Young Receivers Must Step Up
March 26th, 2026
“Todd, we already have the next Chris Jones on the roster. I can feel it.”
Joe has, unlike many, maintained the Bucs took two steps back in free agency.
That’s not what you want to see from a team that finished with a losing record and watched the playoffs from their couches, just like you and Joe.
Arrow pointing down.
Joe frankly does not know how anyone can say the Bucs improved by letting a Hall of Fame receiver and your best cornerback bolt to teams where they boasted they’re chasing another ring.
Not good.
Gilberto Manzano of SI.com isn’t as harsh as Joe in his grade, giving the Bucs a “C+” for free agency. However, Manzano typed that to him, it’s clear how the Bucs could end up winning free agency: If the young Bucs receivers step up and make Bucs fans forget Mike Evans.
The Buccaneers have plenty of depth at wide receiver to account for the loss of Evans. Still, they’re going to need their young playmakers to grow up in a hurry, remain available and play consistently throughout the season. On the other side of the ball, a subpar defensive front needed help. Robinson and Muhammad aren’t star players, but they’re dependable veterans who will provide plenty of flexibility for Todd Bowles’s defense.
Joe got to thinking yesterday that maybe Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht won’t draft an edge rusher at No. 15.
It’s not that the Bucs don’t need an edge rusher. Good golly, they need one so, so badly. But let’s think this through.
Now does Joe think Licht is a little premature hyping a guy coming off knee surgery who not only has never taken a snap in a game, but has yet to complete a padded practice? Yeah, Joe thought Licht was a bit much in hyping David Walker at the combine.
(Joe guesses last year it was Chris Braswell’s offseason to get hyped and now it’s Walker’s turn.)
But let’s say Licht really was fully sincere that the Bucs are sitting on the next Bruce Smith. Licht (thankfully) just signed a double-digit sack guy in Al-Quadin Muhammad who also has a bunch of tackles for loss.
Well, if you draft an edge rusher at No. 15, who sits? The rookie? The new guy you just paid (AQM)? Or the guy you’ve been hyping, Walker? In theory, you want a No. 15 overall pick to be on the field, regardless of his position.
If we are to believe that Licht really does believe Walker is the second coming, why would Licht then draft a guy at No. 15 who, at best, would take snaps away from Walker?
March 26th, 2026 at 12:27 am
I for one think our WR room is straight. Yes, losing Mike will hurt, but they proved they can get out there and hold their own. I believe with a more experienced play caller, they’ll be fine. We all watched Grizzard call questionable plays repeatedly and seemed in over his head. I’m not worried about the offense. I just want to see average play on defense, and then we should see a team that at least entertains us.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:48 am
Great point
March 26th, 2026 at 1:02 am
If the Bucs wideouts rock like they did in Seattle w/o Evans next season then of course Evans will be soon an after thought unless he pulls a hammy and some Evans haters come to this site to gloat about the guy’s misfortune. He is gone and basically it is up to the new OC and his horses to prove us sceptical fans that the O can return to 2024 form and offset any deficiencies which will be caused by what Joe referred to in the last podcast as “The Bowles Factor” (great gloss by Joe, I hope it sticks!). Special teams should be better too. But will these changes help make up for the obvious deficiencies on defense as well as the head coach. This can make all the difference between a 6-11 season and 10 wins and a postseason game at RJS.
March 26th, 2026 at 1:24 am
Walker was drafted what 4 th tound?
March 26th, 2026 at 1:29 am
Depending upon who’s available when we pick at #15, I could see JL gabbing either an ILB or a CB or a DT. Any of those 3 draft picks will get LOTS of def snaps this season providing they’re starter-capable, which any #15 pick should be.
March 26th, 2026 at 1:35 am
Joe … ‘Now does Joe think Licht is a little premature hyping a guy coming off knee surgery who not only has never taken a snap in a game, but has yet to complete a padded practice?’
Walker’s still a rookie IMO, and his 1st year on the field will go like most rookie Edge’s do. Muhammad is coming off his hottest year (11 sacks, 20 QB hits, 9 TFLs in only 457 def snaps). Let’s see, oh ya, I’ll put my money on Muhammad.
March 26th, 2026 at 1:39 am
Main thing is I think we need to absolutely target Hill Jr. Whether it’s a trade up in Rd 2.
Rd 1 best talent available at our 3 Defensive holes would be best
March 26th, 2026 at 1:40 am
The key is standing pat at 15 it’s highly unlikely we land an Edge 1 to beat out Diaby,
Or even a player that will outdo Mohammad or Walker next year, and that’s not so great
March 26th, 2026 at 1:51 am
Old
GM and HC
Must step up!
