The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Which Buccaneers could make the NFL top 100 list?

By Michael Horan

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers flag flies after a touchdown at a NFL game against the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers flag flies after a touchdown at a NFL game against the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 18: Wide receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hauls in a 42-yard pass from quarterback Jameis Winston while getting pressure from cornerback Desmond Trufant #21 of the Atlanta Falcons and free safety Ricardo Allen #37 during the third quarter of an NFL football game on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 18: Wide receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hauls in a 42-yard pass from quarterback Jameis Winston while getting pressure from cornerback Desmond Trufant #21 of the Atlanta Falcons and free safety Ricardo Allen #37 during the third quarter of an NFL football game on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Mike Evans

Though he wasn’t the best Buccaneer last season, Mike Evans might be the best Buccaneer player overall. Evans was the highest ranked Buccaneer on the list last season at 29 and based on name power alone he has a good chance to repeat that honor once again this season.

Evans was the best receiver on the Buccaneers last season, which has been the case in all five of his seasons as a professional. Defensive backs simply don’t have a good answer most of the time for the 6’5, 231 lb Evans, and on most plays he presents a dramatic mismatch that the Bucs can exploit. The effect he has on defenses can’t be measured by stats, and fortunately for Evans he has a quarterback in Jameis Winston who is willing to test tight windows.

Unfortunately for Evans his quarterback missed three times with injury last season and was affected by the injury for several other games which impacted Evans’ final stat line. He finished the season with just one game over 100 yards and just 1001 total on the season, along with five touchdowns and 71 catches; his Pro Football Focus score was 83.3, good for 14th best among receivers.

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