The 2025 season was a rough one for Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Mike Evans. Multiple injuries limited him to just eight games, and the Buccaneers fell short of the postseason, going 8-9. To make matters worse, Evans was playing on the final year of his contract.
On Tuesday, it was reported that he will be playing in 2026, but it remains unclear if he’ll be re-signing with Tampa Bay or joining a new team. NFL analyst Matt Bowen recently shared what he felt is the best outcome. In an ESPN piece naming the best team fits for the top 50 free agents, Bowen argued that the Buffalo Bills are the best fit for Evans. Bucs fans would certainly hate to see that happen.
ESPN names Bills as the best fit for Mike Evans ahead of free agency
Bowen acknowledged that Evans re-singing with the Buccaneers is an option, but argued that “becoming the top receiver in Buffalo with quarterback Josh Allen makes a lot of sense.”
"Under new coach Joe Brady, Evans could be that boundary X target for Allen and create matchups in the low red zone. I like the idea of Buffalo getting aggressive to add a proven and reliable target who had topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 11 straight seasons before injuries derailed his 2025 campaign."Matt Bowen (ESPN)
Simply put, Evans is the face of the Buccaneers, so putting him in another uniform wouldn’t even look right. Buffalo would definitely love to have a receiver like him, because he’s still producing at a high level. In limited action this past season, Evans still managed 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns. So the Bills would love to add him, but Tampa Bay would hate to see it.
The Bucs drafted Mike Evans in 2014, and it’d be the perfect story if he never played for another franchise. In Tampa Bay, the wideout has carved out a Hall of Fame career, making six Pro Bowls, winning a Super Bowl, and setting numerous records with his 866 catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns in 12 seasons. Since the Buccaneers legend wants to continue playing, Tampa Bay needs to figure out how to keep him on the roster.