Is Mike Evans on the path to becoming a future first-ballot Hall of Famer?
By: Jake Rajala
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t only have a mythical character playing quarterback, but they also have a football god at WR named Mike Evans. The Bucs long-time WR has been phenomenal, consistent, and a clutch performer. Here is a closer look at Evans’s resume thus far:
- 9,301 career receiving yds
- 75 career receiving tds
- 606 receptions
- Four Pro Bowl selections
- Super Bowl LV champion
It’s obvious that Evans has been one of the NFL’s top WRs since he was drafted in 2014. A fascinating, unearthly question arises around Evans: is he on pace to wear a gold jacket in his first season of eligibility? Evans will certainly be a HOF WR, but it would be a serious challenge for Evans to be a first-ballot HOF.
For example, Chris Carter was not a first-ballot HOF. Yet, he was a freakish talent at the WR in his career. He made eight Pro Bowl selections, two All-Pro teams, recorded 13,899 career yards, and 130 career touchdowns. Although, he wasn’t quite able to garner that ever-elusive Super Bowl ring.
Evans will be 29 in the 2022-2023 season, so he is an aging play-maker. Luckily, his Top-3 QB returned for the 2022 season, so Evans will still look to unleash career numbers with the GOAT. Realistically, I believe that Brady will play 1-2 more seasons and Evans will be a 1,000+ yd and 7+ touchdown WR in each season until Brady retires. Most importantly, Evans will have an opportunity to chase his second SB ring with TB12.
I believe that Evans will need to win a second Super Bowl ring and make two-three more Pro Bowl selections to have a strong chance to be a first-ballot HOF. If he doesn’t have two SB rings, I would be shocked if he made it into Canton as a first-ballot HOF. Nonetheless, it appears that the Bucs have a gifted QB-WR combination and they both have an optimistic aim to improve their legacies in 2022.
