Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield heard all the rumors about teammate Mike Evans potentially leaving the team soon. The wide receiver, whose historic NFL record run came to an end after he suffered a brutal injury in Week 7, has been mentioned in plenty of rumors recently.

Mayfield, who has made the rounds with his comments, too, reacted to the possibility of seeing one of his top targets join a different team in the 2026 NFL free agency during an appearance on “The Ronde Barber Show.”

“Here’s the thing,” Mayfield said, via Around the NFL. “I don’t have to really plea with it, because Mike’s too much of a competitor and cares too much about Tampa to end his career without 1,000 yards, without a division championship, without a playoff run. And that, first of all, speaks to who Mike is.

“But that’s the truth. And you know, he doesn’t want to do that. You could just kind of feel it. And listen, I don’t have any info. I told Mike, ‘This is your decision. Take your time doing it.’ But understanding who Mike is, that is my guess, that he didn’t want it to end this way.”

Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans created a terrific duo in Tampa BayTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Mike Evans has had a terrific 12-year NFL career. He won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and recorded 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons before things went south in 2025. His partnership with Mayfield has been remarkable, too.

They have connected for 24 touchdowns in 2023 and 2024. Mayfield had to lean on rookie Emeka Egbuka early in the season, which might have opened the door for the Bucs to move on from Evans. Even so, Mayfield doesn’t want the 32-year-old wideout to leave, but the decision doesn’t fall on him.

Teams like the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills could land a proven veteran like Evans to add more firepower to their offenses.

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