Good morning! Welcome to NFL free agency 2026.

The action starts at noon. The fun heated up hours ago.

Pending free agent Mike Evans, the greatest receiver in Bucs history, has the attention of Buccaneers fans and the nation.

Much is being said about Evans; too much has been nonsense.

Here’s a summary:

*Joe has to start with Evans’ agent, who has been peddling a steady stream of borderline gibberish for weeks. One moment he has Evans consdering all 32 teams; one moment he claims Evans has a list of diva-like demands few teams could meet. The agent also claims Evans has hot weather concerns about Tampa — while he lives in his broiling native south Texas and stays there to train in the offseason. Joe could go on and on. Evans’ agent is a known fearmongerer and has been all over the place desperately trying to draw attention to Evans. Why so many media take the guy seriously is beyond Joe’s comprehension.

*Next is longtime Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, who writes for Tampa Bay’s failing twice-weekly community newspaper. Stroud told ESPN radio that Evans will not play for the Bucs if he sniffs free agency at noon today. “If you let him out there and look around, you’re going to lose him,” Stroud said with gusto. Stroud claims Evans wants the Bucs to show him fresh evidence that they’re all-in on winning like they were when Tom Brady was quarterback. Joe doesn’t buy any of that noise.

*Joe also is appalled by the chirping from various media claiming Evans wants a guaranteed number of targets the Bucs cannot promise him. Evans is not that guy and never has been. Why insult Evans like that? Shame on you! More important, Evans has always had a lot of targets by league standards through his Bucs career. That would not change in 2026.

*Two true NFL insiders with deep, lasting and close ties to the Bucs, Adam Schefter and Peter Schrager, are not envisioning Evans leaving Tampa. But Jonathan Jones of CBS reports Evans’ career in Tampa is over — while Greg Auman of Fox Sports says Evans will let the Bucs counter any offer he gets outside Tampa.

*When Baker Mayfield was last heard from, the Bucs’ franchise QB was very confident Evans will play this season for Tampa Bay.

More Evans noise should be bubbling up late this morning or early afternoon.

Joe has been consistent for weeks — before and after talking to all kinds of powerful people at the NFL Scouting Combine. Expect Evans back in Tampa. But there still remains a slim chance Evans could be wowed and wooed away by a truly extraordinary offer (think $30 million annually) that the Bucs won’t meet.