The Las Vegas Raiders are going to be one of the most intriguing teams to watch when the free-agency period begins in a couple of weeks. They have the cap space to fulfill their shopping list, however long it may be, and they’re universally expected to draft a franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza.
A savvy, big-play wide receiver could be a rookie quarterback’s best friend, which is why it’s no surprise to see the Raiders linked to Mike Evans.
Raiders Listed As Sensible Landing Spot for Mike Evans
A former first-round pick, Evans has spent the entirety of his 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers en route to six Pro Bowl selections and a pair of second-team All-Pro honors. He also shares the record with Jerry Rice for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, with 11; that streak came to a screeching halt last season, when Evans played only eight games due to a broken clavicle.
Nevertheless, Evans will turn 33 years old before the regular season begins. Any team that signs him in free agency will surely be cognizant of that, but ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Raiders should be at the forefront.
“It’s tough to imagine Evans wearing any other jersey, and when dealing with franchise icons, ownership has a habit of getting involved to keep a player around,” Barnwell wrote. “If Evans does leave, though, one logical landing spot would be Las Vegas, where former Bucs executive John Spytek is the general manager, and presumptive first pick Fernando Mendoza.”
Spytek joined the Buccaneers two years after Evans was drafted, so while he was ascending the hierarchy in the front office, he had a front-row seat to watch Evans blossom into one of the most dominant receivers of the last decade.
It’s also worth noting that Tom Brady, who became a minority owner of the Raiders in 2024, spent three seasons throwing to Evans in Tampa Bay, during which they won a Super Bowl together.
For the most part, the Raiders’ cupboard at wide receiver is relatively bare without a true, attention-commanding threat. They spent second and fourth-round picks on Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton, respectively, last spring, and a third-round pick on Tre Tucker in 2023.
The Raiders also signed Tyler Lockett after his mid-season release from the Tennessee Titans last year, but he signed a one-year deal; Lockett, who spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, will enter unrestricted free agency in March.
Evans would be an ideal weapon to pair with dynamic third-year tight end Brock Bowers and sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty, who fell just 25 short of a 1,000-yard rushing campaign as a rookie. The Raiders could also certainly use the boost to an offense that ranked 31st in PFSN’s Offense Impact score in 2025.
