Buccaneers: Five best wide receivers in team history
By Bailey Adams
No. 1: Mark Carrier
Finally, coming in as the best receiver in Bucs history is Mark Carrier. A third-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, Carrier turned into a steal for the creamsicle-wearing crew. In his six seasons with the team, he only surpassed the 1,000-yard mark once. However, he was Mr. Consistent for Tampa Bay in those six years. Because of that, he is at the top of the franchise’s record book in catches with 321 and receiving yards with 5,018. He is tied for fifth all-time in touchdown receptions with Mike Evans, hauling in 27 in his career.
The Nicholls State product played with the Bucs from 1987 to 1992. Like House, he didn’t see a lot of winning. In his Tampa Bay career, the team played to a record of 28 wins and 67 losses. The closest thing to a winning season that he saw with the Bucs was a 6-10 year in 1990. For that reason, he may fall into obscurity even more than House does, but it’s certainly not due to his performance on the field. The fact that he performed so well despite the lack of talent around him was pretty special. In 1989, when Tampa Bay finished just 5-11, he made the Pro Bowl due to his 86 catches, 1,422 yards and nine touchdowns–all career-highs.
Although he’s only a little bit ahead of Evans in terms of numbers, he can currently hold the claim of being the top wide receiver in team history. Again, with the reluctance of fans to reflect on the early years, Carrier doesn’t get much praise. His numbers alone warrant this spot on the list, but the fact that he put up those performances in such a hideous era of Buccaneer football solidifies it.
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