Rodgers isn’t going to be remembered as a Jet/Steeler, just the cheesehead era counts unless he wins a title.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:03 pm
I’m sure whatever decision Jason and Todd make will come back to haunt the fans. Sign Evans to big bucks and Evans will play just three games in the next two years. Allow Evans to walk and Evans will play for the next Super Bowl champions. I’m sure somehow Jason and Todd together will ruin whatever they can before skipping town with the Glazer’s money.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:05 pm
Especially, given how CHEAP the franchise tag is for TE’s… I said it THEN. For just $15-MIL, there’s NO-WAY you let Pitts walk. I mean, that’s just too easy. A total no-brainer.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:12 pm
We’re talking about a beloved player that can’t play maybe 3/4 of a season. So realistically if I was GM let him go if someone wants him more. Need players that play fast and most of season .His height and hands is what makes him special so if you can find any type of position player of same.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:33 pm
It’s time to put emotions aside and use our brains.
ME is and always will be a Buc in his heart.
Leaving for a better chance at another ring will not change that.
And as good as he still is, we have needs on defense that matter more right now.
Let him walk and use the savings on better defensive players.
Bowles needs all the help he can get. #Guru
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:34 pm
I disagree 99 other the the qb ,this team needs 6-8 new players im thinking
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:36 pm
Anyone is in danger of breaking their collarbone. Mike would have gotten his 1000 last year too if not for that. Blows my mind some saying he’s slowed down. Next to Wirfs he is the best football player on this team. Godwin is right there. Let your best players walk is a great way to start a decade of depression. Geez. Evans and Godwin healthy are worth what they are worth. Which is around 50 million a year. Geez.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:37 pm
franchise tag would be unfair to a great guy whole career he deserves better than our sissy stupid head coach
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Definitely not a turn key team
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:41 pm
I’m with ADDDB “3rd and 28”.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Sign and trade for Max Crosby on Raiders sounds good to me.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:53 pm
23 sacks didn’t help Cleveland…
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:53 pm
And by the way, how many more players does Licht want to overpay? We’re in a cap crunch now from this largesse on his part. I think he wants to be everybody’s buddy. McCullom, Godwin, AWJ, Goedeke, Wirfs, Riddick, even LVD all paid at the top of their value. Not a bargain in the bunch. 7 guys over 20 mil but Seattle has 2
Is this HOF GM work?
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Diggs got what was essentially a 1yr deal that only guaranteed him $16.6M at signing & carried a $10.5M cap hit in 2025. (It was a 3 yr deal that gave the Pats an out after 2025….Now, Diggs will carry a $26.5M cap hit in 2026 & 2027)
It also goes without saying that in 2024 – Diggs was on pace for a 100 catch – 1000yd+ season before the knee injury in HOU….(his first injury caused missed games since 2018)….It should also be noted that as bad as NE was in 2024 – NE had to overpay to get Maye a quality known commodity WR security blanket in 2025 FA.
Evans (32) was on no such pace in 2025…30 catches 368yds over 8 “healthy” games = 65 catches for less than 800yds over a full 17 gm season.
That equates to a performance drop off from 2024 when Mike (31) missed 3 games with another hamstring injury – just squeaking out his 1k season streak in the waning seconds of the season…Which was also a drop off from his 2023 season (age 30) where he again injured his hamstring – but lucked out that it occurred in week 4 before the week 5 bye to keep him from missing the following week.
Those data points do not align with a contract over $20M/yr for a 33yr old WR….But more in line with the $10.5M cap hit Diggs had in 2025 – or less – as the Bucs should not have to overpay the way the Pats did for Diggs.
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:01 pm
very slim chances bucs got to sb, why would he stay?
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:04 pm
With all the holes to fill on defense, rb and TE, it boggles the mind that the Bucs would keep a roster spot open for LVD and have Evans hold the Bucs hostage by overpaying him. This is the difference in a winning organization like Seattle who let their QB Wilson walk and the Bucs. If Evans want to go, then by all means, let him go and concentrate on getting players on defense.
