Chris Godwin Pleads for Mike Evans to Sign New Bucs Contract, 'Can't Imagine' WR on Different Team

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin made his pitch to Mike Evans with the Bucs legend hitting free agency.

"It would be so weird," Godwin told the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. "I can't imagine talking to him on a different field and seeing him in a different jersey."

The 2019 Pro Bowler said he doesn't have any added insight as to Evans' mindset.

"I hope that he's here. I don't know the intricacies of the deal," Godwin said. "Everybody does their own thing. I don't know what he's willing to take and I don't know what they're willing to offer. But I hope that he's back, for a lot of reasons, but he's my brother."

Evans has spent his entire 12-year career in Tampa, and he's the runaway franchise leader in the three major receiving categories (866 receptions, 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns).

However, the Buccaneers started putting the succession plan in place when they selected Emeka Egbuka 19th overall in the 2025 NFL draft. He went on to catch 63 passes for 938 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, reinforcing why he was a first-rounder.

Emeka Egbuka's 2nd TD ⚔️

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Evans, meanwhile, saw his record-setting streak of 1,000-yard seasons come to an end. He only appeared in eight games, and his 46 yards per contest were a personal low.

In February, general manager Jason Licht said Evans "earned the right" to explore his market this spring.

Coach Todd Bowles echoed the same thing.

"Mike knows how we feel about him. He's been here for a long time now," the coach said. "He's a great receiver. He knows we'd love to have him back, but he's earned that right to go out and listen to other teams and see and we try to get him back in the fold, but he's definitely earned that right to look around."

Tampa Bay isn't shutting the door on the 32-year-old, but the organization doesn't sound as though it will be totally heartbroken if he walks, either.

Godwin may have to start coming to terms with the possibility that Evans is playing elsewhere in 2026.