Mike Evans Could Have Monster Season
September 27th, 2023
Crazy-good projections.
Let’s have more fun with projections, shall we?
Yesterday, Joe ran the numbers on Baker Mayfield. He’s on pace for a very nice season, his best in the NFL.
There is also someone else on pace to have a monster season. That is Mike Evans. NFL insider Jordan Schultz dug out a calculator to see what Evans’ numbers through three games would look like over the 17-game regular season.
If Evans finishes with these stats, he ought to be an All-Pro.
Based on his first three games, Evans looking at 96 catches for 1,683 yards and 17 touchdowns. Evans had 96 catches in 2016, his career-high for a season; Evans’ career-high for yards is 1,524 in 2018.
For touchdowns, Evans’ best season was 14 in 2021.
How wild would it be for Evans, without Tom Brady or Jameis Winston, to tie or shatter career-highs for a season with Baker Mayfield?
Talk about betting on yourself in a contract year. At 30-years old no less.
Now that’s a season!
#Buccaneers superstar WR Mike Evans is off to a blazing start alongside Baker Mayfield. Is it early? Yes. But who doesn’t love projections? He’s on pace for…
• 96-1683-17
Safe to say: Evans’ record-breaking streak of 1k-yard seasons appears to be a lock. pic.twitter.com/0hTP8AzNHB
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 26, 2023
September 27th, 2023 at 5:24 am
Go get it Mike!
September 27th, 2023 at 5:59 am
He would’ve been on a much better pace if he had a good accurate QB throwing him the ball instead of an average one.
September 27th, 2023 at 6:19 am
What if he didn’t drop 2 catches and a td per game? If only…
September 27th, 2023 at 6:25 am
Wow not much superstition around here eh? Call me “old school” but I get really nervous when anybody starts counting chickens before their hatched.
Yes…IF he stays HEALTHY ME will have a great year whether it’s Mayfield or Trask if Mayfield gets hurt.
Given the Bucs record with “health” the past few seasons, including at WR with CG14’s blown knee and almost half the defense either out or playing really hurt like DW45 I take nothing for granted.
RIGHT NOW…I’m happy for Mike and his accomplishments already this season.
September 27th, 2023 at 6:26 am
In case a troll represents the grammar police..yep it’s they’re not their.
September 27th, 2023 at 6:34 am
a rebound performance on sunday vs lattimore and the saints will be redemption for the whole damn team…
go into the bye 3-1…
lock down jameis…
and forget about monday night because there are a handful of teams in the league that we are clearly outclassed by…the great teams…and philly is one of them…
moving forward i hope we are part of that second tier of teams…the “very good” group…
we can slide into that group if we stay injury free and figure a few things out better…
the group that slides into a wild card spot or wins a not so mighty division…the bucs can still be that team with a win on sunday…
morale is low after the philly game, but a big bounce back road win in new orleans could be just what the doctor ordered
September 27th, 2023 at 6:38 am
Catch the ball
September 27th, 2023 at 6:44 am
What a bunch of Nancys. The numbers are outstanding and you non-athletes want to gripe about some ball he didn’t catch? Go cheer for AB. Losers.
September 27th, 2023 at 6:45 am
Lattimore is his kryptonite
September 27th, 2023 at 6:51 am
You forgot to mention he’s also on pace for 65 drops.
September 27th, 2023 at 6:57 am
Mike had a rough start to Mondays game (captain obvious here) He turned it on late for sure!
WE NEED A RUNNING GAME (still here)
Has there been any trade talk about Jonathan Taylor? Seem like we’d be the perfect fit, we’d have to give up a tasty draft pick but it might just get us over the top! Just wondering, that would be sweet.
September 27th, 2023 at 7:03 am
And by drops they mean, making great acrobatic catches on poorly thrown balls…
September 27th, 2023 at 7:21 am
To hell with his stats. He needs to be benched. At the very least told that if he drops the 1st ball again or another TD or another drive killer…he needs to see the bench for a while.
