Report: Bucs “Partial To” Mike Evans
April 21st, 2014
The Mike Evans bandwagon got bigger this morning, thanks to fight-instigating, barista-training, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball box score-reading Peter King of SI.com and NBC Sports Fame.
The noted scribe planted a handful of his latest insider NFL Draft dope via his famous Monday Morning Quarterback column. King claims the Bucs are hot for Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, though King offers a word of caution.
Tampa Bay is partial to, among others, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans at No. 7. I’ve watched a lot of Johnny Manziel tape recently, and I’ll say this about Evans: supremely talented, extremely hot-headed. He’d better cure his immaturity on the field, and fast.
Joe is certain the Bucs like Mike Evans but, as Joe wrote earlier today, Evans just isn’t necessary or captivating at No. 7 in a draft rich with wide receiver talent. Plus, is he really the speed-in-space kind of guy Jeff Tedford craves, or is he more of a Vincent Jackson type. Yes, Joe can read 40 times, but Joe’s not sure Evans is a burner when the whistle blows.
April 21st, 2014 at 10:41 am
Same reviews about Michael Clayton coming out of LSU… you saw where that went.
April 21st, 2014 at 10:44 am
What about the part where he said this is a rotten QB draft (i.e. the Torturous headline)?
I thought it was an interesting counterpoint to your daily Manziel cartwheels.
Perhaps you’d like Joe to copy and paste King’s 4,000-word column?–Joe
April 21st, 2014 at 10:45 am
It’s always interesting when I get the “comment is awaiting moderation” message. What exactly did I write that triggered it?
April 21st, 2014 at 10:49 am
“Perhaps you’d like Joe to copy and paste King’s 4,000-word column?–Joe”
Sure, why not? I figure if you keep adding to your “fight instigating, barista training…..” intro, you go straight to 2,000 words, right out of the gates.
April 21st, 2014 at 10:52 am
i like mike evans he is not a burner but he can get downfield
April 21st, 2014 at 10:59 am
would love to have to big WRs who can get downfield and a burner slot guy
April 21st, 2014 at 11:05 am
I agree that they will draft a receiver later. Looking back at the draft history of the Dungy era and Lovie’s tenure in Chicago, leads me to believe that Aaron Donald will be the pick. They always believed in drafting pass rushers no matter who was already on the roster. They drafted a lot of DTs during that time. He would be an added pass rusher plus you could slide him to 3 technique if something happens to McCoy.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:23 am
You don’t take a WR in the top 10 of a draft unless his name is Calvin Johnson.
Amazing how a lot of the Johnny hatting crew would be happy with a WR at #7.
Dumb pick.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:27 am
Evans at 7. People forget that the Bucs already have a speed in space guy in Owusu. Perhaps the Bucs did not use him properly, but he is a burner.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Owusu ran a 4.36 time at the 40-yard dash.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:28 am
Snook…and you don’t take a project QB in the top 10 either.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:31 am
The Bucs are not taking a QB in the first round. Not this year, not never under Lovie. Lovie prefers veterans that understand his QB OC guru. Later round QBs are in play, they can wait and learn to understand the QB OC guru. But first rounds QBs, they need to play right away, not enough time for QB OC guru to mold.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:34 am
Snook Says:
April 21st, 2014 at 11:23 am
You don’t take a WR in the top 10 of a draft unless his name is Calvin Johnson.
Amazing how a lot of the Johnny hatting crew would be happy with a WR at #7.
Dumb pick.
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AJ Green and Julio Jones strongly disagree.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:37 am
What i dont get is why everybody wouldnt want a upgraded version of Jeff Garcia, because i believe that is what Johnny Manziel is. You can win a lot of games with a QB of that talent level. But thats just my opinion,and Joe keep up the great articles i like them.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:39 am
bucrightoff…also the team that’s going to take Watkins in the top 5 will probably disagree as well.
April 21st, 2014 at 11:57 am
It seemed to me every time Johnny ‘spoiled rotten’ Football would scramble, Mike Evans would have to bail him out. I think Mike Evans is a key reason why JF had some great plays.
April 21st, 2014 at 12:07 pm
It’s easy to claim certain teams will take certain players. That doesn’t mean it will actually happen.
Here’s how I break it down in regard of the Bucs:
DE – I’m sure if by some miracle Clowney falls to 7, the Bucs would take little time in drafting him. I wouldn’t blame them.
WR – Its a deep draft at WR. If the Bucs can get a good WR later (round two or later) then it simply makes no sense to take one in round 1. Consider Revis. Lovie could have kept him. Instead, he let Licht trade him away and settled for a good (not great) CB. To me this shows Lovie is willing to settle for good players over great ones so he can get bargains.
QB – If…IF…Johnny Manziel falls it would be interesting, but that is not going to happen. If Bortles falls…well maybe…that depends on if they think a Jake Plummer type of player would fit well. He might. I think the real targeted QB is Carr, but how they go about getting him depends on whether they can trade back or think he is worthy of a 1st round pick.
Remember, the difference between 1st and 2nd round is a year on the contract (I think). They might try to take their QB in round 1 just to make sure he is locked in for that extra year.
DT – There are a couple worthy of a first round pick, but choosing this position is not likely.
OT – All of the first round worthy OTs are Left Tackles. A role the Bucs filled.
OG – There are none worthy of a first round pick. Maybe not worthy of a second round pick either.
