Buccaneers Receive Positive Mike Evans Prediction

"Evans, 32, has a Hall of Fame résumé already with 108 career touchdown catches, so this is a three-way fork — does he retire at 32, coming off a year when he played only eight games due to hamstring and collarbone injuries?" Auman wrote. "Does he come back and try to help the Bucs to one more playoff berth after a down 2025? Or if the outside offers are compelling enough, does he finish his career elsewhere? He made $20.5 million a year on his last deal, but Spotrac only has him projected to $13 million for 2026. It's likely he finishes his career with the Bucs, but leave open the slim chance he goes somewhere like Houston, close to his hometown of Galveston, with a strong contender he could help."

The immediate impact of Evans’ decision will directly impact Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offensive identity. Tampa Bay has built its passing attack around Evans’ size, red-zone dominance and ability to stretch coverage vertically. If he returns, it signals organizational confidence in contending again quickly. If he departs or retires, the Bucs would face the daunting task of replacing not only production but leadership in a locker room that has leaned on him for over a decade.

From a broader standpoint, Evans’ résumé already places him in Hall of Fame conversations. His 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons underscore his consistency and durability prior to 2025’s injury setbacks. Financially, the equation is delicate: after earning $20.5 million annually on his last contract, projections suggest a lower market value of around $13 million per year. For Tampa Bay, the question becomes whether to invest in continuity with a franchise legend or pivot toward a younger, long-term solution at wide receiver.

Looking ahead, the Buccaneers will enter free agency with this decision looming over the offseason. If Evans returns, Tampa Bay’s 2026 season could feel like the continuation of an era. If not, it may mark the symbolic end of one of the most productive careers in franchise history and the beginning of a new chapter for Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense.