Reaction to Justin Evans Round 2 Selection (50 Overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Justin Evans was the second Aggie off the board in the 2017 NFL Draft. Fans and the national media sounded off, showing their support for the pick.
Myles Garrett was a shoe-in to be the first Texas A&M Aggie off the board in the 2017 NFL Draft. Evans, according to many mock drafts, was expected to be the second. Those expectations came to fruiting during the second round when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Evans with the 50th pick.
His teammates, coaches, fans and the media sounded off on his selection.
"One of the hardest hitters in this year's #NFLDraft"
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 29, 2017
WATCH Justin Evans Draft Profile >> https://t.co/5nkGTqGoPp pic.twitter.com/KZy4QLZcxI
The national media had high praise for Justin Evans
https://twitter.com/RBobbyH/status/858118456453074944
New Bucs safety Justin Evans ranked 3rd in the nation last season w/ a 90.2 coverage grade. He also ranked 3rd w/ 23 MTs. Very boom or bust.
— Vinnie Ronca (@VinnieRonca) April 29, 2017
Texas A&M safety Justin Evans goes to the Buccaneers with the 50th pick. #NFLDraft
— PFF (@PFF) April 29, 2017
Profile: https://t.co/psXEj64AKD pic.twitter.com/WVeZ6wnbwW
Aggie players and staff sounded off, showing their support for the hard-hitting safety:
Couldn't be happier for @kingjayev !! Bigtime Baller that joins another aggie @MikeEvans13_ ! #Gigem #STPlaymaker pic.twitter.com/75jp8eU1mG
— Jeff Banks (@CoachJeffBanks) April 29, 2017
Too many DBs before Justin Evans
— Tra Carson (@PlutoCarson) April 28, 2017
JAAAAAAAAAY! @kingjayev proud of you brotha
— Armani Watts (@ArmaniWatts23) April 29, 2017
@kingjayev in Tampa w/@MikeEvans13_ and @Dee_Sky_Walker Aggies are taking over Tampa Bay & I can't forget my boy @csims34 I'm a new bucs fan
— Clarence McKinney (@CoachMckinney3) April 29, 2017
Yessir!!! @kingjayev to the @TBBuccaneers. Time to go to work! #gigem #NFLAggies
— Texas A&M Equipment (@TAMUequipment) April 29, 2017
Congrats to @kingjayev, the newest member of the @TBBuccaneers #12thMan #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/96ELb4G5oP
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) April 29, 2017
Fansided’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ site Pewter Plank saw a lot of reaction to the selection. Some was good, some wasn’t.
Solid choice. Will work out well if he can work on his angles.
— Elliot™️ (@ElliotEscudos) April 29, 2017
I don't know him...but in @jasonrlicht i trust!!!
— Luis Araiza ✌🏼 (@louisaraizav) April 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/bucngatorbolt/status/858119224169988096
Not a fan of this pick, like Josh Jones & Obi better at this position. Hope he proves me wrong. pick a CB or a WR instead
— Milton Carroll (@Milt48NtheO) April 29, 2017
Should've taken Vols Rb
— Jason Lindsey (@jayrox81) April 29, 2017
Evans will have a shot to start from day one. He’ll make some highlight reel plays and earn himself some love from his new fan base. The Bucs defense could use some improvement. Their new safety is going to make sure opposing pass catchers are aware that Tampa Bay can lay the wood.
Next: Texas A&M NFL Draft Live Tracker
The Pewter Plank summed up Evans’ selection like this:
"Hopefully Evans is as good as Licht, Dirk Koetter, and Mike Smith believe he is or will be. The Bucs desperately need safety help so a swing and miss here could cost the team in a big way – especially with the offensive improvements we’ve seen out of Carolina and New Orleans."
Good luck Evans. Go make some plays and prove the doubters wrong.