This guy costs us the last game and has only had 2 good catches this year. He dropped more in the last game than people say he dropped all of last year. To hell with his 1k yards.
September 27th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Great players have bad games. Mike had a bad one Monday.
September 27th, 2023 at 7:54 am
Those projections are based on two ‘meh’ games and one great game.
If he sprinkles a couple more great games in with a few good -vs- meh games… H could be chasing league single season records in yardage, receptions, and TD’s.
Go make some history M1K3 !!!!
September 27th, 2023 at 8:01 am
Baker is too short to find godwin allowing mike to get his
September 27th, 2023 at 8:13 am
If you watch the replay, Baker is late and short on his throw allowing the defender to get a hand in there. Mike didn’t drop the pass.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:26 am
How many of these endless childish posts from new users ragging on Mayfield are the same guy?
September 27th, 2023 at 8:33 am
George, it hit him between the 1& the 3. These stats are driven by 171 yds in Bears game, I doubt it will be that easy moving forward. He’ll get his 1000 barring injury but 1600+ is a stretch. Especially with Baker Mayfield. Can you PLEASE get Godwin in the game? 2 drops, a one handed heroic catch and a TD in garbage time in one on one coverage with a 5’11” DB isn’t going to cut it.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:33 am
George r. My rule is if both hands get on the ball you catch it. Regardless if a defender gets some fingers on it or not, not every throw is gonna be perfect but Mike is great enough to make those catches
September 27th, 2023 at 8:36 am
K_bassuka, he’s on pace for one of his best seasons, so he must be accurate enough, you’re just a troll and a hater. Acting like any other qb wouldn’t struggle against eagles d-line. You know running game and playing calling by o-Coordinater has more to do with how that offense looked against the eagles than baker
September 27th, 2023 at 8:38 am
Oxycondomns It ain’t that baker is too short, it’s where they usually line up Chris, a lot of times he’s the out receiver instead of the slot. Chris is better at a slot receiver and rarely has any plays or schemes called for him by the o-Coordinater
September 27th, 2023 at 8:42 am
i watched the TD drop replay. mike bobbled it BEFORE the defender got a little hand in. He still should have CAUGHT the damn ball.
this must explain why they do not count all his drops.
The ball went into his hands clean, he bobbled, then defender barely got a hand near it. IT IS COMPLETE BS TO SAY HE DID NOT DROP THAT TD.
September 27th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Mike c is spot on. So far Evans is averaging more game changing drops than productive yards. Godwin is by far the better WR. Most overrated WR in Bucs history. Let him walk after the season.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:00 am
Question – say the Bucs go 9-8 and get into the playoffs and lose in the first round against the Cowboys.Baker is definitely going to want to get paid (a lot) for a new three year contract and so is Mike Evans. We’re talking about $35. million per year for Baker for three years and at least $15 million for Mike for three years.That’s $50 million a year against the salary cap for a team that didn’t get out of the first round of the playoffs. Good luck Mr. Licht.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:06 am
Would love another great season for Mike!
I would tell him to stay focused and be a “game changer.” It will only lead to $$$!
Watch them drops Mike!
September 27th, 2023 at 9:07 am
Mike evans is a stud receiver. Months ago I predicted 1300-1500 yards this year. The ‘pundits’ had him at 900+-.
Imo this is because most pundits merely parrot what their brothers say imo.
Not all are like this. Some pundits, like Joe get their hands and feet on the ground and work hard for their info. The old fashioned way.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Baker is no Brady or Rodgers so his accuracy and timing won’t be as good.
Baker plays more ike Mahomes. A lesser version of course. But with the right scheme and right players, he is a top 10 QB.
Evans was underutilized with Brady as he didn’t throw many contested balls and they didn’t always see the field the same way. However, he is the perfect type of player for Mayfield who takes more chances. And Evans hilight 1 handed catch shows he can catch those off the mark throws.
As hot of a start Evans is having, much of that is because he’s getting more opportunities and Godwin less. He could have had 100 yards and 2TDs more. So far he’s had 1 OK, 1 Bad, and 1 great game.
