Fascinating WR Battle More Interesting

August 18th, 2018

Strong game by rookie.

Earlier this week, Joe wrote how the Bucs have a fascinating wide receiver battle on their hands.

It may have gotten more interesting Saturday night.

In the Bucs’30-14 win over the Titans in the second preseason game, rookie wide receiver Justin Watson sure made a case to be kept. The fifth-round draft pick led the team with Saturday with four catches, for 54 yards, and a helluva touchdown catch.

In the second quarter, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, found Watson open along the right sideline in the end zone and Watson looked like a combination of Adam Humphries with the catch and Mike Evans with the pretty footwork to make sure he didn’t stumble out of bounds.

So now what do the Bucs do? Will the Bucs keep six roster spots for a wide receiver with Freddie Martino or Watson as the final two spots? It seems unlikely Watson would clear waivers to be placed on the practice squad. Would Bobo Wilson clear waivers? Would Bernard Reedy?

This fascinates Joe and probably, the guy who plays the best special teams will make the roster.

Given how the Bucs might need an extra offensive lineman and a cornerback the way those guys are dropping like flies, might a trade be in the works using the Bucs’ crazy depth at receiver?

35 Responses to “Fascinating WR Battle More Interesting”

  1. Skipper Says:

    Watson is a lock.

  2. Red86 Says:

    Freddie Martino can be cut. Watson flashed really well tonight.

  3. BigPoppaBuc Says:

    Agreed, Skipper. The battle is between Martino anD Wilson. Something tells me the edge goes to Martino. I also think we see D-Jax returning kicks come regular season.

  4. Owlykat Says:

    The Bucs better not trade away Watson or put him on the practice squad and lose him. He is definitely a keeper and is great on Special Teams too. Licht deserves big kudos for drafting Watson. Trade away Reedy if you like. We need to keep Watson and Bobo.

  5. Blackmagic00 Says:

    This is something we only dreamed of when we were fielding the glass….err… I mean white tiger Galloway and the bandit of hopefuls back in the day. Love it!!!!

  6. Pa Privateer Says:

    Watson and Bobo Wilson to the 53, with Bailey to the PS.

    Martino, Reedy and company can be cut.

    Not an easy choice, but we have seen the ceilings of Martino and Reedy. Let’s move on to see the kids play and grow.

  7. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    Bailey impresses the shi! out of me too though..I think we are double-stacked at WR!!

    But Watson?? Wow…plays like a veteran..and has a Bod of a God too…

    This lady will take him on and off the field..lol..

  8. Cobraboy Says:

    Watson looked like a polished veteran tonight.

  9. David Says:

    I was able to watch Waston in a Open Practice for the fans last Saturday at One Buc Place, reminds me of another tall smooth WR who played for the Bucs in 2002 for CHUCKY Gruden, Joe Jeravisis. Plus Waston’s Smart. How do I know? Because Waston went to the same Business School as Pres. Trump at The Univ. of Penn., The Walton School of Finance, and once interned at Gorman Sacks for a summer. Just a rich White Kid who call big time ball. Make the team? You bet he does folks! Also Played in the East West Shrine Game in Jan. at Trop. Field. Too. David Corcoran, Winter Park, Florida.

  10. Cobraboy Says:

    Bailey > Bobo

  11. DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:

    Though I couldn’t see the game that td by Watson was spectacular, not just the way he caught the ball but how He shielded the defender with his body. Very veteran move right there by the young man. That’s how you show up in a game! Catching a td from Americas Game Changing QB Jameis Winston! Last week’s fumble is all forgiven! This young man has to make the team, Marino and Bobo have not flashed that much in 2 seasons! He keeps it up he’ll have to be called WattsOn he’ll be electric!!!

  12. SOEbuc Says:

    Watson has such huge hands and physical abilities I don’t know how he could not make it. Little more time down the road and he could be great. Could be Cam Brate (Ivy League) WR. And this guy Bailey II has done nothing but ball in camp. Certainly better than Martino, Reedy, and BoBo. Numbers 5 and 6. “Build through the draft.”-JL. Have to cut DJax no matter what next year cus we aren’t going to sign him for a long, big contract in 2020 if we have to pay a ton of young guys top dollar to stay next year.

  13. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Watson will be the 5th.

    The 6th will be a battle between Reedy, Bobo, Martino and Baily.

    Reedy and Bobo will be cut, unless one wins the return job. Martino is the favorite, since he produces and Winston likes him.

    But Baily is becoming a wild card!

  14. SOEbuc Says:

    David

    Good call. I didn’t realize it till now, but Watson does give off a nice Jeravicous look. Nice.

  15. webster Says:

    @ david

    The difference between trump and watson is watson actually went to class. There is no way anyone that attended penn for 4 years and in your vocabulary is the word bigly among other things ie multiple mispellings in tweets etc.

  16. webster Says:

    @ david

    I said the “T” word in my comment so it did not come through. So i will write it again without the “T” word. Yes the pres and watson may have gone to the same school but only one went to class. You could not attend penn for 4 years and part of your vocabulary is the word bigly or have the multiple spelling errors on twitter.