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:09 pm
If the Bucs are not committed to winning why sign him? Todd make some good decisions for a change. BARF! 🤮
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Evans isnt going anywhere. The salary cap is an easily manipulated number. There are plenty of underachieving players on this team that I’d like to see gone before Evans.
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:00 pm
It’s only about feelings that Mike should stay if a 33 year old wr who doesn’t play the whole season is as one joe thinks your best offensive player you have big problems because the replacement should have been here two years ago at least. There is a drop off in play he isn’t elite anymore you would like someone elite at your wr1 the wr core is good enough as is without Mike, the defense is not good enough for peewee football and is also aging at some point you have to move on for cap savings and to keep prime young talent on the roster. Love Mike to death but they need to build the roster out need depth like the desert needs water at several positions if they really want to make a push in the playoffs because it’s a long season.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:03 pm
Well, New England certainly is known for overpaying, considering they offered Godwin $28 million last year, allegedly. How weird would that conversation be between Evans and Godwin if Evans took the bigger money from New England and left the Bucs and Godwin holding an empty bag?
Not sure if the Bucs wouldn’t have been better off if Godwin had left for the big money. We’ve already got several receivers with a similar skill set to replace him (Egbuka, McMillan, Tez Johnson). Evans, due to his size and ability to get 50/50 balls is far harder to replace. Anyway, that’s water under the bridge at this point.
Despite the negatives you continue to hear from those who purport to be Bucs fans here, there is NOBODY in the Bucs wide receiving corps right now that comes close to being able to duplicate Evans’ skill set. The only one with practically identical measurables (height/weight/speed) is an almost never used tight end (Devin Culp). Does he have the hands and moves to get slightly open? Probably not because they are trying to train him as a tight end instead of having him shadow Evans and learn the wide receiver role he is far better suited for.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:13 pm
I keep hearing the same silly posts here as I have in other threads about Evans leaving for another team. What team, that actually needs and wants Evans is your sure-fire guaranteed Superbowl contender next year?
If trends since they expanded the playoff format in 2020 are any indication, nearly half the teams that were in the playoffs last year won’t be in the upcoming year.
Sorry, but guessing who those teams will be next year is probably not the wisest way to pick your next team. If your happy where you are, love the guys on the team, the fans and the community you have been devoted to for more than a decade, you might place more weight on that vs. guessing who might be a contender next year.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:26 pm
I want Evans to stay but the Bucs also need to p[ay for help on the defense across the board as well as add depth on the OL and find someone to replace Rashaad and possibly Otten and the draft is only going to be able to address a few of the many needs. Its a numbers game.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:28 pm
If the goal is winning the Super Bowl, they need to re-sign the best receiver on the team who has the most impact on the Offense.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:29 pm
FortMyersDave – The money you “save” by not paying Evans MIGHT get you one decent player on defense or will get you a marginally better tight end and a backup at some other position. What you lose in a player who can come down with 50/50 balls and that causes every defense to adjust its gameplan doesn’t justify the tradeoff.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:33 pm
this has to do with the teddy bridgewater act but you cant comment there. if somehow this comment is deemed political i am weary of the broad definitions some words are getteing these days.
the comment is simple. a kid in high schopl football can cost his parents hundreds of dollars on supplements, extra food and things related to his development. i dont mean a star or someone who could get nil money. i am talking about a young lineman or a kicker or just q with no real talent but wants to play and is willing to be a tackling dummy in hopes of at least a litlle status among friends and self respect. and we have billion dollar businesses making a fortune and the argument winners cant show a shred of mercy….
so what it might be cheating to help a kid in that spot. you think the universe is going to give him an even breadk if you squeeze him now. lets just say i have my doebts. teddy should have kept quiet, but a stipend looks plenty fair to me
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
If Diggs is worth 23 million at 31 years old , Evans is worth much more. He’s a much more dynamic player plus is not a diva like Diggs is.
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:19 pm
If Godwin is being paid 22 million, they have to pay Evans more. Evans is better even at 33 years old. Maybe a 2 year contract for 25 million per with 1 year guaranteed. A shorter term is reasonable but I don’t see how Evans would take less money than Godwin on a yearly basis and he shouldn’t. That might be a sticking point in negotiations.