Wide Receiver By Commitee
May 3rd, 2026
Could Jalen McMillan be that guy?
As Ryan Wilson of CBS said when looking at the 2026 Bucs, you don’t replace a guy like Mike Evans.
What successful teams do, Wilson said, is find workarounds so Evans isn’t missed that much. Or, in a perfect world, Evans isn’t missed.
Now Wilson, speaking on CBS HQ, wasn’t trying to say the Bucs won’t miss Evans. But Wilson does believe the Bucs have their wide receiving room stocked well enough to replace most of Evans’ production.
“How do the Buccaneers replace Mike Evans?” Wilson asked. “The short answer is, you don’t, but they have some dudes.
“They drafted Emeka Egbuka last year in the first round. You see Ted Hurst. There was not a lot of buzz about Ted Hurst in the fall, because he played at Georgia State. [But], then he went in the Senior Bowl and just took over.
“[Hurst] is 6-3, he can run sub-4.5. He’s a huge catch radius guy. In terms of getting on the bus, he looks like Mike Evans, but he’s faster.”
Wilson seemed to think if each of the Bucs’ receivers pick up their games just a little from last year, and Hurst is able to contribute, the Bucs may be able to get by with Evans playing on the west coast.
“Obviously, [Hurst is] not going to be a future Hall of Famer, because we haven’t seen him play yet,” Wilson said. “[The Bucs] also have Jalen McMillan, who played at a high level [before]. They re-signed Cade Otton.
“So I think it’s going to be a wide receiver by committee approach.”
That’s probably the smartest way to play without Evans. Joe’s sure if a team should want its slot receiver to be the go-to guy and Chris Godwin loves playing slot.
Is Emeka Egbuka ready to be a No. 1? First, Joe would like to know why he vanished in the final two months of the season before anointing him as the No. 1 receiver. Asking Hurst to be a No. 1 receiver is way premature.
But you know what, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Jalen McMillen rose up and became Baker Mayfield’s go-to guy. He’s shown flashes that he could.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:07 am
Let’s face it. In the last 12 years, Evans has been the best Red Zone target in the NFL. You can’t replace his height combined with his 84-inch arm length.
He was open because of his unique wingspan.
No one including Hurst is replacing that. But a good coach should be able to get this set of wide receivers and running backs to score in the Red Zone, especially if the OL becomes a strength again like it has been before last year.
I just fear there will be some games where us fans will miss that Evans HOF skill set.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:11 am
Hurst was measured at 6’4″ at the combine.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:20 am
Obviously, [Hurst is] not going to be a future Hall of Famer, because we haven’t seen him play yet,” Wilson said.
what kind of idiot thinks this way.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:22 am
Ryan Wilson of CBS gonna tell us about our wide receiver room? And fail to mention Chris Godwin? Nah. Don’t think so. Anybody sleeping on Chris Godwin is about to get woke up. With a jolt. Chris Godwin is healthy and the leader of that position group. 100 catches. 1200 yards. 10 touchdowns. Or something really close to that. Oh yeah. JMac, Emeka, Hurst and Tez are studs.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:32 am
Preach, Kenton!!
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:43 am
Kenton, I hope you are correct on Godwin being a 10 TD guy.
But even with ME gone, I’d take the under on that.
Godwin is our best WR between the 20’s. Just not a red zone guy even when he plays every game of the season and is healthy.
He averages a TD every 3 games of his NFL career, so it is quite a bump up to get to 10.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:44 am
We have a pretty good UDFA WR
Eric Rivers from Georgia Tech
He’s smaller, 5’11 180 lbs, but he runs a 4.35
Can return punts, can play in kickoff/ punt team.
He was a productive WR in college
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:45 am
— Jimmy
“Obviously, [Hurst is] not going to be a future Hall of Famer, because we haven’t seen him play yet,” Wilson said.
What kind of idiot thinks this way?”
Based on using his logic, I can confidently assert that Ryan Wilson won’t become a Hall of Fame sports journalist. I just haven’t seen him play yet.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:53 am
The problem is J Mac hasn’t played a full healthy season going back to his college days and Godwin is always hurt too. That crushes their depth if and or when that occurs.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:56 am
Call him whatever number you’d want in terms of the depth chart, but Hurst is our Starting X receiver immediately, playing Evans’ former position.
I call that WR1, but tomato tomăto
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Imagine if Bain had an 84 inch wingspan!!! OMG imagine the articles and posts written about that!!!!!???