  17. America’s turnover machine Says:

    Off topic, I kinda hope marko Myers makes the roster. Really nice guy and has ton of football knowledge. Just makes the rookie mistakes

  18. Red86 Says:

    We are so deep at Wrs. Evan and Jackson can sub out for a break while Godwin and Watson can play the outside with Hump stay in the slot. Wow the combos are great.

  19. unbelievable Says:

    Watson should be the #5, bobo martini and Reed battle for the #6

  20. Knoxville Buc Fan Says:

    Should also be a fascinating battle at Qb for the 1st 3 games of the season. I’ve thought this for weeks now, what if Griffin looks better than Fitz in preseason , does Koetter stay with the bearded one? Contrary to most of the JW haters that appear on here daily that want him gone, i don’t and I see a huge difference in Winston this year. Minus the one bone headed touchdown, he looks razor sharp! However if something bad should go down and JW is gone after this season I could see Griffin slinging the ball for years to these very talented receivers for many years. Watson included. No way you let this kid walk.

  21. Defense Rules Says:

    Watson definitely is a keeper. What’s interesting about the WR group is that our cup runneth over there, and yet in some other offensive position groups (RB, OLine?) we don’t have nearly the quality depth that we need. Maybe something’s wrong with our drafting priorities? Pretty much the same thing with our defense IMO. We had to go out and buy a DLine (3 FAs in 1 off-season?) because we gave it no drafting priority for years. Same thing with our Secondary. We had to use 3 draft picks in 1 year to fill our holes. Sorry, but that says a lot to me about how NOT to build a team. If you’re constantly reacting to the previous year’s starting weaknesses year-after-year instead of drafting to build depth & future starters then something’s wrong. Our near-constant string of losing seasons pretty much testifies to that. Or we could blame the coaches as always.

  22. FairMinded Says:

    Watson looked great but one game ain’t enough to cement him as #4 or 5. Good game…do it again rook!

  23. Pickgrin Says:

    Watson definitely cemented his spot on the 53 with tonight’s performance.

    Bucs need to shut this Bailey kid down now if they have any hope of trying to slip him onto the practice squad.

  24. King C Says:

    Looks like it was a mistake drafting OJ Howard n signing Desean Jackson over getting help at DE OT CB.

  25. m0j0 Says:

    Watson is a lock as the #5, and it looks like Bailey might be in the cat birds seat at #6, unless Bobo can do something spectacular in the next few games. Martino will get cut unless one of those 3 get injured.

  26. Buccfan37 Says:

    Agree with Defense Rules that the Bucs are generally in the patching holes routine every year.

  27. Bucamania Says:

    Watson needs to stick. Great on ST too. No one is going to jump on Reedy or Martino. Hell I’d keep Sergio Bailey before those two.

  28. AJ Says:

    Don’t recall ever being this deep at receiver spot. Maybe the ’02 squad w Key, McCardell, Truth and Jurevicius. But to think we are looking at 5, 6, 7 spots as hard decisions. Man that is a good problem to have.

  29. TOM Says:

    Watson should be a lock. The last spot will be between Bobo & Sergio. Toss up, although Sergio might have a slight edge at this point. Number of canidates left over for PS including Martino.

  30. ben Says:

    Watson looks he part, and boy was that a great catch. It should be really interesting to see him in these last two games. If we end up with him being the 5th guy, and a possible 6th being someone like Bobo, we will have a very solid WR corps, especially when you consider Howard and Brate as essentially additionaly WRs, because they can definitely stretch the field.

  31. gilhealy Says:

    Unless he gets hurt, it’s Bailey’s job to lose at

    Unless he gets hurt, it’s Bailey’s job to lose for #6.

    Evans, Jackpot, Godwin, Watson, Hump, Bailey.

    Bobo, Martino PS.

  32. gilhealy Says:

    Actually, Bailey, then Hump. And if I had my choice, I’d keep Martino ove Hump. Humps been good, but the honeymoom’s over. Talent takes over.

  33. gilhealy Says:

    Jameis loves Martino. The guy catches everthing thrown his way.

    Unless he gets hurt, it’s Bailey’s job to lose for #6.

    Evans, Jackpot, Godwin, Watson, Hump, Bailey.

    Bobo, Martino PS.

  34. David Says:

    I been watching The WWE SummerSlam PPV tonight. Gald I paid my $19.99, real action tonight, unlike all of you TROLLS who have to pay Reg. season $$$💰for 3rd rate Football at the RJ for preseason games. And to all the HATERS talking about me and my Hero TRUMP, He said he went to The Walton School of Finance for over 30 yrs. now! Remember that folks. Monday’s best bet, Take Cleavland (Kluber on the mound) vs. the Red Sox at Boston. +110 or + 105 sounds good to me, Thanks. David Corcoran, Winter Park, Florida.

  35. Buxfan Says:

    If it did matter. Which it don’t. Jameis favorite would a fellow FSU alum Bobo. And as he would put it, (the next Antonio Brown).