The biggest storyline for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason was Mike Evans’ decision to leave Tampa Bay to sign with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jason Licht went all out to keep Evans, and even made a larger offer than San Francisco, but there was no changing Evans’ mind as he wanted to pursue a new challenge late in his career.
The Bucs have moved forward with a focus on the future, and drafted the explosive Ted Hurst to add to their young, talented receiver group.
But the wound from losing their franchise player is still there, and the Bucs just got a painful reminder of the caliber of player they lost.
Former Buccaneers WR Mike Evans still ranks as one of NFL’s elite wide receivers
FanSided’s Jake Beckman put together a list ranking the top-ten wide receivers in the NFL entering the 2026 season, and it’s no surprise to see Evans ranked among the league’s elite.
“Is Mike Evans still a top-10 receiver in the NFL? Absolutely, and no one would argue that he’s not. I’m not going to let one bad year, a year that was bad because of injuries, knock him out of the elite tier of receivers, and neither should you,” wrote Beckman.
It’s nice to see Evans get his well-deserved respect after being underrated for much of his career. But it’s jarring to see “San Francisco 49ers” written next to his name, rather than "Tampa Bay Buccaneers".
It will take some getting used to seeing Mike Evans suit up for another team after he spent 12 seasons in Tampa Bay.
To make matters even worse, he joins an NFC rival as one of the best players at his position with plenty of elite football left in the tank.
It’s been an exciting offseason for the Buccaneers. Drafting Rueben Bain Jr. and adding one of college football’s most explosive wide receivers in Ted Hurst certainly helped soften the blow. But seeing Evans still viewed as one of the NFL’s elite receivers with his new team is when the reality of his departure really sets in.
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