Dan Graziano Doesn’t Believe Mike Evans Is Leaving
March 7th, 2026
Does Mike Evans have the willpower to stay?
Well-plugged-in NFL scribe Dan Graziano of ESPN struggles to envision Mike Evans catching passes for any other NFL team than the Bucs.
Evans has only every played for Tampa Bay. And Graziano reports Evans’ emotional ties to the Bucs are very tight. Fans already know the emotional ties from the Bucs to Evans are strong.
Given the centrifugal force, Graziano is of the mind Evans is going nowhere next week — that Evans signs a one-year deal with the Bucs.
Contract projection: One year, $15 million fully guaranteed
Evans will have other teams interested, and possibly even offering more money. But he has only ever played for the Buccaneers, and that relationship is strong enough that I’ll need to see him in a different uniform before I believe it. Like teammate Chris Godwin Jr. a year ago, Evans should test the free agent waters before deciding to stay in Tampa Bay. Injuries limited him to 368 yards last season, but he cracked 1,000 yards in each of his previous 11 years in the league.
Predicted landing spot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe has leaned for weeks that Evans will re-sign with the Bucs. However, it only takes one. Just one team willing to throw tons of loot in Evans’ lap to perhaps change his mind.
Last year Chris Godwin resisted the temptation to grab a $30 million/year bag from the Patriots. Would Evans have this sort of willpower? Joe suspects Evans signs for $20 million at minimum.
March 7th, 2026 at 8:07 am
I think him wanting to win one more ring may top his desire to stay with the Bucs. I think if he truly feels the Bucs can have a strong team over the next two years he stays. So I think Licht, Robinson and Bowles actions or commitments to him prior will be strong reasons behind his decision. if their is not some strong actions in the FA market, especially at the OLB postion he may likely leave .
March 7th, 2026 at 8:11 am
This team knows who they are going after hard in FA. About the middle of next week we will have a good idea of what the Bucs intentions are going into the draft. Maybe. At the least we’ll see where they’ve shored up and where the holes might be and then the draft speculation begins for a almost 2 months.
March 7th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Stays
March 7th, 2026 at 8:16 am
I’m on the fence about Mike. On the one hand – he has earned the right to do what he wants with the remainder of his career. If he wants to go to another team and pocket a ton of bank then I wish hm well and will always cheer for him.
On the other hand — the selfish side of me wants Mike to retire as a Buc and go into the HOF as a Buc. Buc for life kind of thing.
March 7th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Well. To me that’s an insult, one year at $15m.
March 7th, 2026 at 8:53 am
The Bucs are the favorites to win their division, according to Vegas odds say. Mike’s best route to the playoffs is in our sorry division. Trying to pick a team to bring you to the Superbowl is a crapshoot. A year ago, what would have thought the Superbowl would have been Seahawks v Patriots? You would have been laughed and cut off at the bar if you claimed that. Unless Mike has a crystal ball, he should stay with us and cement his legacy as an all-time Bucs
March 7th, 2026 at 9:12 am
As much as I want him to stay for sentimental reasons, I’ve come to the conclusion it’s best for us to move on. Our wr room is very strong without Mike and we need the money to pay other positions. Better to let a great player go a year too early than a year too late.
For 15 million it might be worth keeping him around, but I doubt that’s the price.
March 7th, 2026 at 9:21 am
I want to see him in pewter, but agree $15-17 million should be his price point. So many good UFAs out there that this team needs: Edmunds/Chanal/Lloyd (haha, never), Vera-Tucker, Paye (would be nicely paired with KC rushing from inside), Mafe/Oweh….. $20 mill is simply too much considering our WR stable, his age, and annual hammy
March 7th, 2026 at 9:25 am
If we DO sign him, it will be prior to the start of free agency –else we incur a $13 million cap hit
March 7th, 2026 at 9:29 am
I don’t think money is the biggest factor for Mike. I think he wants another Super Bowl or deep playoff run, and another 1K season. Even with a great defensive draft, Bowles won’t improve the defense enough to get past a possible first playoff game. Winning the worst division in the league is a won’t mean much to Mike (or me). I do think Mike can surpass 1K this season. And finally, Mike and his family love the area and their great charity here.
