Prediction: Mike Evans Surpasses Jerry Rice
May 18th, 2025
Mike Evans has three big claims to fame.
First, he’s the best offensive player in Bucs history. With apologies to Mike Alstott, Jimmie Giles and Doug Williams, there is no doubt, not even a question that Evans will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
While Joe sentimentally would like to see Alstott, Giles and Williams in in the Hall, each is a very, very long shot, although Hall of Fame selector and JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, tells Joe there are rumblings that have given Williams a boost, however small it may be.
Second, Evans can also brag he helped the Bucs get the franchise’s second Super Bowl win. That will live… forever.
The third element? Evans is tied with the great Jerry Rice for having the longest streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons in NFL history. Both sit at 11.
For now.
Jenna Laine of ESPN confidently predicts that record will become Evans’ alone.
Why should this surprise anyone? That’s all Evans has done his NFL career: get 1,000 yards receiving each and every year he has been in the league. Man, talk about consistent excellence.
Holding that record by himself that would cap off the career of one of the all-time greats. But hey, Joe is selfish. Joe thinks Evans has one more ring left in him.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:10 am
If ME’s hammies hold up he’s golden. His physical advantages and style mean he can play as long as his body holds up. Losing a step won’t hurt him at all.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:13 am
13 will get to 13 consecutive 1000 yard seasons.
You just know it.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:17 am
I already think that Mike has solidified himself as a first ballot HOFer, but breaking this record will all but guarantee it. I want to see Mike get another 2 year extension, but I would not blame him at all if he goes out, breaks the record and then retires. Every single year of your career with 1000+ yards? Top 8 in TDs all time amongst WRs (and would have played at least 3 less seasons than anyone else above him *except Marvin Harrison who would be 2*). That is a hell of a career man.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:18 am
I’m sure the older veterans like Evans & David want another ring. If the Football Gods are kind to the Bucs they could get one in the next season or two. (I’m hoping Father Time doesn’t catch up to either one of them before it happens.)
May 18th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Joe, you forgot one: Mike is the only receiver to have 1000 yards the first 10 seasons of his career.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:26 am
And maybe another Super Bowl win
May 18th, 2025 at 11:41 am
That’s absolutely correct.
With ME’s huge catch radius & excellent body control he is the type of offensive weapon that will age well in the NFL.
As long as he is healthy & has the desire to play he will have the advantage in contested catch situations.
Evans is the QB’s best friend when the offensive needs a crucial completion.
We are lucky to have him.
Mike Evans is That Man!
Go Bucs!
May 18th, 2025 at 11:46 am
ohhh i love talking about mike evans long term potential goals…
if mike has plans to stick around for another 4- 5 years…that’s including this upcoming 2025 season, he has the potential to nestle himself in as the 2nd all time leading receiver yardage-wise in nfl history…he can surpass all of them…owens, moss, fitzgerald…and sit only behind jerry rice in that category…
i so want him to be that guy…but i don’t know him personally, so i can’t gauge how his body is – to go thru the rigors of 5 more seasons…
but i so want him to unseat larry fitzgerald and seize the #2 spot…
no chance to unseat rice for #1…he just to far ahead in the race
May 18th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Talk about a way to leave the game – break Rice’s record and win a SB. Now that’s how you leave your mark. You got this Mike!
May 18th, 2025 at 11:58 am
@Adam from NY
I’m rooting for that too. My dream scenario for Mike is 4 more 1K seasons to break Jerry’s record of 14 1K seasons. He can do the summer 2028 Olympics, get his 15th straight 1K season at 35, and retire as one of the most decorated WR’s of all time ranking top 3 in yards, and top 5 in TD’s. His game will age well, it’s just a matter of how long he wants to play, his hamstrings holding up, and continuing to be lucky by not suffering any major injuries
May 18th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
food for thought:
if mike just squeaks past 1000 yards for the next 2 seasons per say:
– he passes julio jones this year, to climb to the #16 spot all time…
– and if he just squeaks past 1000 again for the 2026 season, he jumps into the #8 all time spot above steve smith…how sweet would that be… 🙂
then let’s say he slows down a bit and for the 2027 season, has 650 yards on the year and no longer has the 1000 yard consecutive seasons thing…then he still moves into the #4 all time spot, supplanting the iconic randy moss…
so if he plays this season and the next 2, and has say around 2650 yards during that time, he jumps from #24 to #16 to #8 to #4… in 3 seasons of play and that’s including this season…wowzers !!
