ESPN continues to give Bucs offensive players credit heading into this season.

After giving quarterback Baker Mayfield proper recognition, ESPN’s positional rankings after aggregating votes from NFL coaches, scouts, and executives slot future NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans at No. 9 at his position.

Although he will be turning 32 years old next month, Evans has maintained a stellar track record of production entering his 12th season as he looks to make history with another trademark 1,000-yard year.

Mike Evans May Be In His 30s, But He’s Shown No Signs Of Slowing Down

The top spots in ESPN’s wide receiver rankings went to a new generation of star players each making their names known.

Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Amon‑Ra St. Brown, Malik Nabers, and Nico Collins are each 26 years old or younger, while A.J. Brown is 28 years old and is primed to have more seasons of production. While younger star wideouts steal a lot of the headlines, Mike Evans was still given credit, and why shouldn’t he?

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

Evans’ track record of 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown seasons is as consistent as they come, and he has looked good as ever in recent seasons with Baker Mayfield throwing him the football. He remains a potent red-zone and third-down threat who regularly demands top defensive attention and draws double teams.

“If you’re trying to win one game or win on third down, you’re still picking him really high,” an NFL general manager said in explaining Evans ranking ninth. “He’ll decline eventually but I haven’t seen any signs of it. He’s still a beast.”

It took Evans until the last minute of the 2024 regular season to get his 1,000 yards, but he still reached the mark and finished the year with 74 receptions for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. While the long-running knock on “M1K3” is that he has never been considered the top wide receiver, he has shown for years that he is one of the best players at his position.

Mike Evans Is Looking To Make More History En Route To Hall Of Fame

What Mike Evans accomplishes this season will determine a lot about his legacy. Another 1,000-yard year would make 12 straight seasons reaching that plateau, and it would also mean passing legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons all-time.

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

Earlier this offseason, Rice shared that he will be rooting for Evans to make history.

“You know I’m pulling for you, right?” Rice told Evans during a short Lincoln promotional video.

“That means more to me than you could ever know. I appreciate that, OG,” Evans replied.

While the talk of hitting this milestone is great, it does him a bit of disservice for what he has already accomplished. Through 11 seasons, Evans has 836 receptions for 12,684 yards and 105 touchdowns. In the process, he has solidified himself as the best offensive player in franchise history.

How much more will he add to those numbers, though?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Well, another 1,000-yard year would see him climb from 24th in all-time receiving yards to 17th, while two more years at that number would see him enter the Top 10 at ninth. It is fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank, as 32 years old is when NFL wide receivers typically face a sharp decline. Evans’ skillset is different though, as he is a savvy route-runner who does not rely on speed to get open (being 6-foot-5, 231 pounds does not hurt, either).

Mike Evans’ star has yet to fade as he continues to be a timeless offensive force. ESPN’s placement of him as the ninth-best wide receiver in the NFL acknowledges his sustained excellence year after year. The debate should not be whether Evans belongs in the top 10, but for how long he can keep it that way.