Todd Bowles Confident Bucs Receivers Will Overcome
May 29th, 2026
Receiver Jalen McMillan.
As Joe is wont to do, Joe browses a lot of national NFL voices to get a pulse of the Bucs. Different looks through different prisms.
One common worry from several NFL prognosticators is how the Bucs will recover from the loss of Mike Evans.
It isn’t just that Evans didn’t let the door of One Buc Palace hit him in the ass on the way out of town as he raced to the west coast to take a paycut and play for a team that lost to the Bucs last season. Gone from the Bucs’ locker room is leadership. Knowledge. A man to lean on for advice and wisdom. A passionate warrior.
And oh yeah, Hall of Fame production.
The same folks who wonder about how the Bucs will rebound from this loss also believe how the team rebounds will say a lot about its 2026 fortunes.
Speaking after the first open OTA practice on Tuesday, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles thinks he has the right receivers, mentally and physically, to keep the Bucs train on the tracks.
“Anytime you lose a player like [Evans], or any veteran player that was legendary on their team, different guys got to come in and step up,” Bowles said. “And that’s the nature of sports.
“And I’m sure we have some guys in that room that will.”
Bowles also remarked, “We know [the wide receiver room] got a lot of talent right there.”
Joe is looking for a breakout from Jalen McMillan. Bowles lauded McMillan’s mental toughness on Tuesday. And it’s known that defenses will be keyed on Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka.
Perhaps with that focus in mind, McMillan surprises teams early on.
In his rookie season, McMillan played in 13 games and had eight touchdowns. Joe’s going to say if McMillan can get 10 touchdowns in, say, 16 games, the Bucs offense should be fine.
May 29th, 2026 at 7:45 am
Godwin has everything Mike took away, except a HOF resume. When it came to leadership and mentoring the younger players, no one talked about Mike alone. It was always Mike and Chris. Well, we still have Chris and he’s going to show the world that he’s not chopped liver. They speak as if he’s not here. That must have his blood boiling!
May 29th, 2026 at 7:48 am
“And oh yeah, Hall of Fame production.” Once upon a time this was a true statement..but lately:
2025: played in eight games. 30 / 368 yds and 3 touchdowns. That shouldn’t be too hard to replace. Yeah….Father time wins again.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:00 am
If this O-Line stays healthy there is no reason to believe that we won’t have a Top 10 Offense with ‘Born Again’ Baker in a Contract year and weapons all over the place. Now if that Putrid Pass Defense can only be halfway decent-then this Team can do somethings this year. 10 wins is doable. Go BUCS!!
May 29th, 2026 at 8:14 am
We’ve got to find out who can beat man coverage on a consistent basis outside of Chris, and my money is on J-Mac-that guy knows how to win 1 on 1.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Lt Dan, we’re not trying to replace the production of an injured Mike Evans of last year. We’re trying to replace Evans overall. We don’t want to replace what wasn’t effective, obviously.
I think Baker is a rhythm QB. Your top target checking out every 2 plays is no way to find a rhythm. I really think this hurt us and Baker way more than we think. Finding holes in certain DBs and attacking them during a drive is impossible if you check out every route.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:33 am
I’ll say right now. Hurst will make us forget an aging Evans. He’s the only true X on the roster. Robinson had London, he’ll know how to get Hurst the ball. Keep an eye on this kid. He’s the real deal.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:41 am
JMac is giving every indication of being another Licht home run in drafting receiver position. With Emeka those 2 check receiver boxes that most teams can only dream of. I believe it has everything to do with character and work ethic. And Chris Godwin exemplifies those qualities. Otten does too. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if this small school rookie exhibits those same qualities. These kids aren’t rookies anymore- they are getting better. Godwin leading this group is perfect. Sure, losing Mike would be a severe blow to most teams. Not to this team. Kudos to Jason Licht.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:43 am
WBL, I couldn’t agree more. J-Mac is the real deal. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him emerge in a big way. Tough as nails and intense. There’s a lot to like in our WR room. Hurst is going to benefit learning the ropes from all the quality guys from Godwin on down. When J-Mac came back from that horrific neck injury last year and balled out is any indication of what’s to come, look out!
May 29th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Drake London usually lines up at Z (Flanker) which is what Egbuka will be doing in Robinson’s offense. But I do think Hurst can contribute this year quite a bit.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:44 am
The beat goes on…
May 29th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Evans is a spiritual loss not a production loss. The key is Robinson The change in offensive coordinators and the new running back and the return of a healthy offensive line should more than compensate. The question marks are on defense.
May 29th, 2026 at 8:57 am
The team missed ME when he was injured
The team does not miss what they don’t have.
Eyes forward!
