NFL Mock Draft 2014: Mike Evans to the Buccaneers? By Sander Philipse?@Sanderrp Feb 17 2014, 9:13pm 
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
A Vincent Jackson clone could be coming to Tampa, if this latest mock draft is correct.We have a new mock draft pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For the first time ever (I think), Mocking the Draft is projecting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to grab Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans. In this mock draft, the choice was down to Evans or an offensive tackle because Clowney and Ealy are off the board. Evans is often compared to current Buccaneers receiver Vincent Jackson, but that's largely due to size and on-field speed. Despite entering his 10th season, Jackson is still a viable No. 1 option. But look for Evans to be one of the stars of the combine and rise into the top 10 picks. Evans would be the future No. 1 for the Bucs and a better option than Mike Williams straight away. I like Mike Evans, but I also think he's essentially a Vincent Jackson clone: a downfield threat with a wide catching radius who wins due to his stride length rather than his speed. I'm not sure whether a Vincent Jackson clone would be the most useful addition to the team, and I'd probably choose to upgrade either side of the line, with Greg Robinson and Khalil Mack both being intriguing options. Drafting Evans would give the Bucs three receivers who excel at catching contested passes down the field, but who lack truly explosive athleticism. Still, there's little doubt that Evans would make the Bucs a better team. He was a huge factor in Johnny Manziel's success in college, bailing him out with some great catches over the past two years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr-cIY3u8Tk&feature=player_embedded http://www.bucsnation.com/2014/2/17/5418886/nfl-mock-draft-2014-mike-evans-to-the-buccaneers
I am down with this one. Mike Evans is my no.1 rated WR. Or if any of these guys drop to the second in case we get Mathews or Robinson in the 1st round. Allen RobinsonJordan MathewsKelvin Benjamin
Not a fan. I think Mike Evans is a 2nd round prospect that will be drafted way too early because of his size.
Just what I wanted for Christmas...another big, tall possession receiver. If we are even thinking WR in the 1st it needs to be Watkins.
Enough of these kind of guys already. We need speed!! I don't hate the dude, its just we do not need him at all.
Enough of these kind of guys already. We need speed!! I don't hate the dude, its just we do not need him at all.
Exactly .
I think Mike Evans used his size to overwhelm college CBs, many of which will never even play in the NFL. I just don't see him as an all around great WR. When you take away his size advantage, which the grood NFL CBs will, what do you have left? He isn't a great route runner. He doesn't have great speed or quickness. He doesn't have elite hands. On top of that, many scouting reports question his effort and question whether he gives 100% consistently. I'm not sold. Guys like Evans and Kelvin Benjamin may get elevated in the draft process due to size, but guys like Watkins and Landry are much better receivers. A great receiver with great size is elite, but great size alone doesn't get you anything.
Just what I wanted for Christmas...another prototypical NFL receiver. If we are even thinking WR in the 1st it needs to be Watkins.
Fixed. Watkins is a midget slot possession WR compared to Evans. Evans and VJax could be like Marshall and Jeffery in Chicago. I would not complain about having the best pass catching duo in the NFL. Watkins is a great college player, no doubt but this is a man's game and the modern prototypical is not 6'1".He is 6'3" or taller. Or else he has some kind of elite timed speed. In the whole top 20 last year there was one guy who didn't meet the criteria. Wes Welker and he had Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. In today's world I would never draft a WR under 6'3" in the 1st round at all unless at the very end of the 1st. I have done enough research on this to know that the percentages say that a 6'1" WR without elite timed speed has a miniscule chance of being one of the best. I'm not saying that Watkins won't be great I'm just saying that for me the risk that the player wont be one of the best at his position with the no.7 overall pick is astronomical on a sub 6'1" WR.
I think you are putting waaaay too much emphasis on height. As long as a receiver is over 6ft....he can line up anywhere and do anything. Most of the greatest WRs of all time are under 6'3".
If we already had a guy like Watkins on our team and not Vincent Jackson, then I'd say grab Evans. But it's the opposite. We already have the Evans. We need some explosiveness on our offense.
Just what I wanted for Christmas...another prototypical NFL receiver. If we are even thinking WR in the 1st it needs to be Watkins.
Fixed. Watkins is a midget slot possession WR compared to Evans. Evans and VJax could be like Marshall and Jeffery in Chicago. I would not complain about having the best pass catching duo in the NFL. Watkins is a great college player, no doubt but this is a man's game and the modern prototypical is not 6'1".He is 6'3" or taller. Or else he has some kind of elite timed speed. In the whole top 20 last year there was one guy who didn't meet the criteria. Wes Welker and he had Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. In today's world I would never draft a WR under 6'3" in the 1st round at all unless at the very end of the 1st. I have done enough research on this to know that the percentages say that a 6'1" WR without elite timed speed has a miniscule chance of being one of the best. I'm not saying that Watkins won't be great I'm just saying that for me the risk that the player wont be one of the best at his position with the no.7 overall pick is astronomical on a sub 6'1" WR.
So 6'1 is a midget now? What about the two other tall WRs we have? While I wouldnt draft Ammendola in the 1st, there is nothing wrong with 6'1" at WR considering its still taller than 90% of the CBs in the NFL. I would take Watkins speed over Evans height any day of the week.So you wouldnt take any of these guys?Antonio BrownPierre GarconDeSean JacksonTorrey SmithVictor Cruz
If he can produce outside the numbers and be leaned on when it matters is the important thing.
Jerry Rice, Chris Carter, Marvin Harrison, Anquan Boldin, Tim Brown, Andre Reed, Michael Irvin, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Keenan McCardell, Lynn Swann, Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Hine Ward, Sterling Sharpe, Rod Smith, Greg Jennings, Jimmy Smith.....all 6'2" or shorter. I could go on, but this obsession with giant receivers is nonsense. It's nice if your great receiver is also huge, but it is not required or even important.
You can say the same thing about having elite speed. All kinds of different WRs that produce in this league.
My top three things in a great receiver. 1. Great hands2. Quickness to separate3. Route runningIf I kept going, being 6'3" or taller would not be in the top 10.