TE – Already addressed.
FB – Never addressed in the 1st round.
Kicker and Punter – Not a need.
So the odds lean toward QB. People might want Watkins or Evans, but that doesn’t mean it will happen. And it takes two to trade down.
I see the Bucs reaching for a QB.
April 21st, 2014 at 12:14 pm
I there is a qb you like at 7 than you take him you can not wait. If you don’t like one you go defense. WR are a dine a dozen waisted pick at 7
April 21st, 2014 at 12:15 pm
would love to have mike evans on this team. he saved manziel’s ass numerous times over the last couple of years and made him look better than he actually is.
April 21st, 2014 at 12:18 pm
@BucsFanFromSaintsLand
I’ve been thinking the same thing – why not Aaron Donald – good pass rusher from the inside. Plus, it allows you some flexibility if you don’t want to pay GMC 5yr/75mill
April 21st, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Nybucsfan ..imo there is no defensive player worthy of the 7th pick. Unless his name is Jadaveon and he’ll be gone.
April 21st, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Instead of taking Aaron Donald so you don’t have to pay GMC, why not take Mike Evans so you don’t have to pay the next WR on the team to start. Draft should be used to upgrade the team not cheapskate your players like Culverhouse.
April 21st, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Unlike the other QB’s the Bucs have ignored Aaron Murray. Is this a smoke screen? The Bucs have done this in the past, ignored players that they later drafted. The unpredictability of what they are going to do will make this a especially interesting draft to watch.
April 21st, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Perhaps you’d like Joe to copy and paste King’s 4,000-word column?–Joe
You would if it related to all things Manziel.
April 21st, 2014 at 1:40 pm
Burner? He ran in the low to mid 4.5’s… the tape says he isn’t a burner and the clock confirms it.
Vincent Jackson, on the other hand, ran in the low 4.4’s for his official Combine time at 241 lbs…and he was never a burner though the clock said he was.
April 21st, 2014 at 2:37 pm
First round draft picks have contracts that come with a 5th year option.
April 21st, 2014 at 2:47 pm
I don’t believe ANYTHING I hear about the draft during the month of April.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Johnny Football at #7. Its happening. Enjoy it as I will.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:50 pm
How about Mack
April 21st, 2014 at 4:58 pm
WE NEED THE BEST RECEIVER AVAILABLE….WHAT GOOD IS AN OFFENSIVE LINE TO PASS BLOCK WHEN THERE IS NOBODY OPEN??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? GET THE BEST GUY THAT WILL HELP THIS TEAM. I WOULD SH#T MYSELF IF WATKINS WAS THERE AT 7 BUT THAT IS JUST UNREALISTIC. AND IF EVANS HAS AN ATTITUDE THAN GOOD. THIS TEAM NEEDS SOME NASTY ATTITUDE ON THE FIELD. I’M SICK OF ALL THE GOOD GUYS AND LOSING SEASON. GET A GUY THAT WILL GO DEEP JUMP UP AND STEAL THE FREINKIN BALL FOR A TD. GET EVANS PLEASE BUCS GET HIM.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:14 pm
What good is a WR if the QB has no time to throw? Bucs need to take the best player that’s sitting there at 7. Could be a QB, could be OT as this draft has 3 stellar OTs. I doubt it’s a WR.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:20 pm
We just got a LT.
April 21st, 2014 at 6:46 pm
VJ will take Evans under his wing and teach him what it takes to be ProProfessional. Im not the leasy bit worried about Evans “attitude” he just wants to win and have fun. He’s as great with 50/50 balls as LarryFitz was coming outvof college and a cpl inches taller to boot.
What a tandem that would be. Jeff Demps on jet sweeps with these two beasts bkocking. They have to respect Demps so misdirection and rollouts with dump offs to Dougernaut will be lethal. Tedford brings some ChipKellyesque creativity.
Having said all that i will notcbe upset if draft a pass rusher in the 1st. Donald is going to be special.
April 21st, 2014 at 7:01 pm
If they hadn’t made the stupid decision of trading Williams away for peanuts, we wouldn’t even have to even consider a WR this high in the draft. A unnecessary hole that didn’t need to be created.
April 21st, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Aaron Murray is the most underrated quarterback in the draft.
April 21st, 2014 at 7:15 pm
I say draft the biggest and strongest players at the position you choose every round
April 21st, 2014 at 9:12 pm
Why was Williams traded for nothing? I am interested in cars flooded by superstorm Sandy.
April 23rd, 2014 at 11:20 am
L & L have learned from past mistakes of not taking a QB in the first round. Otherwise they would not have wasted interviews on them.
April 23rd, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Bucs1987 really??? Kalil mack is def worthy of a high pick as a matter of fact I would take him over clowney (but only only if I was a 3-4 def scheme) but he don’t fit the scheme we run persay which I personally think he is versatile enough to play on any scheme but I honestly see evans as our pick at 7 unless we trade down id say the lions would be siuters if we trade down in which case we would take donald or lewan and then we would prob double dip wrs in the later rds after grabbin a qb n rd 2… And that my friends is what u call a good strategy in my eyes.
April 26th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
I am not wild about the guy. Big & can catch jump balls, but he lacks quick feet, doesn’t run sharp routes, & takes a while to get up to speed, which itself is merely OK. I actually like Beckham better.
Wise move is to wait on a receiver.