Amid all of the chaos of NFL Scouting Combine week in Indianapolis, Indiana, and two weeks before the start of free agency, the Bucs are dealing with the uncertain futures of two of their all-time greats: Lavonte David and Mike Evans.

With David, the ball ultimately seems to be in his court, as it’s between retirement and returning to the Bucs for a 15th season. The future Bucs Ring of Honor member and potential future Hall of Famer said as much himself.

The more complicated and more critical situation for the Bucs right now is what they’re facing with Evans. The 11-time 1,000-yard receiver, six-time Pro Bowler, future Bucs Ring of Honor member and surefire future Pro Football Hall of Famer has decided that he will return for Year 13 in 2026. But there’s no guarantee that Year 13 happens in red, white and pewter.

Evans will be exploring his options in free agency, and while the same was said in 2024 when he was a free agent, this time feels different. In recent weeks, the idea of the 2014 first-round pick – Jason Licht’s first pick as Tampa Bay’s general manager – playing elsewhere has begun to feel real. He’s expected to attract plenty of interest from contenders, including some who could be more Super Bowl-ready than the Bucs are at this stage of the 2026 offseason.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN Images –

So, what’s going to happen? Bucs general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles didn’t have any illuminating answers on Tuesday in Indianapolis, with both simply saying that they love Mike Evans and want him back.

However, Evans’ longtime agent, Deryk Gilmore, joined “The Drive” with TKras on Tuesday afternoon and had plenty to say in 20 minutes talking with Tom Krasniqi.

A Glimpse Into Mike Evans’ Mindset During Disappointing 2025 Season

After Deryk Gilmore spent a minute complimenting the likes of Jason Licht, Mike Greenberg, Jacqueline Davidson and Duke Preston, he gave Tom Krasniqi and listeners some insight into what all went into the 2025 season for Mike Evans and where his mindset was by the end of it.

Of course, Evans came into training camp in spectacular shape and might have been the best Buccaneer throughout camp. But the season went south when he picked up a hamstring injury that caused him to miss three games. It then went further south when he returned on Monday Night Football in Week 7, as he wound up leaving that game with a concussion and a broken collarbone. He returned in Week 15 and put up six catches for 132 yards, but the Bucs struggled to get him involved the rest of the way.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Sam Navarro

Not only did his 1,000-yard season streak end at 11 years, but being limited to eight games left Evans with career lows across the board: 30 catches, 368 yards, three touchdowns. So, given the year he felt he was set up for versus the year he ended up having, it was no surprise when Evans decided to return for a 13th season in 2026. Gilmore said his client has some unfinished business.

“When we sat down and when we were going into this year, we were hoping this was going to be a record-breaking year, of course,” Gilmore said. “Mike was along the lines of, he wanted to make sure he came in the best shape possible. Some players say that, but he actually did it. Thirteen years in the league and to come in the shape that he was? And this is a guy that’s just natural. There’s so many people who do different things. He’s just a hardcore, ‘I’m gonna grind.’

“I try to tell my players to take a little time off. But he’s already starting [right now]. I say that to you because he clearly came in ready to have a great season, and then the way it ended, I think it left a bad taste in his mouth. You had a freak accident when someone falls on your collarbone. He’s had some hammys [in the past]. But it wasn’t a great situation for him. I think looking forward, he definitely left the field that day [after Week 18], just with unfinished business as something that was on his mind.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Added to the frustration of missing half of the season with multiple injuries and suffering the worst statistical season of his career as a result was the fact that the Bucs squandered a 6-2 start, lost seven of their last nine games and conceded the NFC South crown to the Panthers. For the first time since 2019, Evans and Tampa Bay missed out on the playoffs.

“I think when they weren’t able to capitalize on the last few games and get into the playoffs, it was really heartbreaking for him,” Gilmore added. “It was heartbreaking for everybody in the Bucs organization. You’ve got an organization that is — of course everybody wants to win — but I think Jason [Licht] does a great job getting everybody to dance to the right beat of the drum. There’s a lot of different organizations that, I don’t know if they’re always on the same page. But I think from him down, they’re all dancing to the same beat. So, when they didn’t have that year and you had all these losses, I think it pissed a lot of people off.”

