Buccaneers Star Mike Evans Reveals Which Young NFL WR Reminds Him Of ‘a Mix of Me and Julio Jones’

Mike Evans got attention recently as he said he might be retired before having a chance to play in the 2028 Olympics, but he knows there’s a fantastic group of young receivers that will succeed him. With the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, Evans had someone else in mind as he compared this receiver to a mix of himself and Julio Jones.

Evans Has High Praise for Nico Collins

At 26 years old, Nico Collins is already behind Evans’ pace of recording 1,000+ receiving yards each season. After recording just 927 yards in his first two seasons, Collins put up 1,297 in 2023 and followed that up with 1,006 last season. Evans finished two yards behind Collins in 2024, as he did enough to break Jerry Rice’s receiving record.

Evans put Chase, Jefferson, Collins, and even Drake London in the same category. He responded to what he likes most about Collins, “He’s kind of like a mix of me and Julio Jones. He’s 6-4, 6-5, but he can run up and catch like Julio and he has muscles like Julio. He has the length like me. I love Nico’s game.”

At 6’4” 222 pounds, Collins has found himself a home in Houston. The 26-year-old signed a three-year, $72.75 million extension in May 2024. With Evans nearing the end of his career, Collins is just getting started. The Michigan graduate has become a favorite target of C.J. Stroud, who also has the likes of Christian Kirk and Tank Dell to throw to.

Collins is similar in stature to Jones, who played with Evans on the Bucs in 2022. The seven-time Pro Bowler set the standard for NFL wide receivers as he broke into the league in 2011. With close to 14,000 career receiving yards, Evans put Collins in elite status that he hopes to live up to eventually.

Evans also mentioned Brian Thomas, Malik Nabers, A.J. Brown, and Bucs rookie Emeke Egbuka. With all of this talent in the NFL, it’s safe to say that the league will still be in good hands if or when Evans retires before the 2028 Olympics.

Buccaneers’ Mike Evans: “This might be the best receiving room I’ve been a part of”https://t.co/YwYmh9BZXt pic.twitter.com/EfnyKtECAW

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 13, 2025

Looking ahead to the Bucs’ 2025 season, Tampa Bay will head to Houston on Monday, September 15, for a week two Monday Night Football showdown. The Buccaneers have their first two games on the road, before hosting the New York Jets in week three. They’ll begin their season with a battle against London and their divisional rival, the Atlanta Falcons.

As for the Texans, Collins and crew start their season in Los Angeles against the Rams. After winning the AFC South last season, the Texans’ home matchup against the Bucs is less than a week before they begin divisional play on the road, in Jacksonville.