The Bucs Have A Bunch Of Interchangeable Receivers
May 21st, 2026
Be creative
No, there’s no Mike Evans. But the Bucs do have three receivers who have shown they can play at a high NFL level.
The trick is, they all have similar traits. They are interchangeable.
Any old school college basketball fans? Bucs receivers remind Joe of the old Flying Illini, the Illinois team that went to the Final Four before losing on a last-second put-back to Michigan. Every guy on the Illinois team was 6-6, it seemed, and fast. And they were all the same type of player. They could rebound, they could shoot, they could take it to the rim, they could guard.
They were difficult to defend because they did everything well and a defense didn’t know from one possession to another where each player would be.
A guy could be a power forward one play, “small” forward the next trip and then point guard. Lowell Hamilton, the center, was 6-7. They were like a bunch of clones.
The Flying Illini created a lot of mismatches as a result.
That’s sort of the Bucs. Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka are basically the same receiver. Evans was the X-receiver, the burner who could take the top off the defense.
The Bucs don’t have that now. But, as Jenna Laine of ESPN points out, if rookie receiver Ted Hurst demonstrates he’s ready, the Bucs have a spot for him.
A third-round pick from Georgia State is going to have a learning curve, so the Bucs aren’t banking on Hurst. Yet.
“We’re not expecting him to come in and just take over and have to be a big part of our offense,” Bucs vice president of player personnel Mike Biehl said. “Now, that being said, there’s nothing that says he can’t if he comes in and proves himself. Whatever role he has, it’s going to be on what he’s ready for and how he works and proves himself.
“He’s got a lot of traits that we look for at the ‘X’ position, which is what Mike played, and we’ll just see how it all plays out.”
A lot of speculation of late is focused on how Egbuka’s usage. It seems to make sense he would be put in motion a lot, something former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard didn’t do with him too much.
But Joe wonders if Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson may just take a page out of Lou Henson’s playbook with the Flying Illini: Use Godwin, Egbuka and McMillan as interchangeable parts.
Have them rotate to keep the defense guessing. Move the trio all over the place.
Remember, the offense knows where it is going. If the defense has to keep guessing, that increases the likelihood of a defensive mistake, and that a Bucs receiver will bust a play wide ass open.
May 21st, 2026 at 6:20 am
I think Tez has proven that he deserves a look at the X position.
May 21st, 2026 at 6:24 am
Our receiver room should be sponsored by the Swiss Army Knife manufacturing company. It’s going to be exciting to witness.
May 21st, 2026 at 6:50 am
Did Tez grow a foot and add 60 lbs of muscle in the offseason? Obviously u are joking. Tez will be on the field a bunch and don’t be surprised if he lines up in the backfield occasionally. I believe there is a chance we still sign a veteran FA X receiver to a one year deal while Hurst adjusts to NFL
May 21st, 2026 at 7:04 am
These guys are available: Gabe Davis and Keenan Allen
One year deals. Let Hurst learn the x from a vet that has played the position
May 21st, 2026 at 7:35 am
J-Mac is not being talked up enough this offseason. With Mike leaving, looking for Egbuka to get from behind the “wall”, and drafting Hurst. McMillian has becoming something like a forgotten man and I think he’s got as much potential to be the immediate new threat right out the gate over Hurst & Egbuka.
May 21st, 2026 at 7:44 am
So much receiver talent! I can’t wait to see who steps up and becomes the next Mike Evans !!
Go Bucs !!
May 21st, 2026 at 7:55 am
Joe your last paragraph says it all. And let Hurst learn by playing, that’s the only way for him to become the player HE will be. He has enough veteran receiver wisdom in CG to help him.
May 21st, 2026 at 8:09 am
I think J-Mac will have a great year as well…
not expecting much from Hurst….EE2 hit the rookie wall mid season..im expecting Hurst to have a small role all season…next year, he’ll have more of a defined role
GO BUCS!!!!
May 21st, 2026 at 8:14 am
100 percent agree on JMac. He looked great when he came back.
May 21st, 2026 at 8:35 am
how refreshing it is knowing that we have an OC that actually knows what he is doing. The Bucs Offense should be awfully good if the O-line holds up. And that Putrid Pass Defense hopefully a thing of the past with all the new talent. Go BUCS!!
May 21st, 2026 at 8:54 am
After last year with Grizz, I’ve become a believer that the OC is the key to this offense. Zac’s got a solid background as both a QB coach & a wide receivers coach, plus his 2 years under Sean McVey as the Rams’ passing game coordinator & 2 years as Falcons’ OC. He’s got some quality talent to work with on this offense & there’s no reason he can’t ‘be creative’ like you caption prompts.
The big ‘question’ is gonna be Baker. Will we see the 2024 Baker or the 2025 Baker? IF he stays healthy & everyone around him stays healthy, the 2024 Baker is the most likely. But IF injuries become an issue like they were last season, heaven only knows what we’ll end up with. My big hope is that Todd Bowles learned from last season & sits Baker Mayfield if injuries start obviously impacting his play. I’d much rather go with Browning or whoever than watch what we saw in several of those later season games last year.
May 21st, 2026 at 9:03 am
“Have them rotate to keep the defenses guessing”.
Bingo!
May 21st, 2026 at 9:11 am
Love Mike… but that was the first time I recall him ever being called a “burner” because… well, … NO. Never. Not even close.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:03 am
No I think the bigger question is if the oline can stay relatively healthy instead of having our center the only oline man to play all season, which lead to the injuries baker had to deal with if they can manage that it’s going to be a better season for that offense as a whole.
May 21st, 2026 at 10:36 am
Lots of pre-snap motion, please!!!