Let’s talk about Mike Evans, shall we?

The more exciting periods of the Bucs offseason are over with, as pre-draft scouting, free agency, the NFL Draft, OTAs and mini-camps are over. That means it’s time to settle in for what feels like the longest of waits before training camp gets underway in late July.

The dog days of the NFL offseason are all about storylines for the upcoming season. Media and fans alike spend the days of June and July passing the time with discourse surrounding all sorts of rankings, as well as the big stories that are bound to come up when the season begins in September.

So, with that in mind, the idea here is to narrow in on some of the Bucs’ biggest stars and go player-by-player to dive into the big storylines that are in store for the 2024 season. After starting with quarterback Baker Mayfield, we move forward today with legendary Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans.

Bucs Storylines: Mike Evans

Here are three big storylines surrounding Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans in 2024:

Can Mike Evans Extend His 1,000-Yard Season Streak To 11 And Tie Jerry Rice’s Record?

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

Mike Evans has been the model of consistency throughout his 10-year NFL career. From his rookie season in 2014 all the way through the 2023 season, he’s continued to put up big-time production for Tampa Bay. Of course, his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons is a favorite topic among Buccaneer fans – and for good reason.

Now, there’s a significant chance that as the 2024 season rolls on, Evans’ streak may become more of a national topic of conversation than it already is. After all, while he already has the record for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career (10), another such season in 2024 would mean even more.

While Evans has the longest 1,000-yard season streak to begin a career, he is still chasing the all-time NFL record for consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons at any point in a career. Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice holds that record, having recorded 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons from 1986 to 1996. So, if Evans can cross that threshold again in 2024, he’ll tie Rice’s record and set himself up with a chance to break the league record if he has a 12th straight season with 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2025.

While health will always be the big factor in Evans keeping his streak alive, betting against him getting 1,000-yard campaign would be foolish. Even entering his age-31 season, the 2014 first-round pick is the driving force behind the Bucs offense. He’ll be Baker Mayfield’s No. 1 option and will certainly have the volume of targets needed to have another massive season.

No. 13 is coming off one of the better seasons of his career at age 30, posting 1,255 yards – his most since 2018 – and bringing in 13 touchdowns. Tying Rice’s record would certainly mean a lot to Evans, and it would strengthen an already-strong Hall of Fame case for the five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl LV champion.

How High Can Mike Evans Climb Among The NFL’s All-Time Receiving Touchdown Leaders?

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Speaking of Mike Evans’ Hall of Fame case, he can continue to bolster it in 2024 in more ways than one. Tying Jerry Rice’s consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season streak would certainly help, but there’s also the fact that the Bucs’ star receiver is closing in on being in the top-10 for receiving touchdowns in NFL history. With 94 receiving touchdowns in his career, Evans currently ranks 13th all-time. While he does trail another active player in Las Vegas’ Davante Adams (95) for 12th, he’s only six away from the top 10.

Six touchdown receptions in 2024 would bring Evans’ total to 100, which would tie him with Tim Brown and Steve Largent for ninth-most all-time. A six-touchdown season is certainly doable for the Bucs’ all-time touchdowns leader, as he hasn’t finished with fewer than six receiving touchdowns in a season since 2017.

In fact, he’s reached double-digits in three of the last four seasons, with a franchise-record 13 in 2020, a new franchise-record 14 in 2021 and another 13 last season. His lowest total in the last four seasons was six, which is what he finished with in 2022. If Evans reaches the end zone, say, 10 times in 2024, he’ll have 104 and sit alone in ninth-place all-time. That would set him up to potentially pass Tony Gonzalez (111) for eighth on the all-time leaderboard in 2025. With two double-digit receiving touchdown seasons in the next two years, he could even pass Antonio Gates (116) for seventh.

But before we get too far ahead of things, back to 2024. Entering the Top 10 with six receiving touchdowns would be a significant milestone both for the milestone itself and considering what it would mean. Everyone in the Top 10 either is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, or in the cases of Gates and Larry Fitzgerald, will eventually get their place in Canton. Evans would surely join that group in the not-too-distant future.

Will There Be Any Signs Of Slowing Down For Mike Evans In Year 11?

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

Mike Evans has to slow down at some point, right? Doesn’t Father Time catch up with everyone eventually? This is another thing that would seem foolish to bet on in 2024 because he showed zero signs of a drop-off in his age-30 season. In fact, he put together one of his better seasons in his first year playing with Baker Mayfield and both of them re-signed with the Bucs this offseason.

Evans seems well equipped to handle the rigors of being a receiver past the age of 30, as he takes care of his body very well and outside of the annual hamstring flare-up in training camp, he’s done an outstanding job of staying healthy over the years.

But with all of that said, it’s natural to wonder whether Evans will soon be entering the twilight of his exceptional career. He turned a phenomenal contract year in 2023 into a two-year deal to remain a Buc this offseason. That contract covers his age-31 and age-32 seasons, then it’ll be up to both him and the Bucs as far as what to do from there. The career Buccaneer has made it clear that he truly does want to be a Buc for life, so going year-to-year with one-year contracts the way Lavonte David has may be the way forward after 2025.

As for 2024, Evans will look to continue doing what he’s always done for Tampa Bay: racking up 100-yard games, barreling toward another 1,000-yard season and finding the end zone somewhere between eight and 13 times. He’s part of what looks like a strong receiving corps, one he’ll once again lead with Chris Godwin while second-year speedster Trey Palmer and 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan round out the top four.

And much as Bucs fans don’t want to think about it, Evans won’t be on the field forever. So as much as the numbers can continue to cement his legacy, there’s no doubt his main goal for Year 11 will be making a run at Super Bowl ring No. 2.