Electric Tez Johnson Is A Buccaneer
April 26th, 2025
Bucs rookie receiver Tez Johnson is Tampa Bay’s seventh-round pick.
Joe wrote last week for fans to look out for Tampa Bay drafting lightning Oregon receiver Tez Johnson.
Keep in mind that Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht made small receiver Jaelon Darden a fourth-round draft pick in 2021 after making little guy Scotty Miller a sixth-round pick in 2019.
Bucs walk-on Adam Humphries was a Licht favorite and a fan favorite for years. So yeah, Licht is not against small receivers he thinks can help the offense or the return game.
And now Johnson, Bucky Irving’s former Oregon teammate, is a Buccaneer in Round 7 to close the Bucs’ 2025 NFL Draft.
Johnson spent two years at Oregon after transferring in following three years at Troy University. He’s 5-10, 154 pounds. That’s no typo, 154.
Small guy, big production.
In the Big 10 Championship game last season, Johnson racked up 11 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown against Penn State. Over the past two seasons, Johnson has 20 touchdowns, 2,000+ yards and 169 catches with Oregon.
And he was a strong punt returner the past two years. The highlights on Johnson scream “slippery.”
Joe saw Johnson projected as high as a fourth-round draft pick recently! He wowed at the Senior Bowl but many consider his 4.51-second time in the 40 yard dash to be disappointing.
Joe is intrigued. The highlight reel is a fun watch.
Johnson represents a luxury pick for the Bucs, but he could become quite a chess piece over a long season.
Draft guru Sean Sullivan Talked About Johnson At Length In His Receivers Breakdown.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
SMH, what are we doing??? Still haven’t addressed the middle of the defense!!!
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
If he can return punts successfully this season A+
Any WR stats will be icing.
Man, we have an amazing GM!
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Bye bye Trey Palmer.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
I like it. Could be a + punt/kick returner. I hoping for Higgins from Iowa or Ivey from Ole Miss (wonder why dropped so much, saw him going in rounds 2-3 in many mock drafts).
April 26th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
The only player I’ve ever weighed more than
April 26th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
This guy has ‘football speed’! Size will be the biggest factor. Can he avoid that big hit? Personally I like this dude. Twitchy real twitchy.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
He also roomed with Bo Nix…..probably a good kid in the locker room.
Could spell doom for Trey Palmer…
April 26th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
I love it
April 26th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Bucs have 30 mil in cap space.
I feel a trade or a free agency signing for MLB depth.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“Could spell doom for Trey Palmer…”
Naw. Practice squad.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
If I was an undrafted ILB looking for a shot, I know which team I’d pick.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
c-spann Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
SMH, what are we doing??? Still haven’t addressed the middle of the defense!!!
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LOL! You think a 7th rounder is going to fix the middle of the defense? Derp.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
BucsBeast Says:
“Bucs have 30 mil in cap space.
I feel a trade or a free agency signing for MLB depth.”
Maybe a Dean trade?
April 26th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
c-spann Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
“SMH, what are we doing??? Still haven’t addressed the middle of the defense!!!”
Free agency or trade.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Yes also think ilb could be a free agent that gets cut. They must have some confidence in walker, and, jones as well though…. I guess they didn’t feel value was right where they picked
April 26th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
Could spell doom for Trey Palmer…
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Palmer was a 6th rounder because he couldn’t catch the ball – a trend that has continued in the NFL. He’s been a fringe player his entire career, and won’t be missed if he doesn’t make the team.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
Man I see a little de Sean Jackson here. We’re fixin to find out. This could be the steel of this draft🤞
April 26th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
So he is small lightweight and slow.
He might get murdered in the NFL. Wasted pick with Ivey and at least 2 quality ILB on the board.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
Bookend WR selections close out the 2025 draft. This fella is a Smurf but could make a difference I suppose. Giving the management minus the secret weapon Spytek a B overall. I know The Hoes love insta-draft grades.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Having said that I would not be surprised to see us play with extra corner/safety most of the time…
April 26th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
BucsBeast Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Bucs have 30 mil in cap space.
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Yeah, I don’t know what that was all about. Why in the world did they restructure a bunch of deals to make cap space, then seemingly not spend it. People thought the moves were related to trading for Trey Hendrickson, which didn’t happen.
