If Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans hits the free-agent market, he’ll be one of the more highly sought-after players once the new league year begins.
Ranked the No. 16 best free agent according to NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, Evans is expected to have plenty of suitors if he doesn’t reach a new deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before free agency begins on March 11.
“There aren’t many true ‘X’ receivers who can win on the outside and physically beat press coverage. Though Evans missed time in 2025, his tape shows he’s still that dude,” Rosenthal wrote.
Buccaneers Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles both told reporters earlier this week at the NFL combine that Evans has “earned the right” to test the market and see what other teams are willing to offer him.
And while they still may believe that, the Bucs may not be willing to take the risk of Evans being lured away by the temptation of a big-money deal elsewhere.
More News: Cowboys Hit With Stern Warning Over George Pickens Contract Decision
More News: Joe Burrow-Bengals Split ‘Imminent,’ NFL Execs Say
In fact, ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported on Friday night that Tampa Bay may put the full-court press on to keep Evans from leaving the building.
“Update: I’m told that the Bucs met with Mike Evans’ representatives Darren Jones and Deryk Gilmore at the NFL combine Thursday night and will aggressively pursue trying to re-sign him,” Laine wrote on X.
The 32-year-old Evans has been one of the NFL’s top receivers over the last decade-plus.
More News: Browns Have Discussed Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade With Cardinals
He started his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons before a string of injuries last season ended that streak.
Evans was limited to just 30 catches, 368 yards, and three touchdowns in eight games this year before a broken collar bone ended his year. Though he’s on the mend, Evans will certainly have his pick of teams should he test the market — but even if he does, his agent says that doesn’t guarantee he will be playing elsewhere next year.
“I just think that he basically wants to look at all 32 teams,” Gilmore said. “I can’t go out here and say, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re looking for a new team.’ I mean, that hasn’t been the mindset here. We basically just want to do an analysis. When you’re making a business decision, you want to sit down, go through, do your checks and balances, make sure you evaluate everything you do, and then from there, when you’re making a decision, you’re not making an emotional decision.”
More News: Texans Fire Coach in Shocking Offseason Move Following Playoff Run
Read the full article here
