Hall of Fame cornerback Ronde Barber played his entire 16-year career with the Bucs. Barber joined the likes of like fellow Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon and Derrick Brooks, and Bucs Ring of Honor member Mike Alstott as the few legends to see their careers go wire-to-wire in Tampa Bay.

Will Mike Evans be the next Bucs great to join that select legendary fraternity and finish his career in red and pewter? Evans turns 33 in August and is slated to be a free agent. Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, has said that his client will return for a 13th season and hasn’t ruled out a return to Tampa Bay.

But Gilmore did say that Evans will probe the free agent waters to see what other opportunities are out there. Playing for a team that is considered to be a legit Super Bowl contender is believed to be paramount when it comes to Evans’ decision-making process about where he’ll play football in 2026.

Barber joined WDAE 95.7 FM’s Tom Krasniqi on The Drive with TKras show to discuss what he thinks could happen with Evans and the Bucs.

“I played the last three years of my career on one-year deals,” Barber said. “It was all an effort to play as long as I could here in Tampa. Our ownership group, and at the time, our general manager, were all in for me to do that. And I hope that’s the case with Mike.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jim Dedmon

NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that multiple suitors are lining up prior to free agency, hoping to lure the 6-foot-5, 230-pound receiver away from Tampa Bay. According to La Canfora, those teams include the 49ers, Patriots and Chargers.

“Man, I’d hate to see him put on another uniform,” Barber said. “He is a legendary, all-time Buc and I would love for him to finish his career here. I know how much it means to me, and how much it means to like a guy like Derrick, who were also able to do that. But you know the business of the game is the business of the game. So, we shall see. I wish I could prognosticate and just, you know, force him to stay here because I want to see him be a Buc.

“I see a guy that has a ton left in the tank. He has the same marketing manager as I, and I think Mike felt like those weeks that he missed [due to injury in 2025] made him really appreciate what he’s still doing in football. And just the way he came back afterwards, I think probably gave him a little bit more zest for continuing to play.”

Jon Gruden Thinks Mike Evans Continues His Career With The Bucs

Former Bucs Super Bowl-winning head coach and Ring of Honor member Jon Gruden was also Tom Kransniqi’s guest on The Drive with TKras on Monday. As expected, Krasniqi asked Gruden about his thoughts on whether or not Evans would remain in Tampa Bay in free agency.

“I have a hard time believing that he would ever play anywhere else after the storied career that he has had in Tampa,” Gruden said. “But I did get to coach Jerry Rice. I never thought I would see him play for anybody else other than the 49ers. And Jerry came over to play for me in Oakland. Tim Brown ended up finishing his career in Tampa with me, so anything is possible.

“He’s a classic wide receiver. He can be a big X on the backside of trips. He can function in the slot. He’s deadly in the red zone. There are some teams that need receivers, but I would think Mike is going to zero in on a team that he thinks can truly win a championship, and a team that has a quarterback in place.”

Bucs Ring of Honor head coach Jon Gruden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Gruden was perhaps less optimistic that Evans might stay with Tampa Bay given his experience coaching Rice with the Raiders and Brown with the Bucs, he remains hopeful that he doesn’t leave.

“I really would have a hard time believing he would leave Tampa unless the finances got crazy,” Gruden said.

Despite entering his 13th season in the league, Evans is expected to fetch a multi-year deal between $16 million to $22 million in free agency from some team.

Hopefully Tampa Bay.