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025 is a big season for the Los Angeles Chargers. Finishing 11-6 in their first season under head coach, Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers enter 2025 locked in and ready to go– hungrier than ever to get over the hump and make a deep playoff run. Getting back several key pieces including Justin Herbert and Khalil Mack, the Chargers are primed for a big year and compete for the AFC West crown.
But one area of concern that could plague the team’s chances this season is at the wide receiver position. While the team has breakout star Ladd McConkey as their No. 1 pass catcher, there is a lot of uncertainty about the depth behind him, with guys like Quentin Johnston still needing to find their footing and rookies such as Tre Harris needing to prove themselves in the league. That is why the Chargers have been linked to sign current Tampa Bay Buccaneers star, Mike Evans, in 2026 free agency by some analysts.
Could the Chargers Try and Sign Evans?
McConkey is the team’s No. 1 receiver for the foreseeable future after recording over 1,000 yards as a rookie. But with Keenan Allen entering the twilight of his career, Johnston having drop issues and the rest of the receiving core being very young, the Chargers may not be able to afford to wait. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine published a piece outlining each NFL team’s biggest need and unsurprisingly, he had receiver as a top need for the Chargers. But instead of adding someone for this season, Ballentine brought up looking ahead to 2026 free agency where the franchise can then try and target Evans to add to their core.
“Even if [Tre] Harris turns out to be an answer, it isn’t going to hurt to bring in another veteran next year,” Ballentine wrote. “Mike Evans is in a contract year where his team drafted Emeka Egbuka in the first round and also re-signed Chris Godwin. If the Bucs don’t want to pay for Evans, then the Chargers would be a logical landing spot.”
Evans has been in the league since 2014 and over the years, he has developed into one of the league’s best wide receivers. And while he is a Buccaneers legend, the price tag for his age could be too much for them, which could lead to Evans finding a home elsewhere next season.
Evans’ Fit with the Chargers
Despite entering his age-32 season, Evans has proven that he still has plenty left in the tank. Posting a 1,000 yard season in every one of his 11 seasons thus far, an NFL record, Evans is the definition of consistency. The Chargers could use a consistent pass catcher like that to pair with McConkey and have him take on a similar type of role that Allen had during his first stint with the team. In the 2024 season, despite playing in only 14 games, Evans caught 74 passes for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns– guiding the Buccaneers to a 10-7 record and an NFC South title.
But at age 32, the question becomes how many more years can Evans continue to play at a high level for? Despite another strong outing in 2024, injuries combined with an overall small dip in production suggest that Evans is starting his decline. In fact, Evans only averaged 13.6 yard per catch in 2024, the lowest of his career. But for now, Evans continues to be a star in the league and if he is unable to stay in Tampa Bay beyond this season, the Chargers should do their due diligence.
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