Mike Evans To Explore Free Agent Options; Browns Among Likely Suitors

4:36pm: While Evans will gauge his market, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman notes the Buccaneers will be able to provide counter offers before a final decision is made. One of Tampa Bay’s top priorities in free agency will be electing to match the bids made by interested teams in this case or allowing Evans to depart.

2:27pm: Mike Evans will play in 2026 but it remains to be seen if his iconic Buccaneers tenure will continue. Outside options will be explored before a final decision is made in this case.

Evans’ agent Deryk Gilmore confirmed to the media (including Dianna Russini of The Athletic) on Sunday that no early Buccaneers re-up will take place this time around. That was the case in 2024, but other teams will have the opportunity to make a push for Evans this week.

Discussions with Tampa Bay are ongoing, but the team already has much of its WR setup in place for 2026. The Bucs spent last offseason re-signing Chris Godwin and selecting Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the draft; those two will work with Jalen McMillan once again next year. It will be interesting to see how prepared Tampa Bay is to make a competitive Evans offer over the coming days.

A long list of suitors has emerged in the six-time Pro Bowler’s case recently, and it appears it could grow once the negotiating period open. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports the Browns are expected to be among the teams which make a push to sign Evans this week. New head coach Todd Monken worked with Evans from 2016-18 when he was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. That level of familiarity could come into play on the open market, but in general the Browns figure to be in the market for a receiver upgrade.

Cleveland ranked 31st in passing yards this past season. Stronger play up front and at the quarterback position would of course go a long way in improving on that figure in 2026. As Monken prepares to lead the Browns, though, an addition or two in the pass-catching department would certainly be welcomed as well. Thanks to the latest Deshaun Watson restructure, Cleveland currently has $15.8MM in cap space.

Evans was limited to eight games in 2025, leaving him short of 1,000 yards for the first time in his 12-year career. At the age of 33 (by the time the coming campaign begins), durability could increasingly become an area of caution for interested teams. In the event of a Buccaneers departure – something which seems to be increasingly likely – Evans will account for a $13MM dead money charge on Tampa Bay’s capsheet.