Mike Evans
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will find out soon enough how much wide receiver Mike Evans likes playing for them — and if he wants to end his career there.
Evans gets to test free agency for the first time in his career on Monday. If early reports are any indication, there should be a robust market for the man who tied Jerry Rice’s NFL record with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 2014 to 2024.
According to longtime NFL reporter Mary Kay Cabot, that could include a surprise team in the mix with the Cleveland Browns, where Evans would be reunited with 1st year head coach Todd Monken, who was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018.
Evans had a career-high 96 receptions in 2016 and led the NFL with 173 targets — meaning Monken was always calling his number. Evans had a career high of 1,524 receiving yards in 2018, in his last season with Monken.
Players can officially begin accepting contract offers at 11 a.m. ET on Monday.
“Of Evans’ suitors, the Browns make more sense than some, in part because the future Hall of Famer flourished with new Browns head coach Todd Monken as his offensive coordinator in Tampa, and would welcome the opportunity to be reunited with him,” Cabot said on Sunday. “Evans is expected to be in (the Browns’) sights as the three-day negotiating window opens.”
Mike Evans Seems Destined to Play in AFC
More often than not this offseason, Evans’ name has been tied to AFC teams — although not the Browns until the last few days.
According to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders are in the hunt for Evans.
According to BetMGM, it’s the New England Patriots leading the way, with Evans predicted to land a 2-year, $30 million contract.
“RUMORS: The Raiders and Titans are among the teams interested in signing star WR Mike Evans,” NFL influencer Dov Kleiman wrote on their official X account on Thursday. “Evans would transform both teams’ offenses.”
“Mike Evans to NE at $15M a year?” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account.
All Signs Point to Mike Evans Leaving Buccaneers
Evans seems destined to find the free agent market welcoming him with open arms after spending his first 12 seasons with the Buccaneers, who selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft out of Texas A&M.
“I truly believe (Evans) will be in a new uniform next year,” NBC’s Matthew Berry wrote. “The Buccaneers love him, but given the commitment they made to Chris Godwin last year and a deep young WR room, Tampa Bay is okay letting him go elsewhere. I heard Buffalo as a potential landing spot for Evans and possibly Philly if the Eagles decide to move A.J. Brown.”
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht made his intentions clear with Evans from the start of the offseason, choosing not to franchise tag his star wide receiver, which would have paid him roughly $27 million in 2026.
“Love Mike and would like to have Mike back,” Licht said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday. “He’s earned the right with his résumé, and Mike as a person, what he’s meant to this entire community, fan base, all of us. I could go on and on, which we have. He’s earned that right. We’d love to have Mike back, and we’ll just see how the process goes.”