Until somebody takes the title “I’M THAT MAN” it’s gonna have to be that. It seems every time one of them looks the part they all of a sudden become JAG due to hitting the rookie wall full blast, injury or the smoke and mirrors disappear and we see what they really were. It’s a shame Evans is the only player I can remember on offense who fits the title from the time he was a rookie. All these acronyms and ATM was the worst. Baker could be that guy but he is simply too much of a tease to hold onto it. It seems just as he seems to grab hold of it he eats hit buttered popcorn and starts his regular mid season lull or gets injured and falls off a cliff.
You guys expecting Chris Godwin to come back and become a world beater don’t hold your breath. He’s had two bad injuries late in his career and he’s never been that guy even when Evans was out. I lost any great expectations of him before all that when he was run down from behind by Luke Keuchly a few years back on what should have been a 70+ td score, and I don’t care if Keuchly’s a 1st ballot hall of famer and took the greatest angle anybody could take in the history of the NFL to make that play.
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Hey Todd I think Jimmy was using this thing called sarcasm and he was saving that for his monkey friends since it obviously missed it’s mark with you.
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Durham looks like he could be a red zone guy if they’d give him a chance.
Of course, 31 teams did not have Mike Evans on their rosters at all last year and about half of them were better than the Bucs.
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:37 pm
After reading the article I was wondering if Chris and Tez were cut or traded?
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:41 pm
LOL Todd
I was thinking the same about the twisted logic, sarcasm or not. WR group has vast potential for a breakout season. Godwin and J-Mac were out most of the season and seemed to be rounding into form towards the end. EE hit the rookie wall and could have still been nursing a hammy. Hurst has all the tools and Tez is a joker in the mix. If Baker didn’t turn into a pumpkin, the o-line returns to health, and Zac is as advertised, we have a good chance at top 10 offense. Losing Mike, who missed much of last year also, will be barely noticed.
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I don’t think he disappeared as much as the injuries caught up with Baker. Of course the rookie wall is a real thing and I’m sure contributed but to think he won’t take another step this year is not likely. And why do we always forget about JMac?
May 3rd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
We have a good WR room. More worried about making our defense feared again
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:08 pm
mcmillan plays w passion. you can see it. sadly his year was ruined by teddy b’s medical ball in preseason. even when he came back you could see,dude wants it. i think hes the guy that can really get this offense fired up.
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:08 pm
Yes, JMac is VERY dependable. As long as he can stay ‘on’ the field. But, there’s that BIG “IF” again, in this dude’s statement. This bunch looks a lot more like Green Bay’s group of WR’s ‘by committee’ with a bunch of 2’s and 3’s. All very solid and capable receivers, WHEN HEALTHY (and clickin’ with good to great QB play).
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:23 pm
No legit ELITE ‘Superstar’ WR. They lack that ‘explosiveness’ Freak #1. So, you can call-it a “strength” of the team, but definitely NOT “Loaded,” like some want to believe. That Hurst will most surely have his flashes and his moments (it’s a long season), but expecting HIM to come in and be dominant over the course of an entire season, is not fair to HIM. Especially, coming straight outta JORJA Friggin’ STATE. I mean, please. Oh, really… “RANDY MOSS” you say!? Lmaoooo… “RANDY MOSS” was a Mr. Football, AND Mr. Basketball coming outta the state of West Virginia. He had already gotten himself KICKED TF OUT of both Notre Dame AND FloDuh State (4.27 40 at FSU and about a 50-INCH vertical, at about 6’5”/230 and could’ve played in THE NBA as well, had HE WANTED TO). So, STOP.
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:25 pm
No legit ELITE ‘Superstar’ WR. They lack that ‘explosiveness’ Freak #1. So, you can call-it a “strength” of the team, but definitely NOT “Loaded,” like some want to believe. That Hurst will most surely have his flashes and his moments (it’s a long season), but expecting HIM to come in and be dominant over the course of an entire season, is not fair to HIM. Especially, coming straight outta JORJA Friggin’ STATE. I mean, please. Oh, really… “RANDY MOSS” you say!? Lmaoooo… “RANDY MOSS” was a Mr. Football, AND Mr. Basketball coming outta the state of West Virginia. He had already gotten himself KICKED TF OUT of both Notre Dame AND FloDuh State (where he almost (almost) beat Deion’s school RECORD 40-time, of 4.3 – and also, by the way, has about a 50-INCH vertical and could’ve played in THE NBA as well, had HE WANTED TO). So, STOP.
