Mike Evans: “Best Bucs WR Room I’ve Been A Part Of”

Heading into his 12th NFL season, Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans has seen it all when it comes to the wide receiver room. He learned under the tutelage of the late Vincent Jackson and he’s welcomed in Chris Godwin, whom he has forged a great 1-2 combination with at receiver for years. There have also been a lot of other polarizing talents that have come and gone that have delivered mixed results, such as DeSean Jackson and Antonio Brown, along the way.

Entering this season, the Bucs have two more receivers that Evans will be working with, as the team drafted Emeka Egbuka in the first round and Tez Johnson in round seven. Through all the talent that have come and gone in the Bucs’ receiver room, this just might be the best group yet when including Jalen McMillan, who was drafted in the third round last season and plays a big role in the offense. Evans certainly seems to think so.

Mike Evans Reacts To Bucs’ Rookie Additions

“I know I say it a lot but this might be the best receiving room I’ve been a part of,” Mike Evans said on the last day of mini-camp. “I say it every year but we always get great players coming in so that’s been very fortunate for me in my career to be around a lot of great young players and they’ve added to the room tremendously. They’re already very polished already. Emeka [Egbuka] has really strong hands, super smart. Tez [Johnson has] speed, quickness.”

Egbuka has shown very quickly why that Bucs were so excited that he was available at No. 19 when they were on the clock. The offense has been taking more a vertical-based approach in the passing game this offseason, with Johnson making some big-time splash plays on deep balls in practice.

Typically Chris Godwin has been the “lead by example” type of player for this group each spring while Mike Evans will do his offseason training elsewhere. With Godwin unavailable to practice with team as he rehabs from his discolatead ankle, it was important for Evans to be practicing at mandatory mini-camp each day, while a veteran such as linebacker Lavonte David sat out each day and quarterback Baker Mayfield even had the third day off.

It came as no surprise on the first day that Egbuka was spotted right next to Evans as they were warming up. Having so much talent around continues to push Evans as he looks to make it a 12th straight season of 1,000 receiving yards and reach another milestone.

Bucs Get Important Benefits

“It gives me motivation,” Mike Evans said about what the arrival of rookie receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson mean to him. “I was once in those shoes and I remember that hunger, and it helps me keep that hunger – seeing young great players like that that are hungry.”

Evans wasn’t expecting Tampa Bay to draft a wide receiver in the first round with the understanding that Chris Godwin will be returning at some point – hopefully by Week 1. But Evans certainly wasn’t bothered by it based on how Egbuka and Johnson can impact the Bucs offense.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I didn’t (expect it) either but Jason [Licht] has always been great in drafts and we went to pick the best player available,” Evans said. “And from what I’ve seen so far, he definitely was the best player available. [I’m] looking forward to a great year from Emeka.”

Because of the likes of Jalen McMillan in year two plus two rookies that can be immediate contributors, the Bucs shouldn’t have to worry about what happens if Evans misses time with an in-season injury or if Godwin can’t start the reason right away. Wide receiver was already a team strength before the draft. But it became that much better after the Bucs rookies worked with the future Hall of Fame veteran last week in mandatory mini-camp.