It is no secret that the Carolina Panthers need an upgrade at wide receiver. 

With a new head coach in Dave Canales, the Panthers are now looking to get Bryce Young the necessary offensive help to ensure he flourishes during his sophomore season. 

Now, after pilfering one coach from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers have been tabbed as the best fit for Mike Evans, Tampa Bay's star wide receiver who has enjoyed a decade of 1,000-yard seasons. 

Here is what ESPN's Matt Bowen had to say: 

"Evans could follow Panthers coach Dave Canales to Carolina after he had 1,255 receiving yards and a league-leading 13 touchdown catches in the same offensive system last season in Tampa Bay. Evans is still playing at an extremely high level, and he'd be an immediate (and needed) upgrade for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young as a multiple-level target with red zone upside."

If Evans joined the Panthers, it would be an immediate upgrade over anyone else in the wide receiver room. For the first time in Young's career, he would have a true No. 1 guy. 

Plus, there would be some continuity with Canales also being from Tampa Bay. 

In 2023, Evans put together another consistent year: 1,255 receiving yards, a career-high 13 touchdowns, and he appeared in 17 games. 

It doesn't look like he is going to fall off soon. 

Additionally, Evans knows the offense Canales wants to install in Charlotte. He has had success in it before. But in the NFL history doesn't guarantee anything. At 30 years old, the Panthers would be a tough sell on anyone.

A to Z Sports projects that Evans will receive a three-year $75 million deal. On the wrong side of 30, that is a big commitment any team would have to take for a receiver who has played a ton of football in his career. 

That doesn't mean the Panthers are unwilling to do it. With roughly $39 million in cap space, Carolina can spend on a big name. 

However, it does feel unlikely that the Panthers would look to blend an older receiver with a younger quarterback. The timelines don't match. 

If Evans is looking to win another Super Bowl, he wouldn't sign with the Panthers. 

But if he is looking to help reset an ailing culture, taking a nice payday and a leadership role on a team looking to rebuild its image is a move that could work out for both parties involved. 

For now, it is wait and see. 

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