Mike Evans is one of the greatest players to ever suit up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the future Hall of Famer recently hinted at retirement following the 2025 season. During a recent interview with The Athletic‘s Zak Keefer, Evans said there’s a good chance this will be his final season.
“I plan on having one of my best seasons,” Evans said. “And if I retire after this year, I don’t think it’ll be a shock to people. I’m close to the end, that’s all I’ll say.”
While anything can happen between now and the start of the season, this sounds like the words of someone planning to call it a career. Evans has been the picture of consistency since entering the league, but his absence could open the door for first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to become the face of Tampa Bay’s passing attack.
What the Mike Evans Retirement Could Mean For Emeka Egbuka
Selected with the 19th-overall pick, Emeka Egbuka has put up some impressive numbers through the first two weeks of the season. Establishing a connection with Baker Mayfield, the Ohio State product has recorded eight receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns on 13 targets. These are solid numbers, but he hasn’t played quite as well as his hype suggests.
Through two games, Egbuka’s 64.1 PFF grade ranks 53rd out of 109 eligible players and 2nd out of 11 eligible rookies. Additionally, his 19.7% target share is promising but falls short of the 25-30% range most elite players demand.
Obviously, it’s only been two games, and Emeka Egbuka will have the rest of the season to earn a larger role in the offense. If he continues to develop, then he could become the de-facto WR1 when Mike Evans retires. However, if he continues to play at this level, then he could play a more even role in the offense with Chris Godwin and third-round pick Jalen McMillan next year.
Main Photo: Thomas Shea – Imagn Images
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