Let’s just say Mike Evans has a very healthy sense of self. And he’s probably accurate as well.
Want to pick the best receiver in the NFL? Then choose him, he says.
“I know where I’m at,” Mike Evans said in an interview with ESPN. “My opinion matters more than anybody else because I watch all of these guys. And there are a lot of f—ing great players. But I’ll take myself over anybody. If people were in my situation, there’s only 5-10 guys in history who have done what I’ve done. It’s been a battle, but I enjoy it.”
Mike Evans isn’t wrong. He’s been a dominant receiver for 11 years, dating back to when he emerged as Johnny Manziel‘s favorite target at Texas A&M in 2012. He discovered football late in high school and he’s perfect for a wide receiver at any level.
Last time Mike Evans didn’t get 1,000 yards in a season was his senior year in high school
Since the Bucs selected him with the seventh pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Evans has conquered the league’s cornerbacks. He’s amassed at least 1,000 yards receiving in all nine years in the NFL. That’s an NFL record. And barring a significant injury, there’s no reason to think he won’t pull off nifty No. 10, whether it’s Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask throwing the passes this season. He surpassed 10,000 career receiving yards in week 12 last year.
Evans turns 30 later this month. And throughout his 20s, he became the youngest receiver ever to hit a variety of benchmarks
His best year was 2016, when he caught 96 passes for 1,321 yards and a dozen touchdowns. He’s caught 70 passes or more in seven of his nine seasons. And he’s earned Pro Bowl honors in four of his nine seasons. But when experts compile lists, his name usually isn’t near the top. However, opposing defenses give him his props.
“I’m probably the most doubled receiver since 2015, 2016 — I have to be,” Mike Evans said. “Me or maybe [Davante] Adams.”
It doesn’t seem to matter who is throwing the passes to Evans. But this season will be interesting. Evans said he’s moving around more, pre-snap. That should help with the double teams. Reports out of Tampa suggest the race for starting quarterback is tightening between Mayfield and Trask. Of course, we know it’s the start of the post Tom Brady-era with the Bucs. Tampa signed Mayfield, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft, in the off season. He most recently played for the Rams. Meanwhile, the Bucs selected Trask in the second round of the 2021 draft. He has little experience.
So stay tuned. It seems a given that either quarterback will be comfortable throwing to Mike Evans, even when he’s double teamed.
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