As Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans begins what hopefully is another great season in which he reaches more NFL milestones, he has a lot of people in his corner. It appears that after years of being overlooked nationally, Mike Evans is truly getting the publicity and recognition that he deserves. Some of it has to do with the success of the Bucs in recent years, but a lot it is because of his performances every season.

We’re at the point now where many finally believe that Mike Evans should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

And don’t worry Bucs fans, that’s not happening for a bit. The goal posts have been moved back even further as Evans enters a new conversation.

Kyle Brandt of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football went on a fascinating diatribe on the show during Wednesday morning in support of Mike Evans. He believes, like many, that Evans is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but Brandt is willing to go as far as to say Evans is the greatest Buccaneer of all time.

That’s some bold words, but he had a lot of reasoning to back it up.  Here’s a breakdown of his points.

Kyle Brandt Has Big Take About Mike Evans

“I think Mike Evans was a Hall of Famer a couple of years ago, I do,” Kyle Brandt began. “I think last season he became a first-ballot Hall of Famer another 1,000-yard season, another playoff run, and I have to come around to the take – here’s the take: Mike Evans is the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneer of all time. And I’m going to get into it, he is the one. We have over a decade now of dominance, durability, one of the best dudes in any locker room.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Brandt comes firing out of the gate saying that Mike Evans is the greatest Buc in the history of the franchise. He then continues to rattle off some of his best accomplishments.

“Now you have to split hairs with this a little bit between “best” Buc ever and “greatest” Buc ever,” Brandt said. “Has a Buccaneer ever been better for a given period of time? Maybe, but greatest, that term, I think it means ability, success and dominance over a long period of time. You as a football fan likely know the astounding stat of 10 straight years of 1,000 plus yards. Did you know though that in many of the years he played every single game and has never played fewer 13 games in a regular season? The durability of Mike Evans is incredible.

“In a matter of weeks, he’s going to catch his 100th touchdown. There are eight wide receivers in history to hit 100, every single one of them is in the Hall of Fame. Most of them first-ballot, or guys that should have been first-ballot like Terrell Owens and guys who will be in like Larry Fitzgerald.”

How Do Former Bucs Players Compare?

Naturally, it would make sense to start thinking of who else is in that conversation, which then takes everybody to Tampa Bay’s first Super Bowl-winning team that had Hall of Famers like Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Ronde Barber. Brandt addresses this.

“I’m aware that as soon as I say greatest Buccaneer ever, immediately you the fan think of four legends of Bucs past,” Brandt said. “I do too, trust me.” Brandt goes on to name the aforementioned Bucs.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Those guys are action figures to me, they are heroes.” he said. “I think each of those guys would openly admit that all of them being on the same team, in fact the same side of the ball, created and crafted their greatness and they played together through the greatest stretch of Bucs football, maybe the any defensive football ever played. That was a hell of a group, and they won a lot.”

This is the difference for Evans:

“Mike Evans went 2-14, still balled,” Brandt said. “He went 5-11, still balled. Next year went 5-11 again, still balled. In just over 10 seasons, Mike Evans has had four head coaches, six offensive coordinators, seven starting quarterbacks, and he’s been amazing and he’s been great in huge games. His first ever playoff game in 2020, had 119 yards. His most recent game against Detroit last year he had 147 yards and a touchdown. I think if you consider what current player on their current team is the greatest player in the history of their franchise, I think it’s Patrick Mahomes and Mike Evans.”

Another Milestone Season For Evans?

In summation, Brandt finished by saying “He is big, he is fast, he is tough as hell, he doesn’t get injured, he’s beloved in the locker room and the community and I think Mike Evans is the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneer of all time.”

Here’s the video with all of Brandt’s words.

There’s tons of great points made if one were to argue on behalf of Evans. Surely, Bucs fans will gather their own opinions on who they feel is the greatest Bucs player in team history.

Evans began the season with five receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns when the Bucs won the season opener. He’s four touchdowns away from 100 career receiving scores and another season of 1,000 yards would tie him with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history while also extending his record of most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons to begin a career.

He might be getting later into his NFL career, but Evans has tons to play for on top of the Bucs being a playoff contender.