Mike Evans
Getty
Mike Evans won't return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Drake Maye has a massive improvement from his rookie season, finishing second in the Most Valuable Player award, losing the award by a single vote.
The former North Carolina Tar Heel threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdown passes, rushing for 450 yards and recording 7 touchdowns with his legs, leading the New England Patriots to the second-best scoring offense of the 2025 season.
Alongside finishing second, the quarterback was a Pro Bowler, second-team All-Pro and finished fifth in the Offensive Player of the Year voting.
With the free agency and the draft coming up soon, giving Maye another receiving threat could boost the offense next season.
Pats Named Best Fit for 6x Pro Bowler
Mike Evans, Baltimore Ravens
GettyThe Patriots offense could receive a new offensive weapon
Drake Maye was the only quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft to record more than 4,000 passing yards, while recording the fourth-most passing yards in the league.
The former third overall pick was able to achieve this while not having a strong wide receiver group, headlined by Stefon Diggs.
Now with the opportunity to bolster the receiving core, Greg Auman of Fox Sports names the Patriots as a best fit for wide receiver Mike Evans, who recently announced that he will return for another season and is set to become a free agent.
“New England went from 4-13 to playing in the Super Bowl in a single season, and they did it without a true star on the receiving end of Drake Maye’s passes,” Auman wrote.
“Stefon Diggs could be cut with a big contract and modest returns, and if they did that, it would cost close to the same to bring in Evans, who is the same age as Diggs but has had a much more consistent NFL career. For comparison, the Patriots haven’t had a receiver get 10 touchdowns in a season since Randy Moss in 2009, while Evans has done it six times in that span.”
Evans will have a new place to call home after spending his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The wide receiver had his worst NFL season, but due to injuries and playing in fewer than 13 games for the first time, recording less than 400 receiving yards.
Evans has played with former MVP and Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and had some of his best seasons.
Pairing him with Maye, who finished second in MVP voting and played in the most recent Super Bowl, could have the former 7th overall pick return to his best performing seasons.
If Evans were to play in Foxborough, and depending on how the group looks, he would likely be WR1 under Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels.
Over 12 NFL seasons, the former Texas A&M Aggie has registered over 13,000 receiving yards and 100 touchdown catches.
The door for Mike Evans return is still not closed, as he is exploring options.
Salary Cap
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 07: K'Lavon Chaisson #44 of the New England Patriots celebrates after a sack during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
GettyThe Patriots will need to focus on resigning key players from the Super Bowl run
If New England were to part ways with Stefon Diggs, it would open up around $17 million in cap space, making it easy for the team to get Mike Evans and retain key players.
The Patriots have multiple players on one-year deals who are lined up for a nice payday.
Former first-round selection K’Lavon Chaisson, who had the best season of his career, logged 7.5 sacks off the edge.
Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga was a key member of the Pats’ run defense, and at times, as a fullback on offense. The defensive lineman was able to get 15 run stuffs in his one year with New England.
If letting go of Diggs opens up some money, or even if he restructures, getting Mike Evans should boost the offense in many ways.