so let’s say he wants to play that 4th and 5th season down the line…that would be 2028 and 2029…and let’s just say his 1000 yard seasons are now long gone scenarios…he’s older, maybe plays at a heavier weight and has become a bit more of a possession type receiver…
with a 650 yard season in 2028 he would then jump past terrell owens into the #3 spot and have around 16,000 career receiving yards…
so now to the 2029 season…let’s say again it’s another 650 yard season…that moves him to say 16,650 yards all time…and still resting in the #3 all time spot…
at that point after 5 more full seasons of play at:
1000 (2025)
1000 (26)
650 (27)
650 (28)
650 (29)
it leaves mike short of grabbing fitzgeralds #2 spot by a measly 850 yards…
so if in any of the next 5 seasons, mike has more than the above numbers, he’s eating away at those 850 yards fitzgerald would have in him…
and if he plays a 6th season more, say in 2030, he would probably inevitably squeak into the #2 spot with around 18,000 yards all time…
so when doing the math, he is right there to nestle himself into the #2 all time spot if his body can hold up, if he has the will to play and think long-game, and of course have a little luck on his side…
just some numbers here to see mike’s potential climb into the #2 spot for all time receiving yards…
it definitely is possible…some receivers do play a very long time…who’s not to say a few years from now mike isn’t the bucs 3rd option at receiver and he’s grabbing 650-700 yards a season for a few years…
just food for thought…
i guess you guys can see i’m a huge mike evans fan ! 🙂
May 18th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
@Dom:
hell yeah Dom…!
read my next post…i broke it down acting like @DefenseRules lol
i’m kind of obsessed with mike getting to 18k yards…probably even more than he is……lol
May 18th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
@WestPhillyBucsFan:
undoubtedly mike is a first ballot hall of famer…
you can prolly pencil him in for 15,000 yards, barring injury…
the question is how immortal does he want to be…?
the climb from about 15 or 16k…to 18k is gonna be the tough and immortalizing part…
jumping moss, owens and fitzgerald will be the really crazy sh!t…
i could easily see him jumping issac bruce to pop into the number 5 slot…that shout almost def happen…
it’s the climb from 5 to 2 which is no joke
May 18th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
The pick of Evans by Licht makes the pick of Winston a wash.
Evans changed the WR position in Tampa forever.
So Licht has proven the WR position is a strong point for him.
His HC choices leave a lot to be desired, save for Arians.
Fire Bowles now!!!!
May 18th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
“Fire Bowles now!!!!”
Yeah that’s the ticket! Were you screaming for Chucky’s head when he put up those three LOSING seasons?
Now is an especially good time to do it eh? Right before the season starts you dump a coach who is widely respected throughout the league and ADMIRED by his own players. I’m sure that’s the message you want to send the guys right?
May 18th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
adam from ny Says:
May 18th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
food for thought:
if mike just squeaks past 1000 yards for the next 2 seasons per say
_________
I can almost guarantee that he will just squeak by 1k.
I think his target number is 1005 yard this year and 1006 next year.
May 18th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Beautifully said, Joe!
adam from ny – Well said too. Love Mike, since A&M. Would love to see him here for a long time, a couple more Super Bowls! 😊🏈
May 18th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Years from now Mike Evans is going to be remembered for his consistency. The NFL adding way more games to the schedule and the fact that the NFL is now adapting arena football offenses, in the future it will allow many WRs to repeat what Evans has done “statistically” to be repeated. That however will only add to the respect he will garner for doing it a much tougher era with less games for wr’s. He has 2-3 more solid 1000 yard years, and it could be Rice and Evans, GOAT 1A and GOAT 1B in the 1K receiving yard seasons aspect anyways.
