Quiet Surrounding Trey Palmer
August 21st, 2025
“I’m here, Coach.”
Do the Bucs want third-year receiver Trey Palmer to make the 53-man roster?
Joe would have answered with a resounding “no” last week.
The organization has been outwardly bullish on rookie seventh-round pick Tez Johnson making the team as a returner/receiver. And before Jalen McMillan’s serious neck injury on Saturday, Palmer seemed a lock to be cut.
Palmer got limited action in the offense last year after catching 39 balls as a rookie in 2023, and he was hurt most of training camp this season. But now he’s an interesting wild card, and he’s healthy. The Bucs might need him.
However, today Joe asked head coach Todd Bowles and assistant general manager Rob McCartney about possibly adding a new receiver before the regular season. Bowles said it’s a possibility but didn’t give the usual coachspeak: naming current receivers like Palmer that he’s excited to see step up.
Joe asked assistant general manager Rob McCartney the same question and he didn’t mention Palmer, either.
Joe suspects Palmer will play a lot Saturday in the preseason finale. He’s got a lot to prove to the Bucs and the rest of the league.
August 21st, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Hoping the best for Trey. Tez has looked really good though. The silence from coaches when asked about Trey speaks louder than words sometimes. Trey needs to go out there Saturday and show he can get it done. Wishing him luck.
August 21st, 2025 at 2:53 pm
I think all the injuries mean Palmer makes the team for now. With Godwin counting against the active roster, I assume the Bucs keep 7 WRs, if they only keep 6 (Godwin + 5) then I think Palmer is in trouble.
Not really sure Palmer and Tez are competing for the same spot, I think it’s more like Palmer and Miller. Tez is obviously seen as the returner and is probably competing with Greene, if he’s in a competition. However Greene has no name so he’s safe to put on the PS, but Tez might get signed to another teams roster if they tried to sneak him onto the PS.
August 21st, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Could be Palmer’s last chance with the Bucs. I just don’t think he’s going to earn Baker and Grizz’s trust if he hasn’t by now. I wish him well but I don’t think we have a spot for him.
I’d love it if he proved me wrong and he was an impact player for us but it’s doubtful imo.
August 21st, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Miller is a lock IMHO
August 21st, 2025 at 3:16 pm
Tezzette and Palmer are just like Darden. ANd wow do we miss that guy.
August 21st, 2025 at 3:16 pm
It’s such a shame about these injuries. Sean Payton just STOLE, what will be an EARLY 4th and a 2027 7th for WR Vele. Of course, HE JUST DID. Just such a shame. It’s a perfect move… I mean, THESE are the deals you have to make. Our FO seems to never ‘pull-off’ these super SMART moves like this. When you’d ‘think’ given our GM’s great confidence in himself, that he’d be ‘wheeling & dealing’ like this all the time, by trying to accumulate as many ‘mid-to-late’ round picks as humanly possible.
August 21st, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Trey Palmer could be at least a good returner and ST players but appears afraid to use his speed and consistently runs immediately for the sideline. Rather have Tez, Miller or even Garrett Green. He could change my mind but I don’t think he will. He has world class short area speed but I have NEVER seen him use it on a punt return. Also needs better deep ball tracking skills. Believe we move on from Trey. Too bad showed some promise as a rookie.
August 21st, 2025 at 4:11 pm
It might be to late for Trey Saturday may be just to get him some film from this year on tape
August 21st, 2025 at 4:41 pm
I never got the impression that he ever really wanted to be here. I think he’s going to get cut regardless of how he performs Saturday.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:06 pm
He said during his rookie year that he stay away from getting hit. I didn’t know he meant run outta bounds when it’s obvious he could’ve made the first down. Last year he had a chance to dive in endzone at one yard line for score yet he decided to go down at the one yard line. He has no courage or hands. Let him walk. Tez is too slippery n smooth to let walk. He knows how to get open n has football speed.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Big meaningless game for a lot players, not just receivers this Saturday.
August 21st, 2025 at 5:52 pm
I still think a lot of what Trey brings to the table, we cannot consistently take advantage of from the pocket, takes time to release and get to the 2nd/3rd level of a route and it’s not like long developing pass plays have been our forte the last seasons.
