Heading into the 2025 offseason, it’s clear that many of the Bucs’ obtrusive wants are on the defensive aspect of the ball. They should improve at exterior linebacker, in addition to inside linebacker. Rebuilding the secondary may very well be so as as effectively. They may stand so as to add some inside line of defense depth. Given the function that the protection performed in Tampa Bay’s shortcomings in 2024, change must be coming to each degree of that unit within the coming months.
However what concerning the offense? All the pieces is basically set for the Bucs on that aspect of the ball personnel-wise, however the crew should discover a substitute for offensive coordinator Liam Coen. But any drastic modifications to the offense would actually solely be on the teaching workers – not the gamers. Tampa Bay has its quarterback, backfield, offensive line and beginning vast receivers all set because the group seems to be to construct upon a unbelievable offensive season in 2024.
Bucs WR Ryan Miller – Photograph by: USA Right now
With that being mentioned, although, the Bucs must degree up their vast receiver depth this offseason. That depth was examined this 12 months and whereas the offense acquired by – largely as a result of genius of Coen and the play of Baker Mayfield and the offensive line – it’s exhausting to think about common supervisor Jason Licht leaving the vast receiving corps alone as he builds the 2025 crew.
Head coach Todd Bowles did mirror positively on the expansion of his depth vast receivers this 12 months, talking extremely of every of them on the most recent version of The Todd Bowles Present.
“A lot of growth,” Bowles mentioned. “I believed Trey [Palmer] was one among our higher blockers. With all of the velocity, all people thinks he’s only a downfield man, however he’s one among our higher blockers and most aggressive guys. Ryan [Miller] was our do-everything man. He can block, he can catch, he’s very clever. He can play all three positions. When he got here within the recreation, he was Johnny on the spot for us and he had a whole lot of manufacturing as effectively. It confirmed you his work from the apply squad has [paid] off.
“Rak [Jarrett], coming off of surgery, came in and made some big catches for us. He might be the toughest one out of all of them as far as getting down and dirty and as far as running routes. And [he] has outstanding hands. So, he made a big impact for us. Kam [Johnson], just gotta get healthy. We’ve got to get him healthy. He’s a very talented player, just got to get him healthy and consistent and I think he’s going to help us a great deal.”
Whereas all of that sounds nice and there may be some expertise to work with in that room, the purpose nonetheless stands. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin (assuming he’s re-signed, which Pewter Report has continued to report that he might be) and Jalen McMillan are an awesome trio atop the depth chart. The crew simply must discover a dependable WR4 and permit the remainder of this 12 months’s depth receivers to battle it out for the remaining spots on the roster.
Bucs Want A Extra Dependable WR4 – With One Eye Towards The Future
Bucs WR Sterling Shepard – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
As completely happy as Todd Bowles would possibly’ve been with the way in which a few of his depth receivers stepped up when Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and even rookie Jalen McMillan missed time as a result of damage in 2024, it by no means felt just like the offense actually had receiver depth it knew it may depend on.
It’d’ve been Trey Palmer one week, Ryan Miller the subsequent or Rakim Jarrett right here or there. As a rule, it was 31-year-old Sterling Shepard, who began the season on the apply squad.
Any variety of these guys may and ought to be again with the crew for offseason coaching, coaching camp and the 2025 preseason. However this assortment of receivers could also be higher fitted to the offense’s WR5 and WR6 roles. The Bucs’ WR4 in 2025 in all probability isn’t on the roster proper now, and they should go get him within the coming months.
The 2025 NFL Draft stands out as the proper avenue to focus on a brand new WR4, and as many wants as there are on protection, it would make good sense to pick a receiver earlier than Day 3. For one, if the crew decides to advertise go recreation coordinator Josh Grizzard he may proceed on with Coen’s offense, which options a whole lot of 11 personnel (three vast receivers).
Bucs WRs Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
That’ll usually be Evans, Godwin and McMillan. However having a younger fourth receiver able to step in could be a luxurious that would take the offense to the subsequent degree. It could even be security internet, because the trio of Evans, Godwin and McMillan missed a mixed 17 video games in 2024.
If you happen to’re Tampa Bay, it’s value maintaining a tally of the long run, too. Evans nonetheless reached 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns regardless of lacking three and a half video games this season, and Godwin was on his approach to among the finest campaigns of his profession earlier than struggling a season-ending damage in Week 7. However Evans might be 32 firstly of the 2025 season, and Godwin might be 29.
Having a promising rookie vast receiver may arrange succession plan within the coming years. McMillan completed his rookie marketing campaign robust and doesn’t flip 24 till December. Establishing the offense with two veterans in Evans and Godwin and two younger up-and-comers in McMillan and a 2025 draft choose atop the receiver depth chart must be an awfully intriguing thought as Jason Licht and his workers plan out their offseason.
