Among all pending 2026 NFL free agents, fewer players carry more question marks than legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans.
Unfortunately, the future Hall of Famer was limited to just eight games due to various injuries. This included a broken collarbone injury that Mike Evans suffered in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions.
With Evans missing most of the year, his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons ended at 11. And without Evans for most of the year, the Bucs’ offense struggled mightily as the team limped to an 8-9 finish, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Evans’ two-year deal with the Buccaneers has expired. And with the six-time Pro Bowler set to turn 33 in August, some are wondering if he might call it quits this offseason.
But according to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, people close to Mike Evans expect him to play in 2026. Interestingly, Laine adds that Pro Bowl linebacker Lavonte David will either return to Tampa or retire:
“Neither player has discussed his future with the team yet, and both are unrestricted free agents. David has already said he won’t play anywhere else, so it’s Tampa Bay or retirement. Evans, 32, is less likely to retire, based on conversations with those closest to him. But how much does being left out of the 2025 playoffs eat at Evans, knowing he has only so much time left?”
If Evans were to hit free agency? There’d be no shortage of interest in the 11-time 1,00-yard wideout.
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