Give Trey a QB like Jackson, or even Geno Smith and that’s a go-ball at least once a game. In BAs offense that’s why a player like Scotty Miller and his speed held value to us because if you have a guy who can take the top off a D you test that out at least once per game. Buc fans remember those days, especially in the Brady years. Kelvin King probably has PTSD getting smoked like a brisket before the half in the NFC title game. Our offense isn’t built like that anymore.
August 21st, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Hope they keep Miller. He is dependable with great hands. Actually like him better than Sheppard as well.
August 21st, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Palmer was well worth the 6th round flier. His draft profile was, if I remember right, speedster with crappy route running skills. Seems like a fair assessment to me. I like Miller better, but they’re not gonna ask me. Let me see…
Evans and Egbuka (and Godwin and MacMillan eventually) are the only ” locks”. It appears. Sheppard is well favored, but not by me. I like Miller. I sorta like Tez. I sorta like Palmer, but not as much as Tez. After that I don’t care. I wouldn’t mind kicking the tires on Amari Cooper. I believe he is unsigned.
August 21st, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Miller is better than Palmer. Miller actually CATCHES the ball.
August 21st, 2025 at 8:13 pm
It is really too bad that Coen couldn’t get the ball into Palmers hands more last year. Especially when Mike and Chris were down. We can’t necessarily afford to move good depth with our current injuries but…
350 yard 4 TD Vele is fetching a 4th (haha nice work Saints) and other teams are out there looking for WRs… we could have gotten Palmer that stat line and prolly got a 5th rounder right about now.
August 21st, 2025 at 11:01 pm
I think TEZ and Miller make the team.
I think Jarrett and Greene go to the practice squad
I think Palmer might get cut
I’m more curious about KAM because they were raving about him last year and then he was derailed by injuries.
August 21st, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Fred McNeil Says:
August 21st, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Palmer was well worth the 6th round flier. His draft profile was, if I remember right, speedster with crappy route running skills.
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He slipped in the draft because his hands were considered suspect – but you’re right, people bashing him are ridiculous, he was a 6th round pick and ever playing a down in the NFL is an accomplishment when you’re a 6th rounder.
With his size/speed combo, and some OK production his rookie year, if he is cut, he’ll likely catch on with someone else – which is why the Bucs might keep him for now, at least until Godwin is active.
August 21st, 2025 at 11:10 pm
David Says:
I’m more curious about KAM because they were raving about him last year and then he was derailed by injuries.
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Yeah, I was thinking that back a few weeks ago, having completely forgot he actually did come back to the team at the end of last year and didn’t do anything. Then in training camp, I almost never hear about him. Such a shame as he looked so good last preseason and he made the team, only to completely disappear after his injury.
August 21st, 2025 at 11:10 pm
The NFL needs a UFL. Would be great to have a AAA like baseball for football.
August 22nd, 2025 at 6:47 am
Really had high hopes for Palmer because I thought he would be perfect to help the offense stretch the filed. Rookie year was fine to me if a bit inconsistent. Since then? Crickets… Not sure why but sometimes dudes just get the old “I have arrived syndrome”. See Diva. I am not sure he even gets a practice squad spot this year.
Go Bucs!
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:27 am
evans
godwin*
egbuka
shep
miller
tez
palmer
that’s my 7 going with the current state of affairs
ps:
jarrett
green
if palmer flops out early on, maybe jarrett pops up off the ps because of experience…
and with the godwin mcmillan situation it’s becoming pretty important that egbuka looks like the vet they say he is, way before his time…if he’s looking all “rookie messy” out there we’ve got issues
we have excellent receiving backs and 3 TE’s with good hands…we should be fine
August 22nd, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Only true speed on team and all we want to do is get rid of him..smh.. especially with our injury history.. its pretty sad.. all it takes is for the pewter report to not like u and your off the team. They really have Garrett Greene making roster over him…Who the hell is he?
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Take it from me he’s not that good lol
August 23rd, 2025 at 12:12 am
For his sake, I hope that this kid gets cut. Other teams are waiting to grab him once he hits the wire. He has completely mismanaged by the rotational OCs.