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The Buccaneers are expected to lose longtime wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some big decisions to make this offseason after laboring through a disappointing 2025 campaign. The Bucs raced out to a hot start last season, but after collapsing down the stretch, it’s clear that some changes need to be made. And despite their wishes, it sounds like one of those changes may involve longtime wide receiver Mike Evans.
After spending the first 12 years of his career with the Bucs, Evans is set to hit the open market. While Tampa Bay would obviously like to keep Evans in town, reports have emerged right before the legal tampering period opens, indicating that the six-time Pro Bowler could very well be on the move once he is eligible to sign with other teams.
Buccaneers Expected to Lose Mike Evans in Free Agency
From Free Agency Frenzy on @nflnetwork: Mike Evans is now an hour away from negotiating with other teams for the first time in his future Hall of Fame career. It’s feeling like his time with the #Buccaneers is coming to an end and that could happen quickly.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Evans has been arguably the most consistent wide receiver in the league since his arrival. In each of his first 11 campaigns, Evans managed to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for Tampa Bay, and along the way, he racked up six Pro Bowl selections and a pair of All-Pro Second Team honors.
In 2025, Evans played in just eight games thanks to a broken collarbone injury he suffered early in the year. Even when he was on the field, though, Evans’ production was lackluster, as he caught just 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The Buccaneers’ offensive collapse certainly didn’t help, but some folks wondered if Evans’ time with the team had run its course.
Tampa Bay doesn’t seem to feel that way, as it has made it clear it wants to re-sign Evans. However, for the first time in his career, Evans is going to at least test the open market, and once he gets there, it’s sounding increasingly likely that he will be leaving the Bucs and signing with a new team.
“It appears that Mike Evans, for the first time in his future Hall of Fame career, is going to talk to other teams about potentially playing for them and not in a Buccaneers uniform,” Mike Garafolo said on “Free Agency Frenzy.” “This is starting to feel like maybe, for the first time, Evans is going to be playing for another team … I think it’s going to happen quickly.”
Buccaneers Still Hoping to Re-Sign Mike Evans
GettyMike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Losing Evans would be a big blow for the Buccaneers. While the team still has Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan leading the way at the wide receiver position, Evans has widely been regarded as the leader of this group, even as he missed more than half of the 2025 campaign with his aforementioned injury.
At this stage of his career, though, Evans wants to compete for Super Bowls, and it remains to be seen if he believes Tampa Bay is still a team he believes is capable of doing that. Regardless of what decision he makes, it sounds like the expectation is that Evans will be off the board fairly early once the legal tampering period opens up at 12 p.m. ET on Monday.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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