Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans connected for 27 touchdowns during their three-year stint together on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Pro Bowlers were instrumental in ensuring the Buccaneers remain competitive in that post-Tom Brady era.
However, Evans opted to turn down an offer from the Buccaneers and join the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2026 season. A reporter caught up with Mayfield and asked his opinion about Evans’ departure.
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“‘There’s no way to sugarcoat it, it’s disappointing to not have him back,” Mayfield said.
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Mayfield then praised Chris Godwin’s leadership of a pass-catching group and expressed confidence in a unit that also features Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, and third-round rookie Ted Hurst.
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“To also have J-Mac, Chris and Emeka really, really healthy right now, feeling good to lead those guys, and just to watch the steps from Year 1 to Year 2 when it comes to Meck and Tez and watching them help Ted Hurst out as well.
“There are a lot of weapons in that room. And so when you lose a guy like that, you’ve got to have a lot of people fill those shoes, not just one person, and we have that.”
Baker Mayfield joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2023 season. He inherited an impressive offense led by Evans and Chris Godwin.
Ultimately, Evans has ended his 12-year association with the Buccaneers. He’s now a few months removed from signing a three-year, $42.4 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans are chasing Super Bowl glory in 2026
Baker Mayfield is searching for his first Super Bowl ring. The former Heisman Trophy winner has spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams and, most recently, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield will be tasked with combining with Chris Godwin and the other wideouts on the team. The absence of Evans makes the task a wee bit harder.
Mike Evans won Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans connected with Tom Brady while the rest of the league had no answers. However, the future Hall of Famer opted to change scenery ahead of the 2026 season.
Mike Evans will be searching for his second Super Bowl ring while catching passes from Brock Purdy. The San Francisco 49ers are tipped to be among the major big game contenders in the NFC. There’s a chance that Mayfield and Evans battle in the postseason.
Edited by Nick Igbokwe