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:30 pm
He was on his very LAST fricken CHANCE by the time he had to go back home and enroll at Marshall. He’d already been in jail, and every freaking thing.
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Fricken Freaking Studs is how you replace Evans.
We have tons of them with loads of speed and route running capabilities.
Should be fun to watch not forcing the ball to ME13 all the time.
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Joe I agree 1000% with that J Mac take. Our fan base knows how good J Mac is, the league doesn’t
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Who cares! Work on the defense, and a rushing attack ..Punish people!
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
I would still bring Shep back as cheap insurance if the Bucs are not going to bring another FA WR in. I don’t trust EE or JMac at this point.
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:23 pm
I would have to have at least 2-3 wide receivers play ST
That’s a must
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Mike was a high priced decoy much of the time making the opposing defense play with ten guys bc of his threat he was mostly double teamed, how do you replace that? the opposing defenses will play with extra guys until someone proves a new threat. ee disappeared when we needed him most, maybe jmac can step up and be that guy, he’s been awesome- jury is out on the new guy… we miss mike a ton but by committee will be the way to go, whoever is hot that week
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Im running Gainwell, Tucker and using otton…Trade Godwin and Erving etc…go after Pickins..Have Bain fly around and set fire to the defense!! Smashmouth!
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:42 pm
“In terms of getting on the bus, he looks like Mike Evans, but he’s faster.”
Evans is huge dude with huge wingspan, but his greatest quality is his mind. He’s a serious man and he doesn’t mess around.
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Hard to take a guy serious who doesn’t mention our best all around WR in Godwin.
What a hack
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:56 pm
They will be less predictable. Anyone who thought we would draft Sadiq should watch the first half of the last game against the Panthers. Cade Otton was everywhere. Catching, blocking DEs 10 yards downfield, protecting Baker from cheap sideline shots… lining up as H back. He IS a top 10 TE, probably top 3 all around, not just a glorified WR.
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Why do people say Hurst is 6’ 3”. He is 6’3 7/8”. Most people would round that up to 6’ 4” but I keep seeing people say he’s 6’ 2 or 6’ 3”.
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Godwin had his 15 minutes..Can’t hold his mud!
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:57 pm
After the San Francisco game
The Bucs WRs was totally trash
Them and the RBs was competing for the “Worst Garbage” award
Everyone of them should be fighting for a job in training camp
They have to show me they belongs on this team
I have more confidence in the new WRs
David Sills
Eric Rivers
Ted Hurst
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:18 pm
“How do they replace Evan’s production?”
He really wasn’t part of the team LAST year. Played in 8 games, exceeded 50 yards in 2 of THOSE. Had the Bucs re-signed him, at least one of those shiny new free agents wouldn’t be here
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Jesus Christ… Godwin is just a guy? What a d-bag.
Also if Baker isn’t a complete piece of trash QB from week 7 to week 17, then e2 is up around 1300 yards receiving with double digit TDs and is the next stud WR from the Bucs.
Additionally, at the end of the year, McMillan looked fantastic, and might have been the best WR on the team. I don’t think most people really paid attention to him, but just go watch the tape and how fantastic he looked over those last few games. Will have to see if he can keep it up, but if he can, it wouldn’t shock me if he ends up leading the team in receptions and yards.
As for Hurst, he’s a late 3rd round rookie, so I’m not expecting much right away – but he’s certainly got the tools. But lets hold off thinking he’s the next Evans when he’s nearly 2 inches shorter, with much shorter arms, and is 25lbs lighter. Hurst really isn’t the same type of player as Evans – which isn’t a bad thing, but just don’t expect them to do the same thing or play the same way.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:27 pm
JMac was our best WR down the strerch
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:47 pm
The biggest problem last year was a crippled QB who could not throw beyond the LOS after the bye week. It wasn’t about the receivers. Mayfield will be fine, and he will have plenty of targets to throw to when you include our TEs and RBs. A healthy OL will make a world of difference. I’m looking forward to a much improved defense and coaching as well.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Before Godwin was hurt on a late bad play in a moment he should have been watching a rookie, he was leading the league. Better than Evans for that stretch of the year.
Can he get back to that?
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Before Godwin was hurt on a late bad play in a moment he should have been watching a rookie, he was leading the league. Better than Evans for that stretch of the year.
Can he get back to that?
And Munchkin, is Hurst now H-Rex?
