Cade Otton “Surprised” Mike Evans Bolted
March 13th, 2026
Cade Otton didn’t expect Mike Evans to escape.
Yesterday the Bucs had media availability with three guys who agreed to contracts during legal tampering. Just one was a returning player.
Bucs tight end Cade Otton is now a richer young man. And he had his wife and two children with him for the moment. And, yeah, you’d be smiling too if you were going to get paid $30 million.
One thing Otton was not smiling about was the departure of future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans. Otton was asked if he had a sense if Evans would leave or if he was stunned.
Yeah, Otton said, Evans’ exit caught him off guard.
“Yeah, I was surprised,” Otton said. “I don’t know the Bucs without him.
“I’m so thankful for the time I got to spend with him and just to learn from him. And you know, he’s an amazing person, amazing teammate, amazing player.
“So, definitely sad he’s not here. I’ll be rooting for him personally until we end up playing 49ers.
“But yeah, it was a surprise.”
Shortly before speaking of Evans, Otton was talking about the Bucs and the red zone offense and how that element must improve.
The sad thing about that is, their killer weapon in the red zone is now in San Francisco. So the challenge to get better is all the more steep now.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:06 am
He deserved his contract not many 4th round TEs get a 2nd contract and he started a lot of games, he’s not a HOF guy but not cheeks
March 13th, 2026 at 7:06 am
Bucs fans for years and years will miss Evan’s ability to get open in the red zone.
Really, ME with his exceptional height and his all-time wing-span was so unique for being able to make himself open for quarterbacks in the end zone when there was really no open throwing space.
He made average quarterbacks better every year.
Will miss you Mike.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:14 am
We’ll miss you Mike…..see ya when we see ya…..Otton earn that paycheck and let’s roll !!
March 13th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Not really surprised Mike left. Need to have a solid defensive draft so we have some quality pieces after Bowles and Baker leave after next year.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Time for Ebuka to step into the role he was drafted for.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Maybe Otton will get more red zone looks since ME13 is gone. I’m hoping Zac will give Culp some time at the X receiver position since everyone says he can’t block.
You could have Otton, Durham and Culp on the field at the same time with Jmac and EE.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:22 am
This is an epic disaster for Tampa. Baker played like garbage last season. The defense stunk. They missed the playoffs in a weak division. Ownership kept Bowles because of the contract.
Figure it out people. Evans left because he’s got precious little time in his career left to play at a high level and the Bucs are a bad team.
It starts at the GM-HC-QB combo and what we have is highly suspect.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:22 am
Let’s stop commenting about Mike. He’s gone.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Ebuka is soft. As soon as defenses shifted towards him he disappeared. Not expecting much from him or Godwin who will be hurt by mid season.
We’re in for some lean years. We got a bad HC, one read midget at QB and an ownership who cares more about being liberals than running a football franchise. But hey look on the bright side, at least the Bucs have gay cheerleaders.
What a joke.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:41 am
Otton’s presser was a yawner- Maybe most of guys that re-sign are that way, .but gee – nothing to get inspired over.
And fwiw- enough bad mouthing a guy that meant everything to this franchise the last 12 years. Give him his due. If the Bucs wanted to keep him here for his entire career, they would have done, and instead signed him to a two year deal. They could have extended that deal after he tied Jerry Rice in 2024. We’re in a world of shoulda coulda woulda and were treading water hoping that we hit pay dirt in the draft.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:41 am
the vikings have the greatest organization…
March 13th, 2026 at 7:45 am
I’m not.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Mostly peaceful: Baker had problems last year because of injury and a pathetic Oline that couldn’t protect him. When the Oline starters are healthy Baker is a good QB. When ME13 has injury problems he misses games, Baker doesn’t miss games. He plays through his injuries. Old school player. ME13 was just playing to the press yesterday, he knows when the Bucs are healthy they can crush the 49ers. No way will ME13 play all 17 games this season.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:06 am
“I am NOT that man” -Mike Evans
March 13th, 2026 at 8:12 am
MostlyPeacefulTraskMob. Everything I’ve ever seen you write is garbage. I have heard you talk about our “weak” division. So the NFC east, they won 27 games last season. The mighty AFC North won 29 games last season. Hurts and the Eagles. Prescott and the Cowboys. Rodgers and the Steelers. Burrow and the Bengals. The mighty NFC West? The Bucs were 3-1 against them. 3rd year in a row the Bucs have gone 3-1 against conference rival division series. A one read QB? To me, to say something like that, shows you don’t understand football even one little bit. Mayfield goes through presnap and postsnap reads faster than any QB I’ve ever seen. McVay, Canales, Coen and more will tell you the same. You made sure and pinpoint liberals and gays because you don’t really have much more bouncing around inside that hateful, empty head of yours. Do you?
