Is Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wideout Mike Evans a surefire Hall of Famer?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struck gold when they drafted wide receiver Mike Evans with the No. 7 pick in the 2014 draft. Since then, the former Texas A&M standout has become the Buccaneers’ all-time leading receiver, heavily contributing to the team’s success.
No matter how much of a team mentality a player claims to have, individual accolades matter, too, in the NFL. All talented players have their eye on one long-term goal — a spot in the history books alongside the best of the best in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Has Evans made a strong enough case for a Hall of Fame berth 10 years into his career?
It’s hard to argue that Evans hasn’t already paved enough of a path for himself from Tampa, Florida, to Canton, Ohio. Since joining the team in 2014, Evans has accumulated 11,680 receiving yards, surpassing 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons.
His success hasn’t slowed down with age. In 2023, the veteran receiver recorded 1,255 yards and a second-best 13 touchdowns, making a strong case for a new deal. Evans asked, and the Buccaneers answered, securing their No. 1 receiver until 2026 with a two-year, $52 million contract extension.
With at least two years remaining in his professional career, Evans has put up numbers comparable to those already in Canton. Evans’ 11,680 career receiving yards and 94 touchdowns surpass first-ballot Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, known as one of the best receivers to ever play the game.Impressively, Evans’ productivity hasn’t faltered with quarterback changes. Throughout his ten seasons, the wideout has caught passes from a variety of quarterbacks, most notably Jameis Winston, Tom Brady, and Baker Mayfield.
As for Evans, he’s confident that he belongs, but he’s waiting to have that conversation another day. “I know that I am a Hall of Fame-caliber player. Like, I’ve seen all the guys that have played — all the guys that are in the Hall of Fame. I know what I can do, but my career’s not over yet. So that’s something to think about in the future,” Evans told reporters after surpassing 1,000 yards for the tenth straight year.