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Teams will be drooling over the WR cuts the Bucs will have to make to get down to 53. The receivers were not the problem last year nor will they be this year. If the O-line stays healthy, there really is no glaring weakness in the offense of the Bucs, other than the maddening drive killing penalties.
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:18 pm
I still say we should sign Njoku. The one weakness we have on offense is our tight end room. When Njoku is healthy he is typically been good for five or six touchdowns a year, that’s half of Evan’s usual total right there. Baker is familiar with him from their time in Cleveland, so it shouldn’t take too long for them to get on the same page.
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Love to see Baker in Pittsburgh!
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:55 pm
What happened to these “Great” WRs during the last 10 games of the season
7 of the 10 games, we had less than 200 yards passing
I don’t see nothing great about that, it’s garbage
And a lot of those yards came in garbage time
.
This WR room is the most overrated WR group in the NFL
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Jack
They maybe a good group of Wide Receivers.
But I’m basing my opinion on what happened on the field
Could they have played better….l think so
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:47 pm
It takes BLOCKING,! And a good run game! The coach doesn’t throw, kick, catch , or run with the ball..”.IN BOWLES WE TRUST”! Thats the fact Jack!
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:49 pm
I’m sorry to read that ME13 wouldn’t retire. I hope the reports are true about LVD and he did. Evans does not need to put himself in the position where someone will nail him (and get away with it). He will be in the HOF and has a SB ring. He is $$set.$$ That blatant takedown is Detroit last season was a big red warning. Bucs offensive position is loaded. The RBs have to be able to catch along with the rest of The receivers. It will be an interesting preseason.
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:49 pm
I believe that’s why Zac Robinson brought in David Sills
And the reason for drafting Ted Hurst
They are not comfortable with this group of receivers
And I’m not either
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:52 pm
Now, what we might be able to do is re-create him. Re-create him in the aggregate
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:07 pm
I said it before, I’ll say it again. A lot of the offensive challenge we witnessed after the bye — despite the injuries — was a result of our offensive coordinator. Grizz was truly lost and Todd was likely overly influencing play calls.
I think we’re looking at a bright new season with ZR at the controls.
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Rod. There should have been a comma after Also. So your hair is still on fire about Baker, huh? Funny!
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:12 pm
Rod. There should have been a comma after Also. So your hair is still on fire about Baker, huh? Funny!
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:19 pm
“Complete piece of trash QB”. Ouch!
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:42 pm
Cade Otton is light years better than Njoku.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:54 pm
Lakeland said – “What happened to these “Great” WRs during the last 10 games of the season?”
Watch the film. I have re-watched the entire season several times and Baker seldom had any time to throw, meaning receivers had little time to get open. Our offensive line was garbage the majority of the season. We never had even four starters who played a whole game. We were down to two or three starters on the o-line the majority of the season (and only had one starter for one game).
The Houdini-like escapes Baker made just to buy an extra second or run for a first down were truly remarkable. I’m hoping for a much healthier unit this year. Then, you’ll see better play from the wide receivers, the running backs and the quarterback.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:13 pm
Lakeland Says:
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:55 pm
What happened to these “Great” WRs during the last 10 games of the season
7 of the 10 games, we had less than 200 yards passing
I don’t see nothing great about that, it’s garbage
And a lot of those yards came in garbage time
.
This WR room is the most overrated WR group in the NFL
————
LOL!
Yes, it’s the WR’s, not the QB who couldn’t properly throw simple 4 yard pass on 4th and 4 with the game on the line. Or on 3rd down vs the Falcons with the game on the line, get the ball in the same area code as a wide open WR.
If you watched from week 7 on and thought the issue was anything other than Baker, then you need to go back and watch the tape again. Guys were open left and right, Baker could barely get the ball to them, turned easy catches into circus catches.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:14 pm
Lakeland said – “I believe that’s why Zac Robinson brought in David Sills”
It’s highly unlikely he even makes the team. If he does, it is because he is a pretty good special teams player.
Tell me Davis Sills is going to replace, keeping in mind that Bucs have carried as few as five WRs on the 53 man roster in some years and seven at most (last year was the only time I remember).
Chris Godwin
Emeka Egbuka
Jalen McMillan
Ted Hurst
Tez Johnson
Sterling Sheppard
Again, watch every game and you’ll see that even the last two names on the list – Tez and Sterling – were HUGE parts of the offense, sustaining drives last season and scoring TDs in very limited playing time.
