:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55457731/usa_today_10107128.0.jpg)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a really good receiver. Mike Evans, the seventh overall pick of the 2013 NFL draft, is one of five receivers ever to start their careers with three consecutive 1000-yard seasons—the other four being Odell Beckham Jr., A.J. Green, Randy Moss and John Jefferson. Pretty good company.
Evans was also Pro Football Focus’ second-best receiver last season, behind only Julio Jones. Nice.
Only two wide receivers saw an elite PFF grade of over 90.0 in 2016.
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) June 18, 2017
They both hailed from the NFC South. pic.twitter.com/qwVZeUaqvJ
Over the past three seasons, Evans has put up 3,578 receiving yards. Only four receivers have been more productive during that time: Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown and Doug Baldwin.
Those are all pretty elite groups of players for Evans to be a part. Which leads us to the next question: will Mike Evans take the next step and turn into the best receiver in the NFL? Because there’s not much farther up to go, already.
I don’t know if that will actually happen—there’s an argument to be made that Evans isn’t quite fast enough to really be the best receiver in the NFL—but he’s certainly really close to getting there. Which is pretty amazing—when’s the last time the Bucs could say they potentially had the best receiver in the NFL on their roster?