Mike Evans is arguably one of the best receivers in the NFL today. But the case can also be made that the Pro Bowler is the most underrated player around. That tends to happen when you put up big numbers but your team fails to make the playoffs or book nationally televised games.
Fortunately, that will all change this season as Evans and the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers will be featured on five prime-time games, the maximum number allowed. Evans will also have a shot at making NFL history if he can secure another 1,000-yard receiving season, which would make him the only player in history to start his career with seven-straight 1,000-yard seasons.
And, if Evans needed some added motivation heading into 2020, he may want to check out Gil Brandt’s latest piece over at NFL.com, where the senior analysts listed 12 players whose teams should never let them leave.
Evans didn’t make Brandt’s list, but fellow NFC South receiver Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints did.
Here’s Brandt’s reasoning:
“Larry Fitzgerald has been synonymous with Cardinals football for nearly two decades, and it’s not hard to envision Thomas enjoying a Fitzgerald-like career with the Saints — that’s about the highest compliment I can pay a player. Thomas isn’t just beloved in New Orleans for being the most productive receiver in NFL history through a player’s first four seasons (470 catches, 5,512 receiving yards) — he’s also cemented his standing in the community off the field, like working with a nonprofit to make a donation to help wipe out $2.3 million in medical debt. The good news for Saints fans is that this team has the smarts to never let a player like Thomas leave, which is one reason he was handed a five-year, $100 million extension last year. Thomas is just a really good guy.”
Look, nobody is going to argue against what Thomas has done both on and off the field for the Saints and the city of New Orleans, but keep in mind that Evans has been just as good as Thomas over a longer period of time. Plus, Evans hasn’t had the luxury of having a Hall of Fame quarterback throwing to him… until now.
Hopefully, 2020 will be the season that gains Evans the national attention and respect he deserves.
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