May 18th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
West Philly- he’s not solidified himself as a first ballot- come on….
May 18th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Extend him a year and let’s get him 2 more 1000 yard seasons with a ring! Then I could rest easy after that.
May 18th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
now if he can do it for 9 more seasons he will surpass all of Rice’s records
May 18th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
🔥 todd
May 18th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
It’s all good Mike you already stand alone. Jerry rice couldn’t get 1k as a rookie so he didn’t do it 11 straight to start his career like you did
May 18th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
@weaksecondary
I’d like to remind you that, according to your previous posts, there would be locker room problems if Todd were fired…. Remember why you said that would be the case?
Regardless….. let’s say the ownership and GM of a billion dollar football team, that’s won their division repeatedly, improved their record yearly, has many highly paid professionals to scrutinize all aspects of the organization etc just decided to listen to a loudmouth old troll on multi-million dollar decisions.
You’d have them fire Todd now. And bring in Mike McCarthy 🤣
Since you’ve also repeatedly dissed our franchise QB, who should we bring in to replace Baker?
Do they ever let you out? I’d think if you were around other people much, and acted like you act here, some “snowflake” or “cupcake” might smack you silly.
Life is short bro. I hope you find some peace before it’s done ✌🏼
May 18th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Todd Says:
May 18th, 2025 at 11:13 am
13 will get to 13 consecutive 1000 yard seasons.
You just know it.
FULLY AGREE AND HAVE SAID THIS SINCE HE HAD 8 IN A ROW!!! LFG M1K3!
May 18th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
He’s not likely to be first ballot – not because he doesn’t deserve it, but that’s *extremely* elite territory. The 18 week season and lack of first team all-pro selections will hold him back from canton for a year or two.
Do I think it’s right? No. Will it happen? Probably.
May 18th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
Love Evans but Wirfs will be best offensive player in Bucs history in a few years, I think. He may challenge Brooks and Selmon as best player, period.
May 18th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
GoneGator Says:
“You’d have them fire Todd now. And bring in Mike McCarthy”
Correct sir. I like coaches that are capable of winning double digit games multiple years running.
And have been to a SB and won it. And can win outside of the worst division in football.
The personal attacks are unnecessary and juvenile.
Cupcakes get smashed around here. Just like Bowles in the playoffs.
May 18th, 2025 at 4:49 pm
Only one reason Williams would go in HOF and it’s all about pandering
May 18th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
It’s the Hall of Fame not Hall of Decent
May 18th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
@GoneGator – Well said my friend ! I can’t stand these fake, bandwagon fans who obviously didn’t watch a game before Brady arrived. They just think you gotta win the Super Bowl every year. Maybe they should look at how many teams have never played in a Super Bowl, let alone won a Super Bowl. Bucs have 2 . People should do their homework before puking out trash like “Fire Todd!” Go Bucs and real Bucs fans
May 18th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
Todd Bowles is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.
May 18th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Brain sturgeons think fans shouldn’t criticize their team. These sturgeons are the ones who deserved and got the lost decade.
May 18th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
Lots of interesting comments, sans the usual trolls.
I’m not ready to start thinking about 2026 yet, but sans injury, Evans will almost certainly make it to 12. Oddly enough, those odds get better if Godwin comes back full steam and EE turns out to be the real deal. A big improvement from JMac wouldn’t hurt either. Anything that’ll keep teams from bracketing Evans on every play will give him more opportunities for YAC.
That said, at the end of 2022 I wanted Bowles head on a platter too. Wow! I was seeing red. After another NFCS championship and a home playoff win and an improved record I was much more ok with him. Last year was shakey, but we improved our record once again so I can have higher hopes for this season…if…he improves our defense. On paper things look promising as long as Reddick pans out and SVD returns to health. There’s lots of other defensive signs for hope on our horizon too. The offense doesn’t worry me much.
