An announcement on Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans’ future has finally come down and it’s good news for wide receiver-needy teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.
According to ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin, Evans’ agents have revealed that the future Hall of Famer will indeed play and won’t retire in 2026.
However, along with that announcement, Evans’ agents also noted that the veteran wide receiver will test the free-agent market for the first time in his career.
“WR Mike Evans WILL return in 2026. His agents Deryk Gilmore + Darren Jones tell me the future HOFer will play this upcoming season — and *will* explore his free agency options,” Martin wrote on X.
While Evans testing the market could just be a negotiating tactic, we now have to take seriously the possibility that he won’t be back with the Buccaneers in 2026.
Four teams that could pry Evans away from Tampa Bay are the Steelers, Broncos, 49ers and Bills, all teams that are in the market for wide receiver help.
Pittsburgh desperately needs to add a No. 2 target opposite DK Metcalf for whoever is under center in 2026, and the Steelers need more depth to round out their room, also.
The Bills appear to have struck out with Keon Coleman and Josh Palmer and they must add more firepower to a wide receivers room that has one reliable target in Khalil Shakir.
The Niners have Jauan Jennings hitting free agency and Brandon Aiyuk’s days with the team are numbered, so there’s a lot of work to do in San Francisco.
In Denver, the Broncos need more help for Courtland Sutton and a wide receivers room that is filled with promising but unproven young talent.
Evans will almost certainly be looking for a place that gives him a chance to win a Super Bowl. The Broncos and Bills would be his best bets.
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