The 2024 Pro Bowl voting was held, and one Bucks player was selected to the first team. Wide receiver Mike Evans had one of the team’s best seasons in the past five years. He currently ranks 11th in the NFC in receptions with 76, seventh in receiving yards with 1,233, and leads the NFL in touchdown catches with 13.
Evans joins starters Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Philadelphia’s AJ Brown and Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua as NFC representatives in the receiver room.
This is Evans’ fifth Pro Bowl selection. He was previously elected in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021. This means he made the Pro Bowl in half of his professional seasons.
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Among his Pro Bowl seasons, he finished third in catches, third in yards, and first in touchdowns in 2023. He still has one more game to add to those totals. The Bucs’ all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns extended his own record. Achieved 1,000 yards receiving for 10 consecutive seasons.
This selection helps strengthen Evans’ Hall of Fame eligibility. He has 759 catches for 11,658 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career. They rank 45th, 33rd and t-12th all-time in the NFL. Add in a Super Bowl ring from the 2020 season and back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and Evans now appears to be a key to the Hall.
Others who missed their chance
Some other Bucs players who deserved consideration but didn’t make the first team were left tackle Tristan Wirfs, nose tackle Vita Vea, and especially safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Winfield and Wirfs were both named first alternates, and Via was named fifth alternate. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was also named as the third alternate.
Bucs FS Antwan Winfield Jr. and OLB Marquise Watts – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Winfield is the Bucks’ worst despiser. Jesse Bates III (Falcons), Budda Baker (Cardinals) and Julian Love (Seahawks) were all voted into the roster. Outside of Bates, Winfield’s 2023 resume is overall better than that group. He had 117 total tackles, including 5 for loss, 5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 12 passes defensed, and 3 interceptions. Winfield isn’t just having a Pro Bowl season. He’s having a really special season for the safety so far.
For comparison, below are the safety histories of three of Winfield’s selections.
Bates: 128 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 6 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, 1 touchdown.
Baker: 77 tackles, 5 tackles for loss.
Love: 116 tackles, 1 loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 interceptions, 7 passes defended.
Arizona’s Budda Baker made the Pro Bowl as an NFC safety ahead of Antoine Winfield.
Baker: 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 sacks.
Winfield: 3 INT, 5 FF, 4 FR, 5 sacks— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 4, 2024
Calculate how this adds up.
Bucks ILB Labonte David – Photo Credit: USA Today
Lavonte David, the Bucks’ future Ring of Honor candidate, was once again left out of the alternate selection. In his illustrious 12-year career, David has only appeared in the Pro Bowl once (2015). Although he was 12th all-time in tackles (1,031) and 31st in forced fumbles (28), he was not selected to the Pro Bowl, so once David retires, he will be given a rightful place in the Hall of Fame. is likely to be difficult. eternally.
If the Bucs don’t make it to the Super Bowl, many of the alternates will be selected, and even David will likely be added to the roster, as opt-outs have been common in Pro Bowl selections in recent years. Many players drop out due to several factors. It used to be that they were on Super Bowl teams or due to injuries, but these days it’s just that players are choosing to start their offseasons early. Because of this, the NFL had to do a thorough search to find enough replacements. This was interrupted last year when the Ravens’ Tyler Huntley was a backup despite having only 112 pass attempts on the season.
of Pro Bowl is scheduled Held on February 4th in Orlando, Florida.
