NFL Record Holder Compared Nico Collins to a Five-Time All-Pro WR

After completing back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is earning the respect of his peers.

Mike Evans, the NFL record holder for most 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career, has seen a lot of wide receivers in 11 seasons. Therefore, it’s a big deal when he includes Collins among the young receivers he admires.

However, he puts the former Michigan standout in high regard by comparing him to an elite wideout who led the league in receiving yards twice. As Fox Sports’ Greg Auman wrote, Evans named Nico Collins, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Drake London as his favorite young receivers.

When Evans was asked why he loved Collins’ game, the Super Bowl LV champion said, “He’s kind of like a mix of me and Julio Jones. He’s 6-4, 6-5, but he can run up and catch like Julio, and he has muscles like Julio. He has the length like me. I love Nico’s game.”

That’s a lofty comparison because Jones isn’t a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team by accident. In addition to seven Pro Bowl selections, Jones has five All-Pro nods from 2015 to 2019. During that time frame, the Alabama alum surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, including a dominant 2015 showcase in which he led the league in receptions (136) and receiving yards (1,871).

Upon his official retirement last April, Jones ranked 16^th in the all-time receiving yards list with 13,703. Most of those yards came with the Atlanta Falcons, the team he represented for 10 seasons.

While Nico Collins must play more football to match Jones’ career credentials, he does have as many 1,000-yard seasons as Jones (2) in their first four seasons.