Mike Evans tried to avoid free agency. He tried to get a deal done with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the regular season, but that didn’t happen and he shut down negotiations once the season began.
Tampa Bay has other free agents to deal with, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, if they want to keep him, and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. Evans could be the odd man out.
That could mean a player who has been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL over the past decade could be on the market, and there would be no shortage of suitors for his services.
Evans went over 1,000 receiving yards for the 10th straight season and is the only receiver in NFL history to top 1,000 in each of his first 10 NFL seasons. He tied Randy Moss for the second-most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a career and only Jerry Rice, who did it 14 times, has more.
NFL receivers with 1,000-yard seasons
- Jerry Rice, 14
- Mike Evans, 10
- Randy Moss, 10
- Larry Fitzgerald, 9
- Terrelll Owens, 9
- Jimmy Smith, 9
- Tim Brown, 9
Evans would be one of the top free agents on the board. But where could he go? Let’s look at four potential landing spots.
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Kansas City Chiefs could pursue Mike Evans
Evans would easily be Patrick Mahomes’ No. 1 target because, well, other than tight end Travis Kelce, there is no No. 1 target on the Chiefs’ roster.
According to Sporting News, the Chiefs dropped 44 passes this season to lead the league, and yet they won a playoff game. How good could they be with a receiver as reliable as Evans?
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Cincinnati Bengals interesting possibility for Mike Evans
There were reports out earlier this season that said the Bengals didn’t have receiver Tee Higgins in their long-term plans. Higgins has had 3,684 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns in his time with the Bengals.
So, let’s say the Bengals lose Higgins, then a player like Evans would be a great replacement. Evans is extremely reliable and would be a good complement to Ja’Marr Chase for quarterback Joe Burrow.
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Tennessee Titans need a receiver like Mike Evans
The terrible trade that sent wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2022 season turned the Titans into a rebuilding team.
They used the draft pick Philly traded them for Brown on Treylon Burks, who has been a bust. Veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins has one year left on a two-year contract. So this team needs a No. 1 receiver for the long term and Evans would be a great fit to pair with second-year quarterback Will Levis.
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Indianapolis Colts could form WR power duo with Mike Evans
With quarterback Anthony Richardson coming back from shoulder surgery after suffering an AC joint sprain, the Colts are looking to beef up their receiver group to give the young QB another set of hands.
Indy could be losing receiver Michael Pittman, who going after a proven receiver is even more important. Even if the Colts do bring back Pittman, pairing him with Evans would give them two tall receivers and certainly improve their passing game.