Buccaneers could draft the perfect Mike Evans replacement in 2026 NFL Draft

After the departure of Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now lack an X receiver for their offense. 

There remains a strong wide receiver core made up of Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson, but none of them fit the prototype of a true X receiver for the Buccaneers offense.

It remains unseen whether or not Tampa Bay will spend a draft pick on a wide receiver this year given their strong existing depth as they have only seven draft picks and much more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball, but if they do opt to draft an Evans replacement, the perfect target couldn’t be more clear.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers should draft Elijah Sarratt to replace Mike Evans

Elijah Sarratt enters the NFL Draft with an impressive resume. He played for the Indiana Hoosiers and was a key contributor towards their National Championship victory and quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman campaign.

Sarratt caught 44 receiving touchdowns during his college career, including 15 in 2025. Over the course of his college career, he averaged 60 catches, 919 yards, and 11 touchdowns per season. His 15 yards per reception rivals Evans, who averaged 16.5 yards per reception at Texas A&M. 

While he isn’t quite as big as Evans at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he’s just as physical. He was one of the nation’s best receivers in contested catch situations throughout the entirety of his college career, coming down with over 50% of contested catch opportunities in every season of his career. He's even earned the nickname "Waffle House" because he's always open.

Sarratt also comes with a natural connection to Tampa Bay. Earlier this offseason, the Buccaneers hired Chandler Whitmer as their new quarterbacks coach. Whitmer spent the 2025 season serving as Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, giving him a front row seat to Sarratt’s dominance for the Hoosiers. He’ll also be able to provide intel on Whitmer’s character which will prove valuable during the draft process.

Replacing a franchise legend and future Hall of Famer who served as the primary boundary receiver and red zone threat for 12 seasons is no easy task – the Bucs won’t find another Mike Evans – but Sarratt could be the best option available to replace that physical, reliable presence.

Baker Mayfield would certainly love the pick, because Sarratt’s prowess in the red zone and on 50/50 balls makes him a quarterback’s best friend. He’s currently being projected as a Day 2 pick, and if the Buccaneers could somehow land him in the third round it would be an incredible value and a huge boost for the offense.