This afternoon, long-time Buffalo Bills wide receiver, Lee Evans, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a fourth round draft pick. Evans was a fan favorite in Orchard Park, and Bills’ fans and players alike are taking to Twitter to express their disappointment in the move. Evans was selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, but the 30-year-old wide receiver hasn’t exactly been an all-star during his tenure in Buffalo.
Yes, he did have two seasons of recording over 1,000 receiving yards, but his last was in 2008. He’s never caught more than 82 passes in a season – which he did in 2006 – and he never recorded a ten touchdown season. Furthermore, he has taken a backseat to the up-and-coming Bills wide out, Stevie Johnson. After coming off of the worst statistical season of his seven year career, catching just 37 passes for 578 yards and scoring just four touchdowns, Evans suddenly became expendable.
The Bills have a lot of depth at the wide receiver position with former undrafted rookie free agent, David Nelson, coming off of a promising year in which he caught 31 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns while seeing limited playing time. Roscoe Parrish was having one of the best seasons of his career, making 33 receptions for 400 yards and scoring twice since Coach Chan Gailey finally unleashed him from the dog house and found a niche for the slot receiver.
You can’t write off Marcus Easley either, who missed his entire 2010 rookie season with an injury. Easley is a big, physical target, and if he can get it together and stay healthy, he can become a strong possession receiver in the Bills’ offense. Also on the loaded wide receiver depth chart are Donald Jones and Namaan Roosevelt. Sports Illustrated’s own Peter King traveled to the Bills’ training camp and reportedly was very impressed with what he saw from Jones and believes he is a fantasy football sleeper this year.
Overall, I loved Lee Evans, and he epitomized the kind of athlete the city of Buffalo loves. He kept his mouth shut, didn’t ever call out any of his horrendous quarterbacks, and never publicly demanded new contracts or trades.
He will be a nice fit for young Joe Flacco now that his favorite weapons, Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, are gone. Evans never was and never will be a true No. 1 receiver, but playing with Anquan Boldin along with the strong rushing attack and defense that the Ravens have will allow him to live up to his full potential.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
