You’d think after 11 straight seasons of 1,000-yard heroics, we would stop questioning if Mike Evans is the greatest wide receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have ever seen. But here we are, staring at the start of 2026, and the conversation in Tampa isn’t about his Hall of Fame lock. It’s about the massive, slightly terrifying "what if" looming over Raymond James Stadium.
Evans is hitting free agency. Again.
Honestly, the state of the wide receiver room in Tampa is kind of a mess of contradictions right now. You’ve got a legendary veteran who just tied Jerry Rice’s record while playing on a broken collarbone, a superstar in Chris Godwin coming off a "career-worst" season that was sabotaged by a fibula fracture, and a first-round rookie who looked like the Second Coming for six weeks before completely falling off a cliff.
It’s a weird time to be a Bucs fan. One minute you’re looking at the depth chart thinking they’re loaded; the next, you’re realizing their two biggest icons might be nearing the end of their Florida residency.
The Mike Evans Dilemma: Is the 1,000-Yard Streak Immortal?
Let’s talk about that 2025 season. It was gritty. Evans missed six games because of that collarbone injury and another three with a nagging hamstring. Most guys his age would’ve shut it down. Instead, he came back for a Thursday night game against Atlanta in Week 15 and just... did Mike Evans things.
He finished the year with 74 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. That 1,004 is the most "Mike Evans" stat of all time. He literally hit the 1,000-yard mark for the 11th consecutive season by the skin of his teeth. It’s legendary. But now he’s an unrestricted free agent in March 2026.
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The Bucs have a choice. You pay the man who is the franchise, or you gamble on the youth movement. Todd Bowles has already said Evans has "earned the right" to take his time with this decision, much like Lavonte David. If Evans walks, the wide receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers identity changes overnight. He’s the guy who commands double teams so everyone else can breathe. Without him, the pressure on the kids becomes immense.
The Emeka Egbuka Rollercoaster
If you follow the betting lines, you know what happened with Emeka Egbuka. By Week 11 of the 2025 season, he was the -120 favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. The kid from Ohio State was electric. He had 163 yards against Seattle and basically looked like the next Justin Jefferson.
Then the wheels fell off.
He didn't score another touchdown for the rest of the year. Not one. Some people blame the play-calling of Josh Grizzard (who, let's be real, deservedly got fired after the season). Others say the injuries to Evans and Godwin meant Egbuka was suddenly facing CB1s who weren't scared of him yet.
By the time the 2025 Rookie of the Year finalists were announced in January 2026, Egbuka was nowhere to be found. He finished with 63 catches and 938 yards—respectable, but a far cry from the "superstar" trajectory he was on in September. He’s the future, sure, but 2026 is going to be the year we find out if he’s a true WR1 or just a guy who got hot early.
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Chris Godwin and the "Injured Veteran" Label
It feels disrespectful to call Chris Godwin’s 2025 season "uninspiring," but those are the words being tossed around. He had 33 receptions for 360 yards. For a guy we’re used to seeing rack up 1,000 yards in his sleep, that’s a gut punch.
But you have to look at the context:
- He didn't even debut until Week 4 because of the 2024 ankle injury.
- Then he broke his fibula in Seattle.
- He played the end of the season basically on one leg and with a late-season illness.
Godwin is still under contract for 2026, and with a new offensive coordinator coming in—rumor has it they've talked to Zac Robinson and even discussed a Todd Monken return—Godwin’s role in the slot is likely to be the "security blanket" Baker Mayfield desperately needs. When those two are in sync, the offense actually moves. When they aren't, it's a lot of three-and-outs and frustration.
The New Guard: McMillan and the "Steals"
If there is a reason for optimism, it’s Jalen McMillan. His 2025 was derailed by a severe neck injury in the preseason that kept him in a brace for months. But his December was special. He had a 114-yard game against the Dolphins and showed a "long-strider" speed that the Bucs haven't really had.
Then there’s Tez Johnson, the seventh-round pick out of Oregon. The guy is basically a human joystick. Between him and Kameron Johnson (the Barton College UDFA who has become a punt return weapon), the bottom of the depth chart is actually faster than the top.
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Current 2026 Bucs WR Depth (Projected)
- Mike Evans (If re-signed - Pending Free Agent)
- Chris Godwin Jr. (The Slot Specialist)
- Emeka Egbuka (The Sophomore Hope)
- Jalen McMillan (The Vertical Threat)
- Sterling Shepard (Pending Free Agent - Likely for depth)
- Tez Johnson (Speed/Returns)
- Kameron Johnson (Special Teams Ace)
What Happens Next?
The Buccaneers missed the playoffs in 2025 with an 8-9 record. That's not the standard in Tampa anymore. The firing of Josh Grizzard was the first domino. The second will be how they handle this receiver room.
If they let Evans walk, they almost have to look at the draft or a high-end veteran replacement. You can't ask Egbuka and a post-injury McMillan to carry that load alone. However, if they bring Evans back on a two-year deal, this group suddenly looks like one of the most dangerous in the NFC again.
Actionable Insights for Bucs Fans:
- Watch the Franchise Tag Window: The Bucs are unlikely to tag Evans given his age and cost, but keep an eye on the "legal tampering" period in March.
- The OC Hire is Everything: Whether it's Zac Robinson or someone else, the new play-caller needs to fix the "Egbuka Fade." They stopped using him in motion and started sticking him in the corner, which killed his production.
- Don't Sleep on the Health: Both Godwin and McMillan will have a full, healthy offseason for the first time in two years. That’s a massive "addition by subtraction" of the injury bug.
The talent is there. The history is there. Now, they just need to figure out if the wide receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers legacy continues with the old guard or if it’s officially time to pass the torch to the kids.