In fact, show me a WR post 31, who has left a team and had any real success. I’m sure it’s happened but I can’t think of one example.
It looks like Jerry Rice and Steve Smith Sr are the only two WR to move to other teams and have 1000+ yards receiving seasons.
The others who did it, were on the team that drafted them.
Terrell Owens 3x
Randy Moss
Cris Carter 4x
Anquan Boldin 2x
Tough to leave a team late in your career and have any real success.
i mean doesn't help that injury alone, Mike Evans did not have a good 2025. 368 yards in 8 games? a third of those coming in 1 game.
Entering his age 33 season
PFF ranks him third as top free agent WRs behind Pickens and Pierce
ESPN ranks him third as top free agent WR behind Pickens and Pierce
CBS ranks him 4th - Pickens, Pierce and Jennings ahead of him
Bleacher report ranks him 5th - Pickens, Pierce, Jennings, and Wan'dale Robinson ahead of him
Sports Illustrated ranks him 3rd
Spotrac market value has him at a 2 year 26M deal or 13M per year
PFF has him a 1 year, $18M
Feel Bucs will believe more in Mike to be good than some other team that hasn't seen him play the last decade and wondering if father time's got him
We got him as long as Licht wants him...
If the Bucs want Evans they will have him back because he is the only of the Bucs own free agents as a top priority. The rest should be allowed to test the market and wish them good luck.
ESPN -
WR Mike Evans to meet with Buccaneers ahead of free agency
Mike should stay in Tampa just like Chris, they are more valued in Tampa than other places. If another hamstring injury happens he’ll probably be under a lot of ridicule as fans would have less patience. I think in a time where loyalty and players staying on the same team is rare, it only adds to Evans legacy at the end of it all.
Btw I did a 40ish minute presentation at a fairly large ny orthopedic hospital purely academic . Quick hits; Based on multiple various studies involving athletes (rugby/soccer) performing 43 Nordic hamstring curls a week, hamstring reinjury decreased by 50%+ and another study combined Nordic curls with core exercises(lumbopelvic control) decreased reinjury by 50%+ compared to just hamstring strengthening.
Just cool information I like to share. (Yes I did talk a bit about Mike Evans hamstrings just out of passion for football lol)
Mike should stay in Tampa just like Chris, they are more valued in Tampa than other places. If another hamstring injury happens he’ll probably be under a lot of ridicule as fans would have less patience. I think in a time where loyalty and players staying on the same team is rare, it only adds to Evans legacy at the end of it all.
Btw I did a 40ish minute presentation at a fairly large ny orthopedic hospital purely academic . Quick hits; Based on multiple various studies involving athletes (rugby/soccer) performing 43 Nordic hamstring curls a week, hamstring reinjury decreased by 50%+ and another study combined Nordic curls with core exercises(lumbopelvic control) decreased reinjury by 50%+ compared to just hamstring strengthening.
Just cool information I like to share. (Yes I did talk a bit about Mike Evans hamstrings just out of passion for football lol)
Evans describes his hamstring problem as "chronic" in the Amazon show.
at this point, i would be pleasantly surprised if Mike resigned with us
im trying to remember, but i think when he last was approaching free agency, he signed like a week before it opened.
if it gets to free agency, which it appears, they will let him test, i feel he has already made up his mind
he signed like a week before it opened.
I think so and this offseason there is a report of him meeting with the Bucs before FA, so hopefully the same thing.
Evans is a special player, no doubt, but father time is undefeated. This from CBS:
20 NFL pass catchers had 1,000 or more yards receiving last season, but only 2 were over age 30: Cortland Sutton and Stefon Diggs.
In 2024, a total of 24 pass catchers busted the 1,000 yard mark. Only 4 were 30 or older.
In 2024, a total of 24 pass catchers busted the 1,000 yard mark. Only 4 were 30 or older.
And one of them was the 31 year-old Buccaneers WR1, Mike Evans.
In 2024, a total of 24 pass catchers busted the 1,000 yard mark. Only 4 were 30 or older.
And one of them was the 31 year-old Buccaneers WR1, Mike Evans.
Yep, lets hope he has another 2024 and not a 2025
In 2024, a total of 24 pass catchers busted the 1,000 yard mark. Only 4 were 30 or older.
And one of them was the 31 year-old Buccaneers WR1, Mike Evans.
Yep, lets hope he has another 2024 and not a 2025
agreed.
also curious how other teams will value him on the open market given his down year and injury year entering age 33 season.
surprised to see 2 years, 52 million listed as market value as i was thinking he'd get $15M tops.
guess time will tell
In 2024, a total of 24 pass catchers busted the 1,000 yard mark. Only 4 were 30 or older.
And one of them was the 31 year-old Buccaneers WR1, Mike Evans.
Yep, lets hope he has another 2024 and not a 2025
agreed.
also curious how other teams will value him on the open market given his down year and injury year entering age 33 season.
surprised to see 2 years, 52 million listed as market value as i was thinking he'd get $15M tops.
guess time will tell
I think PR thought $16-20 mill per. Could be wrong but Devante Adams was $23 per?
I think many of the eventual Buc deals of the last few years have been a little more team friendly then the early guessing. We will see
Listening to Evans' agent Derek Gilmore on TKraz,
The agent seemed to be more than willing to answer questions and chat it up with TKraz, but it was a bit contradictory. On the one hand he said Evans wants to win more than anything. On the other hand he said if the Bucs blew him away with an offer who knows they could take it before he ever gets out on the market. So is it about the money or not? It was one of those conversations where people will hear what they want to hear.
It was one of those conversations where people will hear what they want to hear.
We will all get to see soon enough. They've always worked it out min the past and the Evans family is pretty settled here.