Chris Godwin shares his thoughts on the possibility of Mike Evans departing after 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could start the 2026 season without Mike Evans, and a guy Evans has been teammates with for almost a decade doesn't want to see that happen.
Evans is the leading receiver in Bucs history by a wide margin, with more than 5,000 yards separating him from the next-leading receiver.
The next receiver is Chris Godwin, who has been with the Bucs since 2017.
When the Bucs drafted Godwin in the third round out of Penn State, they did so initially to add depth to their receiver room. But Godwin quickly became the team's No. 2 option behind Evans, eclipsing 800 yards in his second season and becoming an All-Pro the next year.
In the 2020 season, Evans and Godwin helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory, and the team's stated plan is for both of them to retire in Tampa Bay.
Tampa made a big step toward keeping Godwin a Buc for life last offseason when it extended him to a three-year deal. The Bucs are hoping to get something similar done with Evans, and when talking with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Godwin acknowledged that not having Evans as a teammate would be odd.
"It would be so weird," Godwin told the Times for Saturday's edition. "I can't imagine talking to him on a different field and seeing him in a different jersey."
Evans has expressed his admiration for Godwin in the past, as well, saying in September 2024 that Evans was "one of the best receivers in the world."
Godwin told Stroud he isn't aware of the ins and outs of what Evans wants financially.
"Everybody does their own thing," he said. "I don't know what he's willing to take, and I don't know what they're willing to offer. But I hope that he's back, for a lot of reasons, but he's my brother."
Evans' market value, per Spotrac, is projected at $26.6 million over two seasons.
Considering Evans' history with the Buccaneers, it's hard to see him leaving Tampa Bay unless it's for a specific suitor.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler previously reported through Evans' agents that Evans is looking to play for a team that has:
- A reliable QB
- Can win a Super Bowl
- Has a savvy offensive coordinator
- Will make Evans a major player in the passing game.
One contender Evans had been linked to was the Buffalo Bills, but with the Bills trading for DJ Moore and having among the least amount of salary cap room in the NFL, it seems unlikely that they'll add another receiver.
The Philadelphia Eagles are another team that's been mentioned, but this seems to only be a realistic possibility if the Eagles trade their No. 1 receiver, AJ Brown.
Two other playoff teams that have been linked to Evans are the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL's free-agency negotiating period kicked off Monday. Players' agents are now able to haggle with teams and come to verbal agreements that the sides will be able to put in writing on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET., when the new league year officially begins.
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