He can do better. If he does, he’ll have the monster season that is missing on his resume and an all-pro. He has never lead the league in targets, catches, yards, or TDs. Realistically, the best bet is TDs.
Having a monster season, at least 1 all pro, and leading the league in something is pretty much a requirement for the HOF.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:28 am
PaulM, GenoSmith was in a similar situation with Seattle last year and got 25mil for a good not great season. So Baker would probably get 30mil max not 35mil in your scenario.
Evans will get way more than 15mil. 20 million is the minimum he might accept from Bucs as a hometown discount. Evans will likely get close to the 25mil he’s asking in the open market unless he drastically drops off his current pace.
Still adds up to at least 50 mil for both. In my opinion, if the Bucs keep Mayfield they better keep Evans too.
September 27th, 2023 at 9:47 am
Dude can’t catch, trade him
September 27th, 2023 at 9:51 am
I want to keep Evans but he has to make the catches especially that Td dropped ball that was the turning point of the game
September 27th, 2023 at 10:12 am
he’s done. no better than a decoy. turns out brady was right
September 27th, 2023 at 10:24 am
Brady was top 3 and top 5 in 2022 completions. If Mike was open he would have got the ball more. Mike is obviously still good but a consistent #1 WR? Those days have passed. If Baker keeps forcing the ball to Evan’s and avoids Godwin, that’s not going to be good for the Bucs.
September 27th, 2023 at 10:36 am
Chad. Remind Mike of your rules.
September 27th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Anytime you need to see how stupid your average Bucs fan is, just start reading the comments here…
September 27th, 2023 at 10:44 am
@George – exactly. Baker was late AND he threw a lollipop rainbow pass instead of firing a fastball. It gave the DB just enough time to come back and hit Mikes arm. That said, Mike still got 1 hand on it and should have been able to hold. He even said so himself after the game. But the legions of moronic Bucs fans are acting like he dropped 6 touchdown passes or something lol.
Oh and Baker was too late in the previous throw to Godwin right before that too. If he throws the ball even a half second sooner, Godwin is still in bounds.
2 opportunities in a row for touchdowns, but the throws were a hair too late.
September 27th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Just think about the year he’d be having already, IF he hadn’t dropped all of those balls in weeks 1 & 3… At LEAST, another 100+Yards AND 2-TD’s, minimum. A couple of them were BOMBS and one of those ‘woulda’ been a walk-in score!!!! Vikings would’ve been a ‘comfortable’ road win and who knows what would’ve then happened versus Philly. Both of those were HUGE plays… ALL of them would’ve extended drives.
September 27th, 2023 at 10:50 am
I love Mike. He’s the greatest WR in Bucs history and I’ve of the top-5 WR’s in the NFL
But he’s on pace for like 35 drops as well this season, and we need him to catch practically everything thrown his way if we are going to have any chance at making a run this year.
September 27th, 2023 at 10:54 am
No Matter how great of a season Evans ends up having this year, at the end of the season, we’ll be able to say ‘But Mike really could have had a monster season, if….’
September 27th, 2023 at 11:15 am
stpetebucfan Says
“In case a troll represents the grammar police..yep it’s they’re not their.”
LOL. You trolled yourself!
Seriously though…I would never call people out on it, but I appreciate you doing that. My OCD always bugs me with things like that.
And the amount of typos I personally produce…not being able to edit my comments drives me bonkers.
September 27th, 2023 at 11:19 am
Those saying to trade Evans remind me of fans wanting to trade him just after his second season.
We probably would not have a second Superbowl if the team had traded him back then.
September 27th, 2023 at 11:24 am
The time to trade Evan is past. If you are going to trade a player like that, it should be done when there is percieved value going forward.
His age is a deterrent for a trade. Yes, a team might expect him to produce this year and next, but beyond that will be a gamble…so they won’t offer as much in a trade.
Plus, he might enter the market without needing to trade at all.
September 27th, 2023 at 11:45 am
Trade Mike evans?
I didn’t know that there are so many unemployed comedians on this site!