March 26th, 2026 at 2:02 am
Licht’s top picks since he came here in 2014 have been interesting, and seem to follow somewhat of a pattern …
o 2014: Offense – Mike Evans … 12 yrs as a Buc.
o 2015: Offense – Jameis Winston … 5 yrs as a Buc.
o 2016: Defense – Vernon Hargreaves … 3.5 yrs as a Buc.
o 2017: Offense – OJ Howard … 5 yrs as a Buc.
o 2018: Defense – Vita Vea … 8 yrs as a Buc (to date).
o 2019: Defense – Devin White … 5 yrs as a Buc.
o 2020: Offense – Tristan Wirfs … 6 yrs as a Buc (to date).
o 2021: Defense – Joe Tryon-Shoyinka … 4 yrs as a Buc.
o 2022: Defense – Logan Hall … 4 yrs as a Buc.
o 2023: Defense – Calijah Kancey … 3 yrs as a Buc (to date).
o 2024: Offense – Graham Barton … 2 yrs as a Buc (to date).
o 2025: Offense – Emeka Egbuka … 1 yr as a Buc (to date).
So in 12 yrs of drafting, JL has gone with Offense in 6 drafts and Defense in 6 drafts. Only 2 Offensive picks (Evans & Wirfs) have gotten 2nd contracts with the Bucs; only 1 Defensive pick (Vea) has gotten a 2nd contract to date.
Those top draft picks are the guys most successful teams build around (the Mike Evans types & the franchise QB types). And yet, Bucs have only given 2nd contracts to 3 of those 9 top draft picks (thru 2022) who were eligible for a 2nd contract. And we’ve even done worse with the Rnd 2 draft picks in terms of 2nd contracts.
Brings up the question ‘Is it due to selecting the wrong players high in the draft OR is it due to player development’? Maybe the best guys to ask would be Jameis, VHIII, OJ & JTS.
March 26th, 2026 at 2:13 am
The Bucs didn’t make a splash in FA but they did rid themselves of a pair of expensive players on the cusp of their expiration date and added mid grade, reliable talent so a C+ is fair if one grades from the perspective of a bean-counting, unsentimental Bill Belichick wannabe. Anyway…
To answer the question that ends the article: Draft a pass rusher/OLB at #15 because that is where need and opportunity meet if Mesidor is there and even if David Walker pans out as something the Bucs need a YaYa Diaby replacement because there is no way he is worth $20some million per year on even a short term contract. He is the best Licht has done at drafting a pass rusher but that by no means makes him a keeper or even acceptable for now. He is a middling producer and is no sort of leader so let some other team pay him his next contract and replace him with Maxx Crosby via trade and/or Mesidor with that draft pick. It’s not about sacks. It’s about edge defenders who are beasts vs the run as much s the pass and can make a play in coverage.
Yaya hasn’t trimmed any of the fat from his game and this draft has the talent beyond Mesidor to replace him.
March 26th, 2026 at 2:23 am
Beyond Mesidor, Zion Young, Derrick Moore, Malachi Lawrence, Gabe Jacas and R. Mason Thomas would all be upgrades over YaYa for $20 mil less.
March 26th, 2026 at 2:54 am
@hopein1hand: I don’t think Zion Young would be in Bowels and Licht’s list because of the DUI. But if they are at 15 and go best player you know they may not go for Mesidor or Allen. I have to say YaYa was one of the only players last season who put effort in and showed up. Hard to guess what they will do
March 26th, 2026 at 3:10 am
@HopeIn1hand… what you have in the other hand is what our FA looked like.
March 26th, 2026 at 3:40 am
Zion Young was All-Academic everything throughout his journey so I’m not dinging him for a DUI over a paper tag and speeding- no reckless driving or property damage but yeah, ugh, toes on the line. He is the only edge besides Mesidor who has a streak of true DT in him.
I’m not denying YaYa is on the rise but two seasons in a row with 70 pressures but how many sacks? He is better most against the run as well but you don’t smile your way to $20some mil a year you sack your way there. He needs legit competition at a minimum. Stumpy as Walker is he must be a DPR only.
March 26th, 2026 at 4:10 am
I’m not as high on our receiver room as most seem to be. J Mac coming off a broken neck, Godwin on his last legs, EE, and Tez. You’re OK with that? After those four we have jags. Evans gone, Sheppard still unsigned, do we even want the oldman back? Those two players have to be replaced. Receiver room isn’t that solid it’s just better off than our front seven.