Jeremy Fowler dropped some interesting insight on Mike Evans' future with Buccaneers
Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans is finally a free agent after this season, and ESPN hints at a return to Tampa Bay. The 11-year veteran has enjoyed an illustrious career with the Bucs, which includes 11-straight 1,000 receiving yard seasons.
After spending his entire career in Tampa Bay, Evans is set to hit free agency this offseason, entering his age-33 season. According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, his market will be difficult to gauge, but he finds it hard to see Evans in another uniform.
Of course, there is a possibility that Evans retires, but he may not want to end his record-breaking career with a lackluster performance. If he does return in 2026, it'll likely be a one-year deal with the Bucs, and they need him.
Receiver Emeka Egbuka has emerged as the clear future WR 1 in Tampa Bay, but the core is young. Egbuka and Tez Johnson are rookies, and Jalen McCmillan is a second-year receiver who hasn't played this season. Sterling Sheppard and Chris Godwin are veterans, but both lack the pedigree of Evans.
ESPN reporters give exciting insight on Bucs' future free agents' landing spot
Bucs fans should hope Evans runs it back one more year in 2026, mainly to mentor the future. Although mostly healthy throughout his career, Evans has struggled to stay on the field in recent memory. Last year, he missed three games due to a hamstring problem that has reappeared in Week 3 this year.
After returning in Week 7, Evans played just 14 snaps before he broke his clavicle and was placed on the IR. Fox Sports writer Greg Auman predicts the earliest Evans could return is Week 14, but that's stretching it.
Unfortunately, his 1,000-yard season streak is likely over, tying him with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive in NFL history. Regardless, Evans still cemented himself as the greatest receiver in Bucs history, by a lot.
Injuries have played a significant role and may influence his decision to play in 2025. If Evans returns in Week 14 or 15 and stays healthy through the playoffs, we may see him again in 2026. If a third injury sidelines him again, it would be hard to picture the aging receiver returning next season.
Regardless, Bucs' fans should be excited about the potential of Evans returning for one more year. Although he's aging, his experience, leadership, and pedigree provide fantastic qualities for Egbuka and Co. to learn from. Even if he doesn't play, having Evans around in an advisor or coaching role over the next couple of years would be ideal.
Broncos Moved on Explosive $140 Million Pro Bowl Playmaker
The Denver Broncos’ quest to build out their roster has not ended, but one of the moves they did not make has come back to light. According to a new report, the Broncos had designs on signing veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs this past offseason.
Diggs ultimately signed with the New England Patriots, who were playing the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football” when the news dropped.
A lot of time has passed since then, but it paints a clear picture of the Broncos’ plans.
Broncos Were Finalists for Stefon Diggs
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport joined the pregame show before the Patriots’ game and detailed what went into New England signing Diggs, including beating out the Broncos for the four-time Pro Bowler and 2020 First Team All-Pro’s services.
Diggs, the No. 146 overall pick of the 2015 draft who has earned over $140 million in his career, signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with the Patriots.
However, fate may have brought Diggs to New England and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
“Signing Stefon Diggs was the end of a decades-long quest for Mike Vrabel,” Rapoport reported on “TNF Tonight” on November 13. “Vrabel recruited Diggs out of high school, when he was an assistant at Ohio State. Didn’t get him, was mad about it. When Diggs became available this spring, his agent sent video to the Patriots, just three months after the ACL tear. He was running, cutting. Good sign. Ahead of schedule. It came down to the Broncos or Patriots. Five months from passing a physical, the Patriots signed up. A big-time leap of faith.”
Sentimentality and outcome aside, the Broncos had financial reasons to avoid making the kind of investment into Diggs that the Patriots did. It largely has to do with their financial outlook and how the Patriots structured Diggs’ deal.
Diggs entered Thursday’s contest with 50 receptions for 554 yards and 3 touchdowns, which would have ranked first, second, and third, respectively, on the Broncos.
He finished the contest, a 27-14 Patriots win, with a 9-105-0 line.
Broncos Avoided Risky Investment
Diggs, 31, has an $8.7 million cap hit this season, which the Broncos – who Over The Cap says have $4.6 million in space – could have worked to make room for. However, his cap hit jumps to $26.5 million in 2026 and 2027.
Again, the Broncos could have squeezed those dollar amounts in with projections of $47.6 million in space in 2026 and $68.6 million in 2027.
However, they signed Courtland Sutton to a four-year, $92 million extension this past summer.
That is a lot of capital to invest into the wide receiver position, even with Bo Nix on a cost-controlled rookie-scale contract. Instead, the Broncos will pay a combined $38 million for the trio of Evan Engram at tight end and defensive players Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga.
Diggs has missed more than two games in a single season three times in his career, and just once (2024) since the 2016 season.
The Broncos have leaned on their young receivers, Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin.
They were also linked to wide receivers before the trade deadline, which could underscore the veracity of Rapoport’s report.
