CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Keenan Allen #13 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Dignity Health Sports Park on September 22, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Keenan Allen did not like his latest NFL ranking and Mike Evans fired back.
The NFL Network released its annual rankings of the Top 100 players across the league. In this year’s installment, Chargers wideout Keenan Allen came in at 77, a number with which he was not all too pleased.
Responding to a tweet from his own team, Keenan said the following,
Allen names three specific receivers, Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (by tagging the wrong Chris Godwin that is) that he feels are a step below himself. He concedes that he may not be as fast as his companions, but argues that his separation is the difference.
He isn’t wrong about speed, as his 4.71 40-yard-dash is well behind the others. But there is much more to the game than just speed. Regardless, Mike Evans heard Allen’s complaints and had a response to him.
Tyreek Hill chimed in too by retweeting both Evans’ and Allen’s comments, so it’s clear where he stands here.
The best way to settle this is to look at the stats. Allen has an extra year under his belt, but beginning in 2014 when Evans entered the league, the superior receiver has been clear. Evans has 7,260 receiving yards compared to Allen’s 5,359, with 46 touchdowns that easily surpass Allen’s 28.
Who is the better receiver: Mike Evans or Keenan Allen?
Evans unquestionably has the better career, but Allen had the superior season in 2019, catching over 30 more balls than Evans, but also receiving three extra games to do so. Evans’ yards per reception was still a whopping 17.3 compared to Allen’s 11.5
2020 should be a telling year for both parties, as Allen gets a new quarterback with high expectations in Justin Herbert. As for Evans, only one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time is coming down to Tampa Bay.
If Allen wants to prove he is better than Mike Evans, now he has the chance to do it.