Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is still recovering from a devastating knee injury he suffered late this past season and could miss some time early on in 2026 as a result.
However, Mahomes is still expected to return to the field at some point next year, and he would surely like a better supply of weapons than what he had at his disposal in 2025.
One name who had been aggressively floated as a potential target for the Chiefs was wide receiver Mike Evans, who is hitting the free-agent market after spending the first 12 years of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Unfortunately, Kansas City fans probably shouldn’t count on a hot pursuit of Evans, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
“It is still early, but Houston and Kansas City don’t seem to be in on Evans, according to sources,” Jones wrote.
Considering that Evans will be one of the top receivers available and that the Chiefs are perpetually in win-now mode so long as Mahomes is under center, this is a bit surprising.
Evans may not be the same player he was during his prime years, as evidenced by his 2025 campaign in which he missed half the season due to injury and managed just 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the first time in his NFL tenure that he failed to reach 1,000 yards.
However, the 32-year-old would still surely boost a Kansas City wide receiver room that still may not have a true No. 1 option. Most assumed Rashee Rice would be that guy, but he struggled in his first year back from a torn ACL.
Perhaps the Chiefs will just rely on the NFL Draft to find more weapons for Mahomes. They could also pursue some younger options in free agency.
It’s also entirely possible that Kansas City shifts gears and goes after Evans next week, but as of right now, it doesn’t look like that will occur.
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