There have been two most important questions surrounding longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers extensive receiver Mike Evans from the second his agent made it recognized his shopper needs to proceed his profession. Will he return to the Buccaneers, and if not, the place will he play in 2026?
With Evans, 32, planning to check free company and Tampa Bay coming off a disappointing 2025 season, there’s an opportunity he’ll put on a unique crew’s uniform in what will probably be his thirteenth NFL season. And although Evans is probably not the identical participant he as soon as was (final season marked his first underneath 1,000 yards in his profession, 368 yards in eight video games), he is nonetheless an enormous identify now out there on the open market.
Under are 4 groups that make sense as doable locations for the six-time Professional Bowler, Tremendous Bowl champion and sure future Corridor of Famer.
Whether or not it is Evans or not, the Buffalo Payments are in determined want of a big-play extensive receiver. After firing Sean McDermott following an early playoff exit, the Payments at the moment are going through strain to lastly make the Tremendous Bowl run that has alluded the franchise with Josh Allen.
When combining its wants and the strain to make a transfer, Buffalo has to do one thing. Many are speculating that the transfer could also be a much bigger splash than Evans, and the Payments could commerce for disgruntled Philadelphia Eagles high goal A.J. Brown.
At this level in his profession, there is no denying Brown could be a extra dynamic addition. However a commerce for Brown will probably be extra sophisticated, and Evans might be an ideal fallback choice. If wholesome, Evans’ measurement and skill to maneuver the chains would make him a worthwhile weapon for Allen and an ideal mentor to the 22-year-old Keon Coleman.
For an additional AFC contender in search of extra manufacturing from the extensive receiver place, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs might be poised to usher in one other wideout, particularly since they could open the season with out Patrick Mahomes as he recovers from ACL surgical procedure.
In fact, the Chiefs may determine to reunite with the recently released Tyreek Hill. Nonetheless, if Hill would not find yourself again in Kansas Metropolis, Evans might turn into whoever is underneath middle’s new finest good friend and assist the Chiefs rebound from a 6-11 season. Evans on the Chiefs could be type of ironic since Kansas Metropolis was the crew his Buccaneers defeated in Tremendous Bowl LV.
As an alternative of attempting to affix the Buffalo strain cooker or a fading dynasty in Kansas Metropolis, Evans is perhaps extra intrigued by the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots.
Regardless of an inconceivable run all the best way to the Tremendous Bowl, the Patriots would nonetheless be finest served to offer Drake Maye a veteran receiver. Evans would make Maye’s life simpler and be somebody the 2025 MVP runner-up might depend on to be open beneath when underneath strain. It is even doable the Patriots haven’t got Stefon Diggs subsequent season, making signing somebody like Evans a necessity.
Retaining Evans’ almost definitely touchdown spot within the AFC, the Houston Texans are at a crossroads. As some are involved concerning the future viability of C.J. Stroud as a championship-caliber quarterback, there aren’t any indicators that he will probably be anyplace apart from Houston subsequent season.
Signing Evans would put Stroud in a greater place to return to kind and maintain defenses sincere and unable to simply put double protection on Nico Collins. It is also price noting {that a} return to Tampa Bay is not out of the query as Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers hope to indicate 2025 was simply an aberration.
