The Bucs roster nonetheless has an elite unit on the offense. Regardless of each gamers persevering with to stand up there in age, Professional Soccer Focus ranks each Mike Evans and Chris Godwin among the many finest 32 huge receivers within the NFL forward of the 2024 season.
These lists usually are not simply an accounting of previous efficiency however add in some projection of what the longer term would possibly maintain for every participant. Meaning older gamers like Evans and Godwin obtain some demerits for anticipated age regression whereas youthful gamers like Puka Nacua of the Rams will obtain bumps for projected enhancements.
Total, the Bucs’ receiving duo ranked twentieth (Evans) and thirty first (Godwin).
Mike Evans Is Nonetheless Rolling
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: USA At this time
Contemporary off signing his third contract with the Bucs that may possible guarantee the longer term Corridor of Fame inductee finishes his profession in Tampa Bay, Mike Evans slots in twentieth on the record. Sam Monson of PFF writes concerning the Bucs’ ageless surprise: “Nonetheless one of many league’s simplest receivers, Mike Evans continued his streak of 1,000-yard seasons with Baker Mayfield underneath heart and can look to take action once more in 2024. Evans had 13 landing receptions final season and an 81.5 PFF grade.”
Apparently sufficient, Monson ranks Evans twentieth regardless of him rating because the tenth best outdoors receiver within the NFL final season. Evans earned 2.64 yards per route run as the positioning famous: “Mike Evans was in all places for the Buccaneers in 2023, seeing 30-plus targets at every degree of the sector at an adjusted goal charge of 30.3%. Evans averaged 15.2 depth yards per goal and recorded 33 beneficial properties of 15-plus yards. He amassed 46 first downs, caught 11 touchdowns and secured 14 of 26 contested targets.”
However, Evans fell 9 spots from final yr’s record.
Chris Godwin Strikes Down
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: USA At this time
Very similar to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin falls down the record as effectively, shifting from twenty first in 2023 to thirty first this yr. PFF’s writeup on him says: “Accidents have hampered Chris Godwin, however he’s an especially succesful and versatile receiver. Final season, simply 37% of his snaps got here from the slot, having lined up inside on 73% of his snaps the season earlier than. Whether or not he strains up inside or out, Godwin makes performs and strikes the chains, with 53 first-down catches in annually.”
The 2024 season will likely be a telling yr for Godwin as he enters an enormous contract yr. Was his efficiency final yr affected extra by the accidents famous, or by the transfer to the perimeter, the place he noticed almost two thirds of his snaps? As he’s shifting again to the slot this yr the place he has thrived up to now, we could possibly put that query to the check.
This Could Be Final Yr For Bucs With Two Receivers On Record
Tampa Bay was considered one of six groups to have two receivers make the record, exhibiting the NFL is a league of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ on the subject of the place. The Dolphins (Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle), Bengals (Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins), 49ers (Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel), Rams (Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua), and Texans (Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins) joined the Bucs with the celebrated honor.
However one workforce stood out from the remainder with three receivers making the record. The Bears had D.J Moore rank twelfth, Keenan Allen examine in at twenty second, and rookie Rome Odunze cracked the record at twenty ninth.
With Chris Godwin’s 2025 workforce up within the air and questions lingering about misplaced athleticism as a consequence of his bodily type of play, and Mike Evans persevering with to place his thirtieth birthday additional behind him, it’s honest to imagine this can be the final time the workforce has two receivers on this record for the foreseeable future.
Until Jalen McMillan or Trey Palmer explode this yr, Tampa Bay’s lock as one of many high receiver duos within the league could also be setting off into the sundown.
