Mike Evans names himself as the best wide receiver in the NFL

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.