If Mike Evans departs, Tampa Bay's receiver depth, defensive needs, and financial flexibility become critical questions for the year ahead.
If another team lures Mike Evans away from Tampa, what should the Buccaneers do?
The six-time Pro-Bowler and two-time All-Pro is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he appeared in eight games and finished with just 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first time in his 12-year NFL career that Evans ended a season with fewer than 67 catches and 1,000 yards receiving.
Evans is also at the end of a two-year, $52 million contract extension, and speculation has run rampant about whether the 6-foot-5, 230-pound wideout will test free agency, given his age -- he will turn 33 in August -- and the numerous injuries he suffered through this past season, including a hamstring injury, a concussion, and a broken clavicle that sidelined him from Week 7 through Week 14.
The team has plenty of talent at receiver beyond Evans.
Without Evans, the Bucs have three capable receivers, and signing or drafting one more for depth might be all they need to feel good about that position going into the season.
Emeka Egbuka became the team’s No. 1 option as a rookie last season, and it’s hard to see that changing in 2026 -- though his numbers fell off significantly once Evans came back from from injury. Egbuka led NFL rookies in yards-after-catch last season, but the former Ohio State standout seemingly became persona non grata in the second half of the season -- maybe not coincidentally, right around the time Tampa Bay's collapse began. Egbuka's target numbers were all over the place throughout 2025, reaching a high of 13 in Week 10 versus New England, but steadily declining from there, until Mayfield went to him just two, five, and three times in the final three weeks of the season. During that stretch, the Bucs' first-round draft pick (19th overall) tallied five catches for 68 yards.
Jalen McMillan didn’t get to contribute much in his second season due to injury, but he showed promise in the four games that he did play, even going for 114 yards on seven receptions against the Dolphins in Week 17.
Losing Evans would hurt from a leadership standpoint, but the Bucs have Chris Godwin, who has more receiving yards than anybody in team history besides Evans and is under contract through 2027.
Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore, recently addressed whether his client might be ready to retire. "I think his competitive nature leads to more football," Gilmore said in an interview on "The Insiders" on Super Bowl Sunday.
What Gilmore did not address was whether Evans would enter free agency and what his outlook might be with the Buccaneers.
One silver lining if Evans moves on would be the team's finances -- and what the Bucs might be able to invest in without Evans' projected contract.
Tampa Bay needs an edge rusher and a linebacker, and not re-signing Evans -- who would likely command a two-year, $26.6 million deal, according to Spotrac estimates -- would make it easier to get either.
Tampa needs defense far more than it needs offense, and although the draft is always an option, a team looking to win the NFC South might be better off going for established NFL talent.
If the Bucs can’t get Evans to sign for a "hometown discount," it wouldn’t be crazy for them to move on.
At the same time, the Bucs would be better off overall with Mike Evans than without him.
Speculation has been breathless about what Evans will do. And in the meantime, people inside the building at 1 Buccaneer Place who know Evans are offering their takes.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, in an interview on "The Rondé Barber Show" on Jan. 28, said he can’t see Evans retiring.
“Understanding who Mike is, this is my guess, that he didn’t want it to end this way,” Mayfield said, referring to Tampa's limping to 9-8 last season and missing the playoffs. “He knows the potential if we’re able to stay a little bit more healthy."
In late January, on the "Up and Adams" podcast, Buccaneers senior advisor and former head coach Bruce Arians said he doesn't think Evans will retire either.
Free agency opens March 11 with the start of the new league year.
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