He better be significantly better than Kameron Johnson, who was a better kick returner than the Bucs have recently had, to even have a chance of being on the 53 man squad and that’s only if the Bucs dress seven WRs on Sunday. I hope the Bucs only have six on the 53 and in that case, I just don’t see him passing the six I have listed.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:15 pm
JohnQCitizen Says:
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:12 pm
Rod. There should have been a comma after Also. So your hair is still on fire about Baker, huh? Funny!
———–
My writing about is about the same as Baker’s passing ability in the 2nd half of the season.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:22 pm
Munch continues to trach Baker and when I have asked him more than a dozen times to tell me who out there the Bucs could have gotten on the team that is better, it’s crickets.
The fact is, Baker is a top ten QB in the NFL and last year, alone, proved that you don’t need a QB who is any better than top 20 to win a Superbowl.
What you do need is a healthy offensive line who is not penalty prone and a solid defense. Third and five or more is not a recipe for sustaining drives and penalties or poor running (mostly die to poor blocking) put the Bucs in third and long all season multiple times per drive.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:32 pm
Scotty Mack. Since the minute Baker Mayfield walked into the league he’s been a top ten QB. Since he got to Tampa he has been a top 3 QB in the league. His next 7 years in the league he’ll have an MVP or 2 and a Super Bowl ring or 2. And he will go into the HOF as a Buccaneer. And Rod Munch still won’t know his butt from a hole in the ground.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:45 pm
LOL!
May 4th, 2026 at 3:56 am
Joe, I agree with you. J Mac was an ABSOLUTE stud by the end of 2024… ON FIRE..
It was he who was the number #1 guy by the end of the year. And to watch him sky the ball that Tracy Ullman threw was something to see before he got so far past his ski’s that he ended up in the middle of a back flip before he hit the ground. (Which I have no doubt he’ll evaluate the projection of all balls with far more detail next time he goes up that high after it) Personally I believe it was going to be J Mac as our number 1 last year if that tragedy wouldn’t have taken place.
What was his touch down average in the last 5 games by the end of 2024? I KNOW it was at the least a TD per game and led All receivers by a mile.
If he healed well he’ll be your next #1 IMHO…
May 4th, 2026 at 7:24 am
i for one, do think that jmac thinks he’s the guy…
i can see him being our #1…
do i think he’s a little bit overlooked as the guy, and does he think he’s slightly overlooked as the guy…?…yes i do…
he’s been in the shadow of mike and chris for a while – it might be his time now
May 4th, 2026 at 7:25 am
let’s not forget how strong he finished the 2nd half of the 2024 season…
he rocked before his preseason injury last year…
and upon his return last year. he played well and looked hungry AF…
#hangry
May 4th, 2026 at 9:54 am
X Brownie, very hard to read any football dialog coming out of Cleveland, they’ve been getting things wrong since Berrnie
May 4th, 2026 at 9:59 am
Or was it Brian….,same difference
May 4th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Zac Robinson is a human, not an alien superhero. First, highly unlikely he can overcome Bowles Regression Syndrome. Second, Egbuka is already done. Teams watch film and figured out how to take him out. “Tired legs. “. Haha. The Juco WR has the chronic drops. Tiny Tezra sucks. Otton? LOL.
And Godwin will give it 110% until yet another thug hits him dirty and puts him out. But at least Bucs Training and Medical will have 80% of the starting offensive line on IR by game 4, so there’s hope.
May 4th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
What I think too many media, fan and NFL types are forgetting is that the Bucs are not replacing the Mike Evans that was a HOF X-WR for most of his career, but the shell of his former self that we saw for 8 games in 2025.
In that context, the FO has stocked the cupboards well enough to replace ME’s 2025 stats & then some…I suspect that Baker will not miss a beat with EE, CG, McM, Hurst and Tez as the WR core and a host of solid TE / RB options to drop the ball off to.
May 5th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Please stop your craziness! Baker an MVP??? Only in the pro bowl. Stupor Bowl winner??? MAYBE on Madden. Just stop it with your grown man crush. He will never get past the 2nd round of the playoffs because among all pressure moments he folds the most is when the game is on the line he turns the ball over and then all the school girls point fingers everywhere else but at him.
May 5th, 2026 at 9:55 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 said – “[Baker Mayfield] will never get past the 2nd round of the playoffs because among all pressure moments he folds the most is when the game is on the line he turns the ball over”
Clearly, this dude forgot to watch the first five games of the 2025 season.