March 7th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Joe is spot on! Graziano can’t be that plugged in if he thinks Evans signs for 15 million. Unless there are zero teams interested in Evans which is unlikely, he signs for at least 20 million and more likely 25 million. He also signs for one year if that’s what he wants. If he wants 2 years, he’ll get 2 years. He has to be paid more than Godwin because he means more to this offense and is still the better player. There is no reason why they can’t make this happen. They can also still make a Hendrickson deal happen too.
March 7th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Let Mike Evans go man y’all get to emotional about these players if he wants out then let him go.
March 7th, 2026 at 10:05 am
Jerry Rice has the record for 1000 yard seasons at 14 Mike Evans only needs three more 1000 yards seasons to tie him. I think Mike Evans is gunning for that record. He has a lot of football left in him. He keeps himself in great shape and takes care of his body. IMO the Bucs should give him a 4 year deal.
March 7th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Mike will also be offered about 5-6 mil in incentives which will give it a more 20ish mil if ME hits his bonuses.
March 7th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Call it a fatalistic view…but I like to think more pragmatic. I hope Deryk Happy Gilmore talks Evans into the “best” deal…and the Bucs & Evans part amicably.
Two thing that are going in the direction/favor of this prediction, however:
1) Licht loves his very first draft pick ( as he should )…and will likely fall for Gilmore’s bluff
2) Buc and hairstyle consultant…The Hair Dresser Hot Rod Mulch has been beating the barbershop chair for a 5 year deal. What could go wrong with that?
March 7th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Either way, Bucs aren’t going anywhere this season. Rinse, and repeat, 9-8, 8-9, with, or without Mike. This is Licht, and Bowles ceiling. Next year will be a complete house cleaning.
March 7th, 2026 at 10:58 am
Well, let’s look at licht and him loving his draft picks…if their intentions are to draft edge rushers, they may as well trade the picks for an established one because they dont know how to evaluate correctly the college prospects.
March 7th, 2026 at 11:04 am
I have no bad feelings if he wants to go somewhere for a championship. I mean we kept Bowles so we have no chance.
March 7th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Maxx Crosby is the first time the Ravens have used a first round pick to acquire a player per PFT
I have been loyal and supportive of the Bucs, including Todd and Licht. But I am about at my end. Did I want to trade 2 #1s for Crosby? NO. But the Bucs do NOTHING unless the GOAT falls from the sky. Then Glazers/Licht spend whatever. That great, but how often is that going to happen??
Draft picks are too precious to trade… Serious money is too scary to spend (insert stupid comment about 1 sack Hason Reddick here…). Yet OTHER TEAMS DO IT AND ARE SERIOUS CONTENDERS FOR THE SB!!
Regardless of the criticisms of Baker from the peanut gallery, the Bucs have the makings of a top offense for ’26. Some have said that our 6-2 run – where the Bucs were not even fully healthy – was a fluke. I say “your record is who you are”. Imagine our talent on offense with a healthy squad and quality OC. We have a QB that is being paid peanuts – where we can spend the money on players, but that will change soon!! Baker is IMO like a franchise QB, not in the top 3, but like Jerod Goff. Surround him with talent and he can get you to the SB.
Yet, the Bucs will not make daring moves like the Rams and Eagles do every year, and now the Ravens, to get the talent we need on defense. Put a Hendrickson and a quality ILB on D and watch the DBs look like STARS!
I love Licht, but he has the same problem as Todd – too conservative with his draft picks and budget (unless a Brady falls from the sky). Exact same with the Glazers. They are NOT cheap as some say, but they are conservative, they are NOT all about winning another SB bc they are happy with winning the NFCS. Too afraid to tell Licht to take chances while we have a cheap QB and talent on offense.