I have to assume they tried to do something and it fell through – post draft trades are pretty rare, but I guess we’ll see. Cap space does carry over, so worse case they can use some of that space next year.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
Yeah with our salary cap room, we may try & sign a veteran nose tackle, or ILB like Kyzir White???
Also we’ll see what we get in the UFDA signings…..
Yeah I’m worried about the nose tackle more than ILB…
If Tez makes the team, what WR is gonna be expendable??
Trey Palmer better have a huge off season as he’s on thin ice….
Thought Trey was gonna be good but man, what happened to him?
April 26th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Too small. My prediction is he will fall down before contact, like the bum from Appalachian State some years ago. A wasted pick.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
Maybe a Dean trade?
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I doubt they would trade Dean. We need all the depth we can get at CB. In recent years we’ve so many injuries at that position.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
All I’ve got to say is that I trust Jason Light’s draft picks a hell of a lot more than the football knowledge of some people posting comments on this site over the past few days.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:39 pm
Well….if he can take a hit and willingly put his face in the fan, he has a chance if he gives us that Dardenesque/Palmerish siide to side crap, adios.
Palmer, Jarett and Johnson are history.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Bucsfan1988 Says:
Yeah I’m worried about the nose tackle more than ILB…
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Greg Gaines at DT2 isn’t a bad depth piece. I think people are way too concerned about DL depth. The Bucs have 2 top tier starters at 3 positions, and Logan Hall has developed into a very solid starter.
Meanwhile at ILB, if we knew for certain Dennis was going to be healthy, I’d be a lot less concerned. The guy from Miami, Walker, I don’t know much about – but I do know teams don’t tend to let guys walk when they’re not expensive if they’re any good. We go through this every year where people think the Bucs find these amazing deals, and it rarely works out. But maybe this time is different.
To me, ILB at this point is the biggest concern on the team. Also depth at OT.
We’ll see what they do with the UDFA’s, but at ILB, none of the available guys stood out to me, not that I really scouted the UDFAs. I just want speed, speed and more speed at ILB, you can’t have another slow disaster like Britt out there killing your entire defense because he’s too slow to get to the edge and too slow to cover anyone.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Don’t we already have a Kam Johnson / chess piece?
April 26th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
The cap space is only slightly curious. Kyzir White wouldn’t hurt I guess to add ILB depth. Trade deadline is a long ways away. Maybe we are 5-1 and a couple big injuries hit… cap space would be handy then.
Does the cap space roll over to next year as well?
April 26th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Jamon Dumas-Johnson is the only UDFA currently available who I believe is better than Antonio Grier Jr., who is already on the roster, in my humble opinion as a fan.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
They said all the same stuff about Bucky last yr – just sayin
April 26th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Saskbucs Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
The cap space is only slightly curious. Kyzir White wouldn’t hurt I guess to add ILB depth. Trade deadline is a long ways away. Maybe we are 5-1 and a couple big injuries hit… cap space would be handy then.
Does the cap space roll over to next year as well?
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The thing is the Bucs actively made moves to free up space, a lot of space, that is generally done head of a big move – and I assume the Bucs did try to get Trey Hendrickson but the Bengals wanted too much. But who knows. It would be very odd to create that kind of space before the draft happens because you’re thinking about injuries in the middle of the season, I just doubt that was the plan, and if it was the plan, you’d generally do it post-draft.
But yeah, the space does carry over. Not sure exactly how that formula works, not sure it’s 1:1, but it’s not wasted in full, that’s certain.
April 26th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
The cap room does carry over so could have been a missed trade/FA, maybe waiting for things to shake out post draft? It does help to have the space before hand. The more I look at what this team has done since the Brady years is nothing short of incredible. Licht and his staff are just now getting the props they deserve for their handling of things, bringing in players, drafting solid players just the whole opera of not only staying relevant but winning AND building for the future as well. I can’t believe Licht hasn’t won GM of the year yet, maybe thats why he keeps “receipts”?
April 26th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
I think we got what we needed in this draft for those that don’t think Dennis is going to put on a show this year. Keep thinking. We also have two other lbs we will get one next draft 2 of em
April 26th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Rod Munch Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
c-spann Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
SMH, what are we doing??? Still haven’t addressed the middle of the defense!!!
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LOL! You think a 7th rounder is going to fix the middle of the defense? Derp.