March 13th, 2026 at 8:14 am
MostlyPeacefulTraskMob. The NFC South won more games than the NFC East or the AFC North last season.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:15 am
Time for an Evans hamstring pole. How long will his hamstrings last in Lynch land? Will he get another 1000 yards session? Who cares?
March 13th, 2026 at 8:20 am
Love ME13. Always will. Having said that , I HATE the 49ers, just a thing, I always have. I hope they win 2 games.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:23 am
“We’re in for some lean years. We got a bad HC, one read midget at QB and an ownership who cares more about being liberals than running a football franchise. But hey look on the bright side, at least the Bucs have gay cheerleaders.”
And ugly ones too!!!! Thanks Darcie
March 13th, 2026 at 8:25 am
To my previous list of QBs and their teams in the 2 weakest divisions in the league it wasn’t fair that I didn’t add Jackson and the Ravens and Daniels and the Commanders.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:27 am
3rd and 28 until Bowels and Licht are gone………nothing else really to talk about
March 13th, 2026 at 8:27 am
MostlyPeacefulTraskMob Says:
March 13th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Ebuka is soft. As soon as defenses shifted towards him he disappeared. Not expecting much from him or Godwin who will be hurt by mid season.
We’re in for some lean years. We got a bad HC
……
Who is WE? You sure are not on the Bucs staff and I highly doubt you are a fan, don’t act like you are part of the team. Your not and they would not have you.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:29 am
We are surprised you got 10 million a year
March 13th, 2026 at 8:29 am
I swear 50% of the “fans” in here are happier when we lose because they can gripe.
ME was a FA; he chose to leave. We have an outstanding WR room. He will be missed but that’s life in the NFL.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:34 am
Otten is smart enough to avoid sayingbthat he saw that coming….. Hopefully he contributes under Zac’s system and avoids those crucial drops. Nothing bad about Otten in reality, not his fault that he was asked to help a bad OL protect Baker last season. Next season I hope he becomes a red zone target.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Time to move on from ME13. He was successful and admired in Tampa but it is obvious that he has lost more than one step and has trouble separating from defenders. There are many terrific receivers in the NFL. ME13 is no longer one of them.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:37 am
At $10 million, Otton’s pay is STILL in the bottom half of starting TE’s.
We don’t use Culp in the TE role, he’s about the same height and weight as Evans, plus he’s faster. Why don’t we give him reps at WR?
March 13th, 2026 at 8:38 am
SC Buc Fan. I think some of the trolls we are seeing on this site are in reality 2 or 3 guys posting under several handles, you can notice how they basically repeat the same gibberish over and over again. These are the same people who wanted the Bucs to lose out last season so Bowles could get fired. How did that work out for them?
March 13th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Great point Gipper. I wonder how Mike is going to like being third fiddle to Kittle and CMac as well as a decoy when his hammy allows him on the field. I was angry at first but this is kind of like Stamkos leaving the Bolts, it was time….I am okay with it but Mike is no longer in my top 5 Bucs of all time.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:55 am
I like otton I think he is a solid te not a superstar but a good player.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Gipper. I’m aggravated at Mike too. But saying ME13 is no longer one of the league’s terrific receivers isn’t right. And I’m more than ready to follow JohnQCitizen’s advice!
March 13th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Otton is actually pretty good. And with Tight Ends it takes time to develop. Our last two OC’s did not really value them, until they needed to when all of the receivers went down. Cade is the new Cam Brate.
Our new OC does use his TE’s, so maybe this is one reason Cade was extended. Haven’t heard much about Zac late;y, but you know he is working with Licht to get players that will fit in his system.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:04 am
bourne got 140 yds with matt jones throwing to him vs bucs. if mike is third fiddle he still will have big games. mike in the super bowl for the bucs was probably 4th fiddle and he never complained he just wants to win
March 13th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Joe … ‘The sad thing about that is, their killer weapon in the red zone is now in San Francisco. So the challenge to get better is all the more steep now.’
