A franchise legend faces an unthinkable move. Could Mike Evans trade Buccaneers' navy and pewter for a division rival's colors?
For many Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, the thought of Mike Evans playing somewhere else in 2026 is depressing.
The thought of him playing for an NFC South rival would be unbearable.
It would be one thing if Evans, who has played each of his 12 NFL seasons in Tampa Bay and become the greatest receiver in franchise history, played for a team like the Buffalo Bills, where one major outlet has him going.
At least then, he'd be out of the NFC and the Bucs would rarely see him. But there's another scenario in which Evans joins a division rival, and playing against the Bucs twice a year. This scenario has Evans joining the Carolina Panthers.
Frank Ammirante of Fantasy Pros has Evans signing with Carolina and lays out why it would make sense.
For one, Ammirante points out, Evans is familiar with Carolina's head coach.
Dave Canales was Tampa's offensive coordinator for the 2023 season.
That season became one of the best of Evans' career, one of just two when he went for more than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Carolina is a young team that just beat out Tampa Bay for the NFC South title, and has a young quarterback in Bryce Young who could use some help at receiver. The Panthers also have Tetairoa McMillan, a budding star who eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving as a rookie in 2025. No other Carolina receiver reached 400.
Ammirante writes that Evans' experience, combined with what McMillan has already shown and the upside of Jalen Coker, who had 394 yards in 11 games in his second season, would make for a formidable receiver corps.
Would Evans actually leave the Buccaneers? ... for the Panthers?
For multiple reasons, it's hard to see it.
As improved as Carolina is, the team finished 8-9 and only won the NFC South because somebody had to.
Evans will be 33 by the time the 2026 season opens, so he's running out of chances to win a Super Bowl. Carolina is probably at least a couple of years away from that being a possibility, so it's easy to see Evans not wanting to wait that long.
It's also hard to see one of the most beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers ever playing for the Carolina Panthers.
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