Getty The Buccaneers released former highly-touted safety Justin Evans.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are releasing safety Justin Evans after a disappointing start to his NFL career. Tampa Bay revealed the news on Wednesday, along with the signing of wide receiver Josh Pearson. The Buccaneers selected Evans in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the No. 50 overall pick.
Evans was a highly touted prospect coming out of Texas A&M and started for the Bucs during his first two seasons. The safety has not played since 2018 as he continues to deal with injuries and was waived after a failed physical. Last offseason, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht noted the team still had faith in Evans, but less than a year later the safety is no longer on the roster.
“We do and we think, if he gets healthy, at that point we’re going to have a hell of a competition there because Justin is an extremely talented guy,” Licht said at the NFL Draft on April 25, per Pewter Report. “We are not writing Justin off whatsoever.”
Pearson Put Up Strong Pre-Draft Testing Numbers
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Pearson is a physical receiver who put up strong numbers at Jacksonville State. The receiver’s athletic testing turned heads prior to the 2020 NFL Draft with a 4.45-second 40-yard-dash time along with a 41.5-inch vertical jump, as Rotoworld detailed.
Pearson measured in at 6’3 3/8, 205 lbs. while also posting impressive testing numbers. In addition to his 4.45 40-yard dash time Pearson also recorded a 41.5 inch vertical jump, which is just half-an-inch lower than the highest vertical recorded at the entire NFL Scouting Combine. His shuttle and broad jump were also in the top half of combine WR’s testing numbers as the FCS All-American enhanced his draft stock. Originally projected as a UDFA, Pearson may have launched himself into late Day 3 consideration.
Pearson had 67 receptions for 1,123 yards and 17 touchdowns at Jacksonville State in 2018. The Buccaneers have plenty of depth at receiver but have also been dealing with injuries throughout the season.
Tampa Bay has been high on the 23-year-old but released him earlier this week. The team was able to re-sign Pearson to the practice squad after he passed through waivers. Pearson revealed the Buccaneers were close to selecting him in the draft but ran out of picks.
“I got my phone call, it was literally, ten picks left in the draft,” Pearson told Tampa Bay’s ABC affiliate on May 12. “Tampa was out of picks. I had been talking to Tampa for 2-3 weeks already.”
Pearson Is a Self-Described ‘Deep Threat, Red Zone Guy’
After initially signing with the Bucs, Pearson described himself as a red zone threat. The challenge for Pearson is he finds himself on a deep roster with some of the NFL’s most talented receivers including Pro Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, flanked by four-time All-Pro Antonio Brown and emerging 2019 sixth-rounder Scotty Miller.
“I feel like I can be a deep threat, red zone guy,” Pearson explained to ABC. “I’m here to do whatever the team needs. I feel like, me being a big body, big receiver, I’ll probably have a lot of jump balls come my way.”
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