Is anyone here going to tell me if we signed ME and Dean back, and added Hendrickson and and a very good ILB we are NOT SB CONTENDERS?! Cowards is what we have leading our Bucs.
March 7th, 2026 at 11:28 am
i dont think he wants to go out a loser like this past season
March 7th, 2026 at 11:32 am
I agree the Bucs should have moved on from Bowles. But they didn’t, so either move on or take a hike. Why stick around a Bucs site just to bitch daily? That’s kinda a sad pathetic existence.
Grazz is about as dialed in as anyone. If Mike stays for around 18 mil w incentives and they can land an edge like Hendrickson or Oweh, then that opens the draft up for DT, Lbers and depth.
Again, I thought the Bucs should have promoted Coen to HC last year, but it didn’t happen.
Hopefully all the bandwagon fuctards jump ship, because constant whining whole continuously logging on to a Bucs site, makes absolutely no sense.
March 7th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Can certainly improve your odds of winning a SB in the off season … on paper.
Much tougher in reality, as Mike obviously knows. This past SB had teams in it that no one expected.
Takes 1 or 2 injuries to derail any teams season.
All the certainty, Mike is coming back still scares me. I hope Joe and Graziano here are right.
March 7th, 2026 at 11:49 am
He’s not leaving. Wrap it up.
March 7th, 2026 at 11:55 am
$15m guaranteed plus incentives based on games played to get him to $20m.
Still waiting for the AWJ trade……..
March 7th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
If you want to keep Mike along with all the other FA needs then you have to extend Mayfield now. Take your pick. How brave are you?
March 7th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Anyone thinks Mike’s throwing away his legacy and trying out a new locker room at this stage of his career I have some ocean front property to sell you in Arizona.
He’s letting the market determine his worth and will take a home town discount.. 2 reasons 1. Fl taxes 2. Family loves it here..hes loved here.. him and David are the star of the team and all the wr in the room follow him.
His legacy will be as career buc and best buc player in history of football no one will challenge his success.
Also the bum ass Seahawks winning the superbowl should be a reminder a hot streak is all it takes to win the chip.
Also in nfc south knows we’re dominate here fluke bad season..knows who he is playing 6 games a year
March 7th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
They have to give Mike at least what he’s been making the last two seasons. Do you think he will settle for less money than he’s been making? I doubt it. If we lose Mike, the Bucs will be in trouble. He means more to this team from a leadership perspective than some people realize, more so than Lavonte. It would be crushing to the morale of this team if they let him walk!
March 7th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
I think Mike Evans walking in the tunnel after the Atlanta game, banging his helmet against the wall and loudly repeating “3rd and 28, 3rd and 28” tells us all we need to know after keeping the same HC/DC for this year.
March 7th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
I’d be all of Rod Munch’s money Mike isn’t going anywhere.
March 7th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
Tired of the Evans hype.
March 7th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
He’s gone to a contender and there will be a few willing to show him the money
March 7th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
I believe that, from our point of view, it is centripetal force that ties Mike to the Bucs and free agency is the centrifugal force.
March 7th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Joe says: Joe has leaned for weeks that Evans will re-sign with the Bucs. However, it only takes one. Just one team willing to throw tons of loot in Evans’ lap to perhaps change his mind.
Sorry that is very counter intuitive and makes no sense. You know he will resign with Bucs…….But maybe not if someone offers him lots and lots of money= So you DO NOT know Evans will resign. Either you do know or you dont know.
March 7th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
My bad Gig joe I thought you wrote learned but you wrote leaned. Thats my bad and I apologize. Your statement makes perfect sense. Im going to go back in this cigar factory and sneak some brews
March 7th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Sapp left, Lynch went to Denver, and Montana, Jerry Rice and Favre all went elsewhere to finish their HOF careers. The list of great players moving on to close out their careers elsewhere is long.
Based on that alone, I don’t care who you are. Unless Mike has told you personally his decision, you are making statements based on nothing but guesswork.
March 7th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
He’s going to the Rams