May 29th, 2026 at 9:10 am
ME will be missed. However, like always players will be replaced and maybe sooner than we think. His time was coming to an end, it was just sooner than we wanted and expected. Yes, the Bucs need to move forward. ME is now a proud Niner. The Bucs do have good receivers. Yes Hurst may prove to be a hidden gem. We will see
May 29th, 2026 at 9:18 am
I trust Licht to draft wide receivers! He’s **more than** proven himself capable of finding great players and tremendous values. I wouldn’t be shocked if Hurst blows up just like Egbuka and McMillan and Godwin and Evans.
May 29th, 2026 at 9:29 am
Bucs have veteran leadership in Godwin and budding stars in emeka and McMillan this team is in really great shape still even with Evans moving on, still wish him the the best.go bucs.
May 29th, 2026 at 9:29 am
“Evans is a spiritual loss not a production loss.”
I’m starting to think some are grappling with the difference between replacing production and now not having that 1 WR that manipulates coverage.
Since 2015, our offense got game planned against with teams having to dedicate at least 1 body and 2 sets of eyes on Mike at all times. No matter how much or how little Mike produced, whomever the OC or QB was at any point in his time as a Buc-that NEVER changed, not even last year.
Defenses don’t look at us now thinking they have to play blanket coverage to a particular side or dedicate at least 1 body and 2 sets of eyes to contain Evans. They focused on taking away slot routes last year while pressing our boundary WRs daring us to go deep while crashing down on anything we tried taking underneath. There are going to be some growing pains for our guys, doesn’t mean they’ll fail, but they’re going to have to adapt.
May 29th, 2026 at 9:37 am
I’d love to see all of McMillan, Godwin, and Egbuka having 1000 yard receiving seasons. Heck, Hurst too. There should be someone open on almost every play with that group!
May 29th, 2026 at 10:19 am
Evans not attending SF OTAs this week
May 29th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Mike Evans felt threatened by these young receivers. Now he’s wearing an irrelevant number 5
May 29th, 2026 at 10:26 am
I’m with Joe. McMillan is the surprising “lucky” dark horse. He’s been nothing less than refreshing when he’s on the field. A ball in his hemisphere IS coming home with him to start with so his hand to hand is impressive. His leaping ability is severely underrated and I believes he far quicker than even Joe thinks. A 4.47 speed rating IS lightning for most humans on the planet. His long speed? Not sure about that just yet.
Last year was “supposed to be” his coming out party. We All already know that a genius and a goobber breath SCREWED THAT UP! So with the combo of Godwin (the new UNQUESTIONED leader of the receiving division), McMillian (who has ALREADY PROVEN to be a rising star after closing out the 2024 season in SPECTACULAR FASHION), and the potential of the yet still unproven edition of last years first rounder, “Ebuka” whom seems raring to go to PROVE himself this season, we are in a “pretty solid” receiver situation. Of course, our newest high flyer “Hurst” has to fight for playing time as well. And I hear he’s not too shabby as well.
Considering we didn’t see much of Mike “on the playing field” last season, and with additional playing time and healing time for everybody else…… I think we’ll be PLENTY STRONG ENOUGH with what’s STILL outstanding depth in the receiving depth. Add in the fact that Robinson has an affinity (like myself) for “Tight Ends”, I have a feeling he’ll bring out something we haven’t had much of before. A new angle and “Skills Found” in the tight end room from MORE THAN just one guy! So there’s those options as well.
WE’RE FINE!
They’d be Better Served focusing on the running back room on the Offense (no bucky and No White) and BIG ATTENTION to the Paper Thin SECONDARY on the Defense… We are NOT OK in Those departments in particular.
And if we don’t give more concern in the secondary, we WILL SEE A REPEAT of last year. Curious to see what the genius has in mind. (because we KNOW he won’t adjust his underwear much less the defense when we OBVIOUSLY MUST!)
May 29th, 2026 at 11:18 am
What if Evans had retired this year after his injuries last year. Any player in the NFL can be gone in an instant. This is just stupid off season chatter because we have nothing better to talk about.
I love mike Evans, but his days were numbered anyway. Father time always wins.
May 29th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Obvious One Says:
…and the potential of the yet still unproven edition of last years first rounder, “Ebuka”
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I’d say 938 yards receiving has proved something! Even though he didn’t finish like he started, he had a spectacular season for a rookie.
May 29th, 2026 at 11:44 am
The problem with most national media types is they’re lazy and only see NAMES like Evans and LVD leaving and think the team has taken a step back.
In reality, LVD was pretty bad last year, to the point teammates had to call him out. He retired for a reason. And Evans, while still a good player, was injured the last 2 years and even when healthy I think most Buc fans held there breath everytime he hit the turf.
Loved both players, but the “HOF” production was fading from both and good teams move on from once great players. Thankfully JL has stocked the WR room with a bunch of good young talent in Emeka, JMac, Hurst and Tez. And the Bucs still have Godwin as the savy vet and leader.
I’m not worried one bit. Exactly excited to see what younger, faster and healthier plays can do.