Mike Evans' retirement is not a narrative that's been thrown around much.
But an ESPN NFL insider, Jeremy Fowler, brought it up on Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers future Hall of Famer will turn 32 in August.
Evans has had one of the most prolific careers in NFL history. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards in all 11 of his seasons.
Fowler brought up retirement in the context of Tampa Bay's succession plan.
The insider points to first-round pick Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State as the possible Evans heir.
Here's how Fowler put it: "The team's eventual pick at No. 19, receiver Emeka Egbuka, satisfies two areas: He was considered an A-plus prospect, and he helps curb concerns whenever Mike Evans decides to retire."
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Egbuka starred at Ohio State and is as pro-ready a prospect as there was in the draft.
In the near-term, he'll help provide depth alongside the oft-injured Chris Godwin.
And if the Buccaneers do things right, Egbuka will be ready for the No. 1 WR role in a few years.
In the meantime, he couldn't ask for a much better mentor.
Evans isn't retiring yet, and if he passes along all the lessons he's learned to Egbuka, it'll make the former Buckeyes star that much better.
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