Mike Evans produced an NFL-record 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career.
Along the way, he's received six Pro Bowl selections, won a Super Bowl and became one of the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneers of them all.
So, in general manager Jason Licht's mind, Evans has earned an opportunity to test free-agency waters.
"Love Mike and would like to have Mike back," Licht told local reporters in an NFL Scouting Combine scrum on Tuesday. "He's earned the right with his résumé, and Mike as a person, what he's meant to this entire community, fan base, all of us. I could go on and on, which we have. He's earned that right. We'd love to have Mike back, and we'll just see how the process goes."
Evans' playing future seemed to be in doubt following an injury-shortened 2025 season until his agent Deryk Gilmore released a statement on Feb. 17 that the 32-year-old wideout would play in 2026 but explore the open market before doing so.
The seventh-overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft has 866 receptions for 13,052 receiving yards and 108 touchdowns across his Buccaneers career. He's Tampa Bay's all-time leader in each category by a massive margin.
In season No. 12 for Evans, he played a career-low eight games due to a hamstring injury and later a broken clavicle. Perhaps not a coincidence, the Bucs had their four-season streak of winning the NFC South snapped, right along with a string of five consecutive playoff berths.
In the spring of 2024, Evans seemed poised to hit free agency before inking a two-year deal. Including his rookie contract, it was his third pact signed with the Bucs. Currently, Tampa has $23.4 million in salary cap space, per Over the Cap, and has a relatively solid wide receiver room with veteran and longtime Evans teammate Chris Godwin, along with youngsters Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson.
Should Evans move on, it would signify a major moment in Bucs team history.
Licht remains hopeful that No. 13 will be a Buccaneer for life even with a well-deserved look at the open market.
"We do have great communication with his agent," he said. "We've dealt with him several times and it's been awesome. It's great meetings, phone calls and talk a lot. So, yes hopefully we will. We want Mike back. Mike's meant a lot to us. Ultimately, we'd like to have him retire as a Buc."
PROGRAMMING NOTE: NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 26.
