Bucs GM Jason Licht on Mike Evans: 'It' was tough...we have to move on
Tampa Bay’s general manager acknowledged the difficulty of moving on from Mike Evans while expressing confidence in the current receiver room.
Mike Evans leaving Tampa Bay was always going to change the identity of the offense, and Jason Licht admitted as much during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show . “It was tough to see Mike Evans leave,” Licht said before adding that the Buccaneers “have to move forward” and still believe they have an awesome receiver room. That response says a lot about how Tampa Bay views the current group internally.
Evans was not just a productive receiver, but he was the centerpiece of the room for years, making it almost impossible to replace his presence in the short term. "It was tough to see Mike Evans leave.. We have to move forward and we have an awesome receiver room" ~ @jasonrlicht #PMSLive pic.
twitter. com/Kp4FpvbCJU — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 5, 2026 The Buccaneers also do not appear to be asking rookie Ted Hurst to directly replace Evans. Instead, the expectation seems to center on Hurst earning an opportunity to contribute early while developing in a very different role.
That distinction matters because Tampa Bay’s receiver room now looks more balanced than top-heavy. Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan still headline the group, while younger receivers compete for rotational snaps behind them. No single player is replacing Evans.