Mike Evans Will Reportedly Test Free Agency But That Doesn't Mean It's The End Of His Time With The Bucs

Mike Ehrmann. Getty Images.

Buccaneers Wide Receiver Mike Evans plans to test free agency per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. While this isn't good news for the best Receiver in franchise history, this doesn't mean Evans is done with the Bucs.

This has been a tactic of Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and Assistant GM Mike Greenberg for some time now. They let their players gauge their interest and then either match that or come close. The advantage is that Florida has no state taxes. So they can in reality bid more than other teams. That coupled with continuity, sticking with an elite franchise that has won two Super Bowls this century, and of course getting my unwavering support.

But will Evans actually leave? After opening his career with 10 straight 1,000+ yard seasons, the 6'5" 231 lbs. pass catcher figures to have no shortage of suitors. The biggest threats are likely his hometown team, the Texans, the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs, the near Super Bowl appearance Lions, the team with his former Offensive Coordinator in the Panthers, the Joe Burrow-led Bengals, and team with the most cap space in the league, the Patriots. 

I could certainly see there being interested suitors and teams that will get meetings, but I simply cannot see Mike Evans not being a Buccaneer next year, or any year in the future. He is simply a Buccaneer for life.