Cold, hard facts disprove silly narrative about Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans
Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is very likely headed to the Hall of Fame. Heck, he might already be being discussed among the national talking heads as a question of when instead of if he's inducted if he was playing in Pittsburgh, Dallas, or New York. Instead, the questions persist on social media […]
Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is very likely headed to the Hall of Fame. Heck, he might already be being discussed among the national talking heads as a question of when instead of if he's inducted if he was playing in Pittsburgh, Dallas, or New York.
Instead, the questions persist on social media not just about whether he's a Hall of Fame-worthy QB, but also whether he's even really that good. Words and phrases like "slow" and "can't get separation" have flown around regarding Evans, which is absolutely hilarious.
But what's not been hilarious – particularly for opposing defenses – is Evans when he gets deep downfield and the ball is released. According to Pewter Report's Josh Quiepo, no one was better in 2023 than Evans on passes traveling at least 20 yards in the air.
28.1% of Evans' targets were beyond 20+ air yards in 2023 per Pro Football Focus, so it's not a particularly small sample size of his production. Despite having a problem with drops in 2023 (8 total), only 1 came on passes over 20 yards. Evans' 15.9 yards per catch in 2023 was his highest mark since the 2019 season.
But 2023 certainly wasn't an outlier for Evans as far as being the highest rated wideout on passes of 20+ yards. He's been at the top of the league there going back for years.
And for those who say he's only a guy who grabs 50/50 balls (and yes, I've read that), well……he's pretty darned good at doing that in recent years, too.
The bottom line is that, among wide receivers running deep down the field, it's hard to find a wide receiver in the NFL who has been better and more productive statistically than Evans has been in recent years. Not slow. Not incapable of separation. Just a playmaker.
We'll see if the 2023 second team All-Pro has another big statistical year ahead for him in his eleventh NFL season this fall as the Bucs look to take another step towards reaching the Super Bowl.
4 Buccaneers not named Baker Mayfield that can single handedly change the 2024 season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with the other 31 NFL teams, are officially in the dead period now that mandatory minicamps have wrapped across the board. That also means there won't be much to talk about over the next month-and-change, but I digress. The Bucs are hoping to continue their postseason and division title streak […]
