18. Buccaneers WR Mark Carrier – 1987-1992

By Mark Cook

Carrier wasn’t the biggest or fastest receiver to ever put on a Bucs uniform, but he was one of the quickest and shiftiest to ever play in Tampa Bay. A 1987 third-round pick of out of Nicholls State, most Bucs fans at the time had no idea who Carrier was after being drafted by the Bucs. It didn’t take long for them to find out, as he was a Pro Bowl receiver in his third season, after nabbing 86 passes for 1,422 yards and nine scores.

Carrier finished his career in Tampa Bay as the team’s second leading receiver behind James Wilder, notching 321 receptions. Carrier is still the team’s leader in career yards with 5,018. After six seasons in Tampa Bay, Carrier went onto play six more years in the NFL with the Browns and the expansion Panthers where he later became Carolina’s Director of Player development.

Carrier was blessed with great hands, ability to concentrate and the talent to make things happen after the catch.

Cook’s Take: “Carrier was a player who probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves as he played on some terrible teams, first under Ray Perkins and then Richard Williamson. But make no mistake he was one of the most talented guys in team history and was a standout route runner. In 1987 he and Vinny Testaverde began a great chemistry in Testaverde’s first NFL start when Carrier had a team record 212 yards receiving. Carrier was uncoverable that evening in New Orleans. I only wish he had played on some better team’s where he could have gotten the recognition he deserved.”