Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or George Pickens

Tuesday, February 24, 4:38 PM

Despite an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to re-sign impending veteran free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans, according to James Palmer of the NFL Network. "He's earned the right to do this. And he knows we'd love to have him back," general manager Jason Licht said on Evans and him exploring free agency. Evans, 32, is a future Hall of Famer after beginning his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons in Tampa. However, the six-time Pro Bowler is aging and played in a career-low eight games in 2025 due to hamstring and collarbone injuries. At this point in Evans' career, having another shot to win another Super Bowl ring is probably most important, so he'll have to determine if another team is a better fit with a better chance of winning. If he stays with the Bucs, he'll be in a crowded receiving room. Either way, the days of Evans being a lock for 1,000 yards might be over.

Friday, February 27, 6:19 AM

The Dallas Cowboys officially placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens on Friday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. The non-exclusive tag allows teams to talk to Pickens when free agency begins next month, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer. Ultimately, the Cowboys hope that the tag is just a placeholder until they can work out a long-term extension with Pickens, who had a career year in 2025 in his first season in Dallas. The two sides will have until July 15 to reach a new contract. If an extension isn't reached, Pickens will most likely play the 2026 campaign in Dallas on the franchise tag. The 24-year-old led the Cowboys in receiving last year and was money for fantasy managers, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. Pickens was the WR5 in half-PPR scoring and won't be cheap in the early rounds of drafts this fall as a WR1.