With Evans turning 33 ahead of the 2026 season, he knows there’s not much time left in his playing career. He does have one Super Bowl ring to his name, contrary to what Jason McIntyre said last week, but if he wants to pursue a second championship before he has to call it quits, might he look at what happened late in 2025 and think his best shot at Lombardi Trophy No. 2 could be elsewhere?

What Mike Evans Is Thinking Heading Into Free Agency

The last time Mike Evans was a free agent, he chose to return to the Bucs. At the time, he spoke about both the possibility of being a Buc for life and his relationships with the fans, the Tampa Bay community, his teammates and Jason Licht being at the center of his decision.

Has that changed in 2026? Not necessarily. Deryk Gilmore said the goal of this process isn’t as simple as finding a new team for the longtime Buc. Instead, they’re simply wanting to gather all the available information.

“I just think that he basically wants to look at all 32 teams,” Gilmore said. “I can’t go out here and say, ‘Oh, yeah. We’re looking for a new team.’ I mean, that hasn’t been the mindset here,” Gilmore said. We basically just want to do an analysis. When you’re making a business decision, you want to sit down, go through, do your checks and balances, make sure you evaluate everything you do, and then from there, when you’re making a decision, you’re not making an emotional decision. I think that’s what we’re trying to do. In the same way, we did that last time. We didn’t make an emotional decision, and he ended back up in Tampa.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

What are those specific factors that Evans and Gilmore are looking for in this process, then? Gilmore said first and foremost, Evans is a competitor. He wants to win a Super Bowl, and he wants to break records.

“I think this is a young man who loves, more than most fans probably understand, he loves to compete and to win. He loves to compete and to win. This is not him sitting there saying, ‘I want to get paid’ and all that stuff. You always want to get paid what you’re worth. But that’s not going to be on the [forefront]. We want to sit down and go through and be like, ‘OK, where can he accomplish all his goals?’ Which would be to win a Super Bowl, to break records. That’s gonna be extremely important. The offense.

“For him to know that whoever is gonna be his play-caller, whoever is gonna be his coordinator, whoever is gonna be his quarterback, that they have the ability to really thrive and make things happen. We want to make sure that if something breaks down, we have a quarterback who is hopefully mature or experienced or has a history of winning. Someone who knows how to — I’ve looked at some of these quarterbacks out here. Some of them throw some really great balls.

“I really haven’t studied anybody prior to this. Now I have. I think that’s going to be important to Mike. That wherever he ends up, he can accomplish everything. But I will tell you this: There’s no reason that Tampa can’t hit every component that we want to hit.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Gilmore said plenty that would indicate the door is still open for Evans to return to Tampa, he was also sure to share a message directly from his client, which seemed to be a bit of hint that the veteran wide receiver believes the Bucs would be in good hands even if he does sign elsewhere.

“I will tell you this, something Mike wanted me to tell everybody from him. That wide receiver room has elite talent in it,” Gilmore said. “There is so much talent at the wide receiver position there. There is a ton of talent. He loves the kids — I hate to use the word kids, but they’re all younger — and he wants to see them thrive. I do know that.”

What’s Next In Mike Evans’ Decision Process?

So, what comes next? The negotiating window opens up on Monday, March 9, but teams are free to talk with their own free agents at any time. That’s exactly what’s going to happen this week. With the Bucs’ brass in Indianapolis for the Combine, Deryk Gilmore is set to meet with them.

“I’m going to see the Bucs while I’m down there in Indianapolis,” Gilmore said. “We haven’t even talked. Before we do anything, we’re gonna talk to home, talk with Tampa first. And go from there. Tampa may shock the hell out of me with something.”

Gilmore certainly didn’t rule out the possibility of Mike Evans not hitting the open market and signing on with the Bucs before the negotiation window opens. That’s what happened back in 2024. But Evans wants to win, and he wants to see Tampa Bay setting itself up to contend again in 2026. Because of that, there’s also a chance he sits back during the early days of free agency and waits things out.

Everything seems to be on the table right now, and as much as Gilmore had to say on Tuesday afternoon, the fact remains that this remains a nervous waiting game for Buccaneer fans.