A Second-Tier Evaluation For Bucs’ Receiving Corps
June 4th, 2023
The Bucs used to have an elite receiving corps and Joe thinks they still could in 2023, even with Breshad Perriman about to sign with the Colts, Scotty Miller in Atlanta and Antonio Brown gearing up for his next legal battle.
(For those wondering, Cyril Grayson spent a week on the Browns practice squad last season and is now a backup in the USFL.)
It’s fair to say the Bucs’ depth at receiver now is questionable. And that’s what kept them off one plugged in former coach and personnel executive list of top-5 receiving corps. Pat Kirwan, the former Jets honcho, linebackers coach and Bucs scout, ranked the Bucs as the No. 7 receiving corps in the league this season.
Here was Kirwan’s order, as shared on his SiriusXM NFL Radio show last week.
No. 1 — Bengals
No. 2 — Chargers
No. 3 — Eagles
No. 4 — Dolphins
No. 5 — Raiders
No. 6 — Jets
No. 7 — Bucs
No. 8 — Cowboys
Joe can’t argue too much with Kirwan, but the ranking is a little low for Joe’s taste.
Joe agrees with former Pro Bowl receiver Ed McCaffrey, Christian’s dad. He spelled out that Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are a top-3 or a top-4 receiver tandem in the league. So it’s hard for Joe to believe Russell Gage and whoever the Bucs use as Nos. 4 and 5 receivers will drag the unit all the way down to a No. 7 ranking. But Joe could see that.
Gage, despite 50-plus catches and 5 touchdowns last season, is a question mark because of his current and past injuries.
June 4th, 2023 at 9:08 pm
The Bucs have a chance to be better than this ranking for sure, but Gage is already hurt and everyone else is really green.
If Gage has a solid year and plays to his potential they have a dangerous trio and if they can get any juice out of their depth at all some it’s a danger for opposing defenses.
My concern is whether or not Canales will lean on that strength. They seemed to be bound and determined to have a backs and TEs offense with the plays we hear mentioned. RPO? With Trask or Mayfield? I’m shaking my head a little.
June 4th, 2023 at 9:33 pm
7 too low, definitely top 5.
June 4th, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Gage is injury prone, I don’t have much faith that he will ever get through a full season. Actually the same goes for Godwin. Can Warner, Palmer or Thompkins step up? Afterall, Warner is the smartest WR in the room… lol.
June 4th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
Raiders?? What an absolute joke
June 4th, 2023 at 11:32 pm
Why is Warner the smartest receiver in the room?
June 4th, 2023 at 11:44 pm
Godwin isn’t injury prone at all. He just fell prey to crappy hit by a crappy player on a dirty rotten crappy team. The Ain’ts are the scum of the NFL. Lattimore is the 2’nd biggest pos on the team next to Kamara the punk bish bully who beat up a guy with his friends for no reason. I hate that team with a passion and if the Bucs lose 15 games, but beat N’olins twice, I can live with that. Few things make me happier than beating those arrogant aholes at home.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:33 am
Deff way to low of a ranking. The depth is deff questionable but let’s be real out guys went over 1k yards. ME13 has done it his ENTIRE 9 year career and CG14 does everything right even got 1k last year after coming of a ACL injury late the season before. Our guys also have SB rings to go along with the yards. Maybe down on TDs but that’s on Brady lol. Deff the best duo in the league. Throw stats all you want but they got the ring and that tops anything stat you shat out.
June 5th, 2023 at 1:13 am
Where are the Vikings? Jefferson alone almost puts them in the top 5. Hockenson is also an excellent receiver at TE. WR 2 is a question with the loss of Thielen, but we have a first round pick and Smith-Marsette who showed promise.
As for the Bucs, 7 seems about right to me. Evans is first rate, but getting older and seems to pull a hamstring every year. Not sure Godwin is the same after his knee injury. Tight end is basically no threat, and depth is very questionable.
June 5th, 2023 at 1:23 am
@ 1 bucsfan
I get what you are saying, but Gronk and AB were a big part of the receiving core in that SB run, and even Miller had some clutch deep catches. All 3 are gone now, with no real replacements, and Evans and Godwin are 2+ years older.
June 5th, 2023 at 2:21 am
If Gage is healthy, we’re a top 5 unit. And who knows, maybe we got a steal with Trey Palmer. He could make an impact.
June 5th, 2023 at 3:29 am
Coach to Gage: “Get up, you whimp! That was only the coin toss.”
June 5th, 2023 at 5:22 am
Clay Says:
“Why is Warner the smartest receiver in the room?”
.
.
Because Warner said so himself.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:15 am
I think Warner and Palmer will make decent contributions. I’m not expecting anything from Gage. If he contributes, it will be a plus.
June 5th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
We will see if we get the production of the 22 SeaHawks WR top 3 in receptions. Metcalf and his 90-1048 on 141 targets and Lockett and his 84-1033 on 117 targets TE Fant 50-486 on 63 targets. Their next three are WR Goodwin 27-387 on 42 targets TE Dissly 34-349 on 38 targets TE Parkinson 25-332 on 34 targets. next 3 all RB 60-448 on 72 targets.
With Evans, Godwin, our 3 WR, Otton-Durham-Kieft-rest of our TE on the roster. Who says the system of our OC is only a run-oriented system? This sure looks like a lot of passes for such a running offense. I am excited to see the results with our WR and TE and RB.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
June 5th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
In the show, the issue was the unknown after the first three, Bucs got the max points for Evans as the #1, Godwin as the #2 and they were one point shy for Gage as the #3, the problem was that he gave the Bucs 0, ziltch, nada for depth and we can all agree that is an unknown
June 5th, 2023 at 7:37 pm
Godwin and Evans are studs. Easily top 5 WR duo. If Otton steps up his game and Trey Palmer throws a bit of speed in the mix they will be just fine. Really want to see what Payne Durham adds to the mix. A big body red zone target is always a plus
June 7th, 2023 at 3:18 am
Kirwan is probably close to right.
I think we have to have doubts about our receiver room.
Gage may not even make the team because he can’t stay healthy.
Behind him is all unknown JAG material and rookies. Moore could be of some help but he is still a question mark.