As for the clowns that think Winston was a foolish pick…who else was he going to take. Marriotta was the only other option. Jaymiss threw a ton of picks, but he threw a lot of TDs too. Very nerve-racking, but never a dull moment. Marriotta was like watching paint dry.
May 18th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
They did a video together recently. Rice likely agrees. One of the best things about following Baker to TB (after stops in Carolina and LA) is learning all about Mike Evans
And watching Bucky Irving last year
May 18th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
TampabayDJ, not only do we have two wins, but we’ve never lost one. Our record there is spotless. Not only that, but both wins were absolute curb-stompings. Nothing at all to make us too nervous to pig out on Super Bowl feasts.
May 18th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
2 more good years could put him near 15,000 yards. Well within top 10 all time.
Gotta look at touchdowns and receptions:
Receptions: #35 at 836
2 more yrs could put him in the top 15 at 1,000 receptions.
Touchdowns #9 at 105.
2 more yrs could put him in the top 5 or 6 with over 121.
My guess is he plays at least two more years – wants that 2nd SB ring.
May 18th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
HOF
May 18th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
No one thinks the team or coaches should not be criticized Cutie Pie.
We just think beating the EXACT SAME horse over and over ad nauseum is annoying as hell.
We know you think Todd should not be HC AND DC.
Nobody’s really arguing that’s wrong. Many of us that you continue to call sweet little names would agree that it might be advantageous if the coach didn’t have double duties. Where we differ is that we recognize that’s not going to happen, at least not now, so we move on.
And we try to see ways that we could/would/will win the way things actually are…you know, reality? Instead of blitching about the same friggin thing, thats not changing anytime soon, every single day.
It’s not being averse to criticism, of the coach or the team, that you’re seeing, it’s being averse to childish, immature behavior and constant, repetitive trolling.
May 18th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
This is why I think ME13 is one of the greatest to play the position. WRs like JJ and chase are so electric and elusive and are some of the best in the league right now ol Mikey is the most consistent and none of the best other guys come close
May 18th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
@TampaBayDJ
Thank you sir and thx for your comment… Let’s go Bucs 🤘🏼
May 18th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
If this offense stays relatively healthy, he should have 1200+ and 10+ TDs
May 18th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Interesting conversation. If healthy and supporting receivers are as well ( I am not expecting CG to be ready anytime soon) I see ME going well over 1000 this season. With how he takes care of himself and NO lost step why not? I go to the games he has not lost any speed and is wise.
May 18th, 2025 at 10:24 pm
One brain sturgeon in particular resorts to combative spasming any time a criticism is levied at the soft underbelly of the Bucs. (We know what that’s been and here’s hoping it finally changes.) This is exactly how to be a fan that tolerates a lost decade with pom poms and bon bons. Excuses for the flaws rather than an outspoken voice to improve. “Injuries, lack of talent.”
How about getting out worked 80 hours a week at two coaching positions that define defensive performance and critical game decisions. Naaa. Our half guy half guy is way better than everyone else’s’ two guys. Because he has good culture and excellent HR skills.
Translate it to the field. Until then the appropriate critical comments will continue.
May 18th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
That’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler.
May 18th, 2025 at 10:53 pm
@Joe
**Joe thinks Evans has one more ring left in him.**
I don’t want to be critical but shouldn’t this read, “at least” one more ring?
May 18th, 2025 at 10:59 pm
Joe isn’t sure he plays next year, or beyond.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
I don’t think it would be a question of ability though.
He has certainly earned retirement, and earned enough for retirement, IF that is his choice.
May 18th, 2025 at 11:39 pm
Okay….Whatever…. I’m thru with the poo slingers for awhile.
Bless you all 🙏🏼✌🏼❤️
May 19th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
I think Mike may have a problem getting to 1,000 this season.
If Godwin comes back for the start of the season, I can see the ball being spread out amongst all the Bucs WR weapons – Evans/Godwin/McMillan/Egbuka and even Tez. I also think the TEs get more involved in the passing game this year.
All of that will make it harder for Mike or even single WR on the team to rack up 1,000 yards by themselves.