Stop it people, you’re killing me!
September 27th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Unbelievable- Baker just can’t thread the needle like Brady could. We saw lots of Brady Godwin connections cause a lot of those throws and catches were tight windows requiring precision and timing.
Baker just can’t do that as well, so expect more bombs to Evans and less Godwin. That’s why I think Evans will have a great season with hopefully less drops.
September 27th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Evans isnt even in the top 15 of passes dropped this season, so I wonder why the trolls are bellyaching. Leaders-Ridley, Chark, Toney, Hopkins, Jefferson, Kelce, dont see Mike there.
September 27th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
@ Buc Bonzai
“The time to trade Evan is past. If you are going to trade a player like that, it should be done when there is percieved value going forward.”
Not necessarily – let’s see what happens if the Bucs lose a few more games and a team like the Bills, KC, Miami, Dallas or Philly have to put any starting WRs on IR.
Especially KC and Buffalo. Neither team can afford to lose any WRs if they want to win a Super Bowl.
September 27th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
looks to be pretty unanimous short of some BM haters and ME apologists….
ME aint getting a big contract.
most he will fetch is 10 million for 3 years…and thats if he starts catching the ball. I can not believe I am the only one saying he only catches curls routes.
It’s literally 90% of the throws to him and the DB’s are playing deep man.
ANY WR SHOULD CATCH THOSE BALLS!
September 27th, 2023 at 1:25 pm
TRADE EVANS
I love Mike. Greatest Buc all time. This team needs 2-3 years for a rebuild. Mike’s career will be over in 2-3 years. Send him to a contender, get picks, speed up the rebuild.
Patriots let TB12 walk but got nothing in return. TB12 is still a Patriot for life AND he got to enjoy his last few seasons.
September 27th, 2023 at 1:52 pm
Just think if he doesn’t drop easy passes.
September 27th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
BB: it’s spelt ‘perceived,’ not percieved since we’re doing proofreading and copy editing now. Like really? I have degrees in English literary and linguistical analysis. I’ve also worked several years as a professional proofreader/copy editor. Back to Bucs football. This will be a quiet grudge match with the Aints. Bucs will win it. CG14 has a big one on his sleeve. The year after the SB win, he was in position to be one of the hottest FA WRs. He already had the SB ring. So, Bucs play Sean cheating Payton’s Aints. What happens? Godwin is in position to catch one from Brady down the middle. Here comes the Aints DB. Boom! Deliberate helmet hit right at CG14’s knees. Godwin collapses, and has to be helped off the field. Injury? You betcha, smashed knee. No penalty flag, no player ejection. Go back and look at the game. So, Godwin ends up on IR the rest of the season. His NFL$$$$ drops like a rock. Fast forward to this year. Godzilla CG14 is fully healed. He will be playing against a few of the DBs on that NOLA team, even though Payton is gone. And so will quite a few other Bucs vets. Bucs will win. Only question is Canales and BM. They’ll see it on film. Get even Bucs!!
September 27th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
No WR is perfect. Y’all act like he isn’t human. Couple drops here a there and y’all act like he’s washed up and some of y’all even said it. ME13 best WR in Bucs history. Will be the 1st offensive player inducted into the HOF. dude is still a beast at 30
September 27th, 2023 at 4:43 pm
Mike will be in the Hall of Fame. He’ll also be the wide receiver with the most dropped passes in the Hall of Fame. He will also be one of the receivers in the HOF who has made the most acrobatic catches. That’s Mike.
September 27th, 2023 at 5:38 pm
Joe with all his fun fantasies. Should be interesting to see if the Oline can block and the defense can make stops. Better yet , I would just settle for not giving up about 10 big plays a game. Lets start there before we start talking about the sniper having a “nice ” season. Without an oline no QB has a nice season! Without a defense no team wins!! Geeze!!!!
September 27th, 2023 at 5:47 pm
@Chad Maybefield is on pace for one of his better seasons because he has played poorly most of his career. Don’t get mad for pointing out the truth and not buying the garbage some of y’all trying to sell.