LOL Exactly, Also: Quit stroking out over a GAME. Ffs go watch a Sunset.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
BTW, asked AI to explain how the cap space is carried over since I never looked it up before, and I double checked the info so this appears to correct…
You can in fact carry over 100% of your left over cap space, but you need to declare it at the end of the season. So any cap space left over would not go to waste. Still an odd move, almost certainly the Bucs had to think they were going to get a trade done – but maybe they’re looking to do some moves post-June 1st.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
ballwasher61 Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
The cap room does carry over so could have been a missed trade/FA
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But this was done like 2 or 3 weeks ago – well after everyone of note had already signed, there really wasn’t any high priced FA’s still available. That’s why I think most people assumed it was the Bucs trying to trade for a big name.
It’s just an odd move that I don’t ever remember them doing in the past.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Rod, I think you’re right but it may not have been Hendrickson but that makes the most sense. Just to have the room for the scenarios you listed is good enough.
I think some of the post draft drops the higher asking price and expectations of teams in regards to their FA’s ala Hendrickson. One may want a certain amount for something but, like anything, but it has to be that valuable to the one buying as well. Licht has done a great job of letting things play out and not rushing into things. Smart.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Anthony Walker Jr ILB free agent was the biggest winner of the draft. He’s apparently going to see quite a bit of action
April 26th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
Too small, too slow but hes looks great on the football field, reminds me of a too small, too slow wasted 4th round pickl ast year, even went to the same school, Bucky, yeah he sucked, ask Penn State if Tez is too small or slow 11 catches for 181 yards, in the playoffs im excited to see what hes got
April 26th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
The cap space is for extensions, Goedeke, Zyon and Otton are due for extensions better to do it this year cause prices raise every year
April 26th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Very disappointed with the entire draft starting with Ebuka who is a good player but not even the best OSU receiver. Don’t like the EDGE development prospects. Would rather they traded for Hendrickson. BUCS need to win now with David, ME and CG in the twilight of their careers. Bucs didn’t do enough to get to NFC championship this year. Defense picks aren’t likely to start this year particularly given Todd B agonizing development program. Best hope is that Braswell surprises everyone this year. Maybe, but didn’t see enough this year.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
c-spann Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
You only have so many draft picks… jeezus h. kreiste, get a grip.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
I expect a bunch of UDFA LB’s to get calls
April 26th, 2025 at 7:52 pm
Awesome, glad to have Tez on the team! He sounds elusive.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
Wow, we drafted Tez 👏🏽 Good freaking draft. Major props to Jason Licht and the entire scouting department — outstanding job
April 26th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
@Gipper
Yes thank you I questioned their whole draft, too! I understand taking a WR just in case but you really didn’t have to do it 1st round. Needed to go D & sure they drafted CBs with their next couple of picks but Morrison is basically recovering from a hip injury & that’s probably gonna take awhile still & who knows if he’ll be the same somewhat. Hope he does turn out good. Then they draft a 5’9 CB. They need CBs that are around 6’0 at least. Sure David Walker has all the talent in the world but he’s gonna be like 25 already. Then there was no reason to draft another WR. At least take a chance on a LB or S even if it is the 7th round. I know Egbuka played well at Ohio St but their main focus 1st round should’ve been D & a bunch of good players on D ended up in the division now.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
I guess we’re gonna be dropping Roberts & Walker into coverage also?
April 26th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Guzzie5 Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
The cap space is for extensions, Goedeke, Zyon and Otton are due for extensions better to do it this year cause prices raise every year
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Extensions wouldn’t affect the cap this year.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Gipper must be related to kipper or diaper whatever whines the most, and throw in hey-Rod too! Great picks, Go BUCS!
April 26th, 2025 at 10:24 pm
The BUCS shored up around the middle, in the draft. To make the interior have more flexibility, it is genius! Great plan!!!
April 26th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
Shades of Jaelon Darden here. Big-time production and playmaker in school but tiny in stature and seemingly great play speed without the timed speed to verify.
April 27th, 2025 at 1:57 am
He was clocked running 22.4 mph on a go route in the senior bowl so he’s far from slow. 40 yard dash is so overrated.
April 27th, 2025 at 5:10 am
Small and slow that’s a winning combination
April 27th, 2025 at 7:18 am
Sure hope he can return punts and is not scared to do so. I still have PTSD from Jalen Darden running out of bounds as fast as possible to avoid being hit.