In one of the biggest transactions during the NFL offseason, Mike Evans’ departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers left a major hole in the the Bucs offense. Evans was with the Buccaneers for 12 seasons (2014-2025). He was drafted seventh overall by Tampa Bay in the 2014 NFL Draft and played the first dozen of his years with the Buccaneers including a victory in Super Bowl LV. During this offseason, Evans left Tampa Bay for greener pastures after signing a three-year, $42.4 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
Baker Mayfield is Disappointed by Evans’ Departure
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Tampa Bay QB1 Baker Mayfield commented on Evans’ departure from the Buccaneers.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. It’s disappointing to not have him back,” Mayfield said. “Just the caliber of player he is, he’s a Hall of Famer, deserved to be a Buc for life. Things happen, but luckily, him and I have a great relationship, we’ll still be friends for life, and I’ll be cheering him on except when we play them, if it comes down to it.”
Evans’ departure from the Buccaneers hurts the offense tremendously as Mayfield has lost one of his primary offensive weapons. Evans was not just a wide receiver, but a stand out and record holder in Tampa Bay. Evans owns virtually every major receiving record in franchise history, including 866 receptions, 13,052 receiving yards, and 108 receiving touchdowns. Evans also ranks first in Buccaneers history in total touchdowns, points scored, yards from scrimmage, and 100 yard receiving games, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in Tampa Bay history.
Mayfield is Confident in Current Receiving Corps
Although Evans’ departure will result in the Bucs losing some veteran leadership on the offense, the Bucs QB1 still feels confident about the current receiver room.
“For Mike to leave, it allows Chris to step up — he’s always been an unbelievable leader — but for him to really take charge of that room,” Mayfield said.
“With all the injuries we had, a lot of guys played last year. So to also have J-Mac, Chris, Emeka, really, really healthy right now, feeling good, to lead those guys and just to watch the steps that they’re taking from Year 1 to Year 2 when it comes to Mek and Tez, and watching them help Ted Hurst out as well… There’s a lot of weapons in that room. So when you lose a guy like that, you’ve got to have a lot of people to fill those shoes, not just one person, and we have that.”
According to Mayfield, it sounds like the entire receiver rooms is healthy going into the 2026 season. He alluded to the fact that other veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin will have the opportunity to step up into a lead role, while the younger players that fill out that fill out the depth chart will also get more opportunities to shine. Although Evans departure may have initially hit the team hard, it seems that younger players will have the chance to make a name for themselves next season.
Mayfield Faces a Difficult Reality
While Evans remains a productive player, Mayfield’s comments highlight why Evans’ departure would be such a big challenge for the Buccaneers offense. Few quarterbacks lose a receiver with that level of production and leadership without feeling the impact. Now that Evans has moved on, Tampa Bay is asking Mayfield to replace not only elite numbers but also the trust and chemistry that have helped fuel the offense over the past several seasons.
Until that day comes, however, Mayfield and the Buccaneers will continue trying to maximize what has become one of the most successful quarterback receiver partnerships in franchise history.
Main Images: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