Last season Mike only had 3 receiving TDs, but in 2024 he had 11 receiving TDs. Of those, 7 TDs were within the Red Zone. And of those, 6 TDs were from either 2-yards or 1-yard out.
Bucs need to add a beastly RB like AJ Dillon (6′ & 247 lbs) to deal with those short-yardage TDs now that Mike’s gone. Also to deal with short-yardage 3rd & 4th down situations. With a healthy OLine & someone like Vita Vea in there are a blocker, surely someone the size of Dillon got run it in just about every time.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Beej … ‘We don’t use Culp in the TE role, he’s about the same height and weight as Evans, plus he’s faster. Why don’t we give him reps at WR?’
Exactly! Hopefully Zac Robinson is a lot more creative than Grizz was.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:10 am
“Don’t ever chose sides with anyone against the family again, ever ” — all italian Buc fans
March 13th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Kenton Smith Says:
March 13th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Gipper. I’m aggravated at Mike too. But saying ME13 is no longer one of the league’s terrific receivers isn’t right. And I’m more than ready to follow JohnQCitizen’s advice
====================================
Actually like the way ME uses his size and strength to battle in the red zone. There are 20 other NFL receivers who are better than ME. Age is a great leveler.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:23 am
MostlyPeacefulTraskMob … ‘We’re in for some lean years. We got a bad HC, one read midget at QB and an ownership who cares more about being liberals than running a football franchise. But hey look on the bright side, at least the Bucs have gay cheerleaders. What a joke.’
Congrats Mobster. That ranks as the most useless comment I’ve read on JBF in months. In just 4 sentences you managed to ridicule midgets, liberals, gays & cheerleaders. But on the good news side, at least you’re ‘Mostly Peaceful’.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Gipper —
There is no better receiver in the NFL than ME in the Red Zone.
Scoring is still the most important thing in the NFL, and you just can’t replace Mike Evans with a guy.
I am sure your rebuttal will have one of the hottest receivers from last year saying that guy is better in the red zone. Please give me 5 receivers who have a year after year history of being better than ME in the red zone.
Age never affected ME’s reach, wingspan, or height. He was open in the red zone when no other receivers were. Sure, age affected his speed. But that was not what made Mike unique.
If you can’t see that, I do not know what you were watching all these years including the last three. Mike leads the NFL in average Red Zone TD’s per game in that three-year period at just under .5 per game.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:29 am
But on the good news side, at least you’re ‘Mostly Peaceful’. 👍👍
March 13th, 2026 at 9:39 am
Calling EE soft is a joke. The kid came in as a rookie on little to no rest and all he did was produce when Godwin and Evans were out. He hit a rookie wall, but so did the entire offense in the 2nd half of the season.
EE is a baller, hard worker, smart and will only get better.
Some serious assclowns on this site.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:43 am
Instead of being hurt by Mike Evans comments on the Bucs flaws address them. Bowles knows what they are. What’s the expression when you find oil – DRILL BABY DRILL.
BOWLES NEEDS to correct these flaws with a DRILL BABY DRILL mentality and turn the Bucs into the 2020 Bucs.
Do that and the Bucs are contenders again.
March 13th, 2026 at 9:45 am
San Francisco will be lucky if Evans plays 9 games. Mr I pulled a hammy
March 13th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Just for kicks, look at the potential Bucs’ starting lineups for this season:
OFFENSE
o QB Mayfield (Backup Browning)
o RB Irving (Backup Gainwell)
o WR Godwin (Backup Tez Johnson)
o WR Egbuka
o WR McMillan
o TE Otton (Backup Durham)
o LT Wirfs
o LG Bredeson
o C Graham
o RG Mauch
o RT Goedeke
DEFENSE
o NT Vea
o DT Robinson
o DE Kancey
o OLB Diaby
o OLB Muhammad
o MLB Anzalone
o ILB ROOKIE
o CB McCollum (Backup/Nickel Parrish)
o CB Morrison
o S Winfield
o S Tykee Smith
SPECIAL TEAMS
o K McLaughlin
o P Dixon
o LS To Be Signed
I’d say that our potential starting lineups are just as good as when we started the 2024 & 2025 seasons. Our biggest question IMO is still DEPTH, but we’ve got almost 6 months until season opens to address that. IF we can stay healthy, this team MIGHT be better this season than we were in 2024 & 2025.
March 13th, 2026 at 10:01 am
im guessing mike leaving for a “good qb” will light a fire under baker lol
GO BUCS!!!!!