As the Bucs learned the hard way last season, depth is very important at every position. It’s almost impossible to have great depth at every spot, that’s just the nature of the game, but knowing what makes a team work best goes a long way with consistently keeping it in the mix for a title.
We all know that if the Bucs want to compete for another Super Bowl, changes must be made on the defensive side with personnel. There could be a new starter at safety next to Antoine Winfield Jr, at cornerback on the opposite side of Zyon McCollum, potentially two new starters at inside linebacker, and a new outside linebacker opposite Yaya Diaby.
But with all of that said, offense still dictates a lot of what needs to be done in today’s NFL. The Bucs have been fortunate to have great offensive talent in recent years, though they can’t let that slip away by putting blinders on because of the struggles of the defensive side of the ball. Despite the recent news about the Bucs and wide receiver Chris Godwin agreeing to push back the date of when his contract is set to void, that shouldn’t preclude the Bucs from continuing to add at the receiver position.
Bucs Should Consider Adding A WR Early Even If Godwin Is Back
It was great news on Tuesday night when it was reported by Greg Auman of Fox Sports that Chris Godwin’s contract void date had been pushed back to March. The Bucs certainly aren’t going to franchise tag him, but it very much opens the door for Tampa Bay to sign Godwin to extension, which would save them cap room and also keep him with the Bucs for multiple seasons instead of him hitting free agency.
That would ensure the duo of Mike Evans and Godwin plays together for at least one more season as Jalen McMillan continues to build off an impressive rookie season. The fact of the matter, though, is that Evans will be 32 at the start of the season and on the last year of his deal, while Godwin turns 29 at the end of next week.
Bucs WRs Sterling Shepard and Chris Godwin and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today
Projections by Pewter Report’s own Josh Queipo has Godwin signing a three-year deal. We don’t know how long Evans will continue to keep playing, or even playing at high level. But do the Bucs want to head into 2026 without Evans, a 30-year old Godwin and McMillan with no assurances behind them?
On paper, Godwin and McMillan aren’t a bad 1-2 combination in the event that Evans decides to retire after this season. McMillan took awhile to going, but his streak of seven touchdowns in five games to end the season puts him in a great spot in year two.
That’s a good start, but Tampa Bay will need more weapons for Baker Mayfield to throw to. Even with Evans, Godwin and McMillan, that shouldn’t stop the Bucs from selecting a wide receiver – even with their first-round pick or a second-round pick on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Since Jason Licht took over as the Bucs general manager in 2014, he has only drafted one wide receiver in the first round. That was his first ever draft pick, which was Mike Evans, at No. 7 overall. Licht has never drafted a wide receiver in the second round with Tampa Bay, and his only third-round picks at receiver have been Godwin and McMillan.
Bucs TE Payne Durham and WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
Tampa Bay has still drafted wide receivers throughout the years, but they’ve been in the fourth round and on. Some of these players have had an impact on the team in one way or another. Justin Watson, a fifth-round pick in 2018 was an important special teams player for Tampa Bay and was on the Super Bowl-winning team in 2020. Scotty Miller, a sixth-rounder in 2019, had one of the biggest plays in team history with his touchdown in the 2020 NFC championship game and also won a championship with the Bucs.
But as far as sustainable, long-term starters for the Bucs, there haven’t been many due to the success that Evans and Godwin have had in Tampa Bay. Given the state of the team, though, and the age of his best two wide receivers, this draft feels like the time to take a shot at another impact receiver.
Sure, the Bucs could wait and do this in the daft next year. Yet one could argue that it might be best to get ahead of the situation. McMillan is an example that sometimes it takes more time to adjust and develop. If the Bucs are out in front of the receiver position instead of waiting for Evans to retire or Godwin to eventually retire or move on, they’ll have a chance at having a top talent with a season or two of experience ready to go. Having three quality receivers all under contract, with two on rookie deals could be very beneficial to Tampa Bay moving forward.
WRs Linked To Bucs In Mock Draft
Missouri WR Luther Burden III – Photo by: USA Today
Is there even a possibility that a quality receiver is the right choice for the Bucs at pick No. 19? Mock drafts are dropping left and right at the moment as draft coverage ramps up.
Daniel Jeremiah, an analyst for NFL.com, is held in high regard when it comes to his mock drafts. He dropped his second mock draft had has the Bucs taking Arizona wide receiver Tetaiora McMillan with their first round pick. This is what he said:
“McMillan could go earlier in Round 1, but Tampa Bay would be a perfect landing spot. Chris Godwin is due to become a free agent, and Mike Evans can’t play forever, can he?”
Another mock draft on NFL.com from Eric Edholm sees Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden as a possibility for Tampa Bay in the first round. Here was his response about it:
“If the Bucs move on from impending free agent Chris Godwin, they’ll likely want to add a little more firepower at receiver. Golden essentially can play the Godwin role.”
Each of these ideas are predicated on Godwin not coming back, and Missouri’s Luther Burden III is another first-round receiver that has been linked to the Bucs in the first round. But even if Godwin returns, that shouldn’t stop the Bucs from going after another wide receiver and building that talent despite their needs on defense. There’s plenty of available talent in free agency and the other rounds in the draft to get that accomplished.
