Mike Evans is a superstar on and off the field. Despite becoming the first player in NFL history to begin their career with 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' star remains unbelievably underrated.
We all know about Evans's ability on the field. The numbers speak for themselves—catching 762 passes for 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns should secure his spot in the Hall of Fame one day.
Just as important is Evans' leadership and loyalty. After signing a two-year extension this offseason, he said his goal was to remain with the Buccaneers for his entire career.
Tampa Bay continued to build its receiving corps around Evans, drafting Washington's Jalen McMillan in the third round. Evans is already helping the rookie get up to speed.
Mike Evans sends Jalen McMillan a copy of the Buccaneers playbook
McMillan has the talent and potential to make an immediate impact in the Buccaneers' offense. But first, he needs to learn the playbook. Shortly after the draft, Evans found out the rookie hadn't received it yet. He stepped up and fixed that problem, again proving why he is such a great leader.
According to ESPN's Jenna Laine, Evans told McMillan: "Whatever you need."
Right after the draft Jalen McMillan was able to connect with Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield. Evans told him, “Whatever you need.” McMillan said he hadn’t gotten the playbook yet so Evans sent it to him immediately.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) May 10, 2024
It's amazing to hear this story. Evans isn't worried about the possibility of losing snaps or catches to another wide receiver. He wants to do everything possible to put the team first and help him get up to speed.
McMillan was a key part of Washington's offense last season and has the size, speed, and athleticism to quickly become a go-to target for Baker Mayfield.
The question is how long it will take McMillan to make the adjustment from the college game. A big part of that is becoming an expert of the Bucs' system. Having Evans as a mentor and leader will help accelerate the process, and McMillan gets to see up close what it takes to be one of the league's best.
McMillan couldn't have asked for a better landing spot, and he will have every chance to succeed in Tampa Bay.