Speaking with 'Pardon My Take' hosts Eric Sollenberger and Dan Katz during the 2024 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback Baker Mayfield candidly spoke on teammates Mike Evans and Lavonte David. He claimed that both stalwarts are worthy of the highest esteem in the NFL, transcending decades of play on the gridiron.
"If he [Evans] has an average year stats-wise for his records, he'll still be top 10 in touchdowns, and he is up there in yards," said Mayfield. "I mean, he has had 10 seasons in a row of over 1,000 yards. I mean, I know he has had some good quarterbacks but also, he has had a bunch of different ones. He is the consistent one and he does not get that recognition, like Lavonte David as well. He is another one of those guys in Tampa that gets no recognition. The dude is a Hall of Famer. He's unbelievable."
David nor Evans are the type of players to flaunt their own accomplishments, yet they have been the prototype of durability and consistency in the league throughout the duration of their respective careers in Tampa Bay. Both set the standard of excellence and have produced careers worthy of immortalization in Canton. Opposing teams have No.13 and No.54 circled every week in game planning for the Buccaneers – the ultimate sign of respect.
Evans has 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards to begin his career, the longest-such streak in NFL history. He has also accumulated 10 consecutive seasons with 60-plus receptions to begin his career, the longest-such streak in NFL history. Evans' 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards overall is the second-longest streak in NFL history. He is 1-of-4 players with 11,000-plus receiving yards and 90-plus touchdown receptions through 10 career seasons, joining a trio of Hall of Famers in Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice. Including 2023, he has five career seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-plus touchdown receptions – only Harrison (eight), Moss (eight), Terrell Owens (eight) and Rice (nine) have more. Evans is in an elite class, reserved for the greatest receivers in NFL annals.
Despite a revolving door at quarterback throughout his tenure, Evans has remained an effective cornerstone for the Bucs. He is a cheat code on back-shoulder fades and possesses the physicality to power through jams. Evans has highpoint skills to work over the top of defensive backs and routinely commands double teams when he is on the field.
David is another timeless wonder, still in peak form. In his 12th NFL season, David was the lone player in the NFL in 2023 with 100-plus tackles, 15-plus tackles for loss and 3.0-plus sacks. Since 2000, David's 10 seasons with 100-plus tackles are the third-most in the NFL, trailing only London Fletcher (14) and Bobby Wagner (11). David's 17 tackles for loss are the second-most in a single season by a player age 33 or older since data became available in 2008, trailing only J.J. Watt's 18 in 2022. Additionally, David's four career seasons with 100-plus tackles and 15-plus tackles for loss are the most in the NFL since tackle for loss data became available in 2008.
There is a silhouette of David in the Bucs' draft room for a reason. He is the epitome of what Tampa Bay's brass looks for each year in the draft process. David, one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL for the last decade, is a versatile chess piece. Whether covering tight ends over the middle of the field in man and zone, shedding linemen or blowing up a screen, David is adept. The instinctual linebacker quickly travels from Point-A to Point-B with effective pursuit and is the heart and soul of the Bucs' defense.
Evans and David never garner national attention but continue to rank not only atop leaderboards at their respective positions but across NFL archives. They are well-deserving of lavish praise and Mayfield advocated on their behalf.
