The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a move Monday when free agency just got rolling that seemed like good news.
It could actually bad "ominous," writes beat reporter Rick Stroud.
The move: Signing Cade Otton to return to Tampa Bay.
The impact, though, could mean the Bucs don't think Mike Evans is coming back.
TE Cade Otton is returning to the Bucs, per @AdamSchefter. Ominous sign perhaps for the ability to retain Mike Evans.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 9, 2026
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This would make sense based on Monday's earlier reporting.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote this on X on Monday morning:
"Sources: #Bucs legend Mike Evans is poised to become a free agent next hour, and interested teams have gotten the sense he’s serious about leaving Tampa Bay after 12 seasons."
Evans is coming off his worst NFL season, as injuries limited him to just eight games with 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.
Evans has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 NFL seasons, a record.
He has 866 career catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns.
The Bucs would love for him to play out his career with them, and maybe he still will.
But it's looking more and more like he might not.
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