Can The Rookie Receivers Carry The Bucs Into The Next Decade?
January 25th, 2026
Emeka Egbuka hauls in a long touchdown pass against Seattle.
Joe is as guilty as the rest.
As we slowly approach the free agency dinner bell ringing in a little over a month, March 11, a lot of Bucs fans are wringing their hands hoping iconic Bucs receiver Mike Evans returns for another season.
But because of Bucs fans worrying about Evans, Joe thinks many are overlooking the uncomfortable fact that Chris Godwin is entering the final year of guaranteed money in his contract.
As Joe has stated many times, the 2027 season could look a whole lot different for the Bucs; it’s not a stretch to think both Evans and Godwin won’t be with the team.
While losing both of those guys will hurt, maybe the Bucs found a pair of receivers in last year’s draft that may take the Bucs offense into the next decade.
When you combine the numbers for Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, they both were an incredible pair.
No team in the NFL had more receiving yards from a pair of rookies like the Bucs did. And no one had more touchdowns from the same pair of rookies in 2026 than the Bucs. Houston also had 11 touchdowns from two different rookies this past season.
If new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can somehow solve the riddle of where/why Egbuka went into hiding after the bye, and you factor in Jalen McMillan, the young Bucs receivers could carry the offense into the next decade.
January 25th, 2026 at 12:12 am
Well, the reasons Emeka Egbuka disappeared were two things:
Mayfield’s injury affected his accuracy
Once Godwin, and then Evans returned, Emeka Egbuka was targeted less
Mystery solved! 😁
January 25th, 2026 at 12:19 am
As to the headline, I think they will produce for years. It will take time for Tez to improve gradually though. Emeka Egbuka will imorove much quicker.
Now, I don’t know if Tez will become a full time starter eventually, but he should produce.
Unfortunately, I don’t trust Godwin to show loyalty..so well need to draft aother WR in 2027…but we need 2026 for defense…and maybe a late round steal on OG.
January 25th, 2026 at 12:37 am
They will most definitely carry us for many years to come
Draft a quality TE, another WR, we’re good to go
January 25th, 2026 at 12:52 am
His production went down when Mike went down..mystery solved
January 25th, 2026 at 1:08 am
Perhaps Robinson can convince Kyle Pitts to come over.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:24 am
Men’s production declined because we refuse to play a back up quarterback when our starting quarterback is injured. Because of his MOXIE he refuses to not play and let his body heal and the HC is too much of a weenie to enforce it.
January 25th, 2026 at 1:24 am
Mek’s production…
January 25th, 2026 at 2:33 am
I was higher on Tez going into the season than just about anywhere here, but let’s not get crazy. I like Tez as a gadget guy and depth WR, but the fact he needed to start isn’t a good thing. Still, he way overperformed as most 7th rounders never see a snap in the NFL.
As for e2, yeah he drop a few, but a lot more often he was wide open and Baker missed him by a mile. If Baker doesn’t fall off a cliff in terms of production and accuracy, then e2 has a massive rookie year, well beyond here he ended up. He’s going to be a very very good player — but hopefully we’re still a couple of years away from having to see him in that top role as he splits time with Evans and Godwin – hopefully.
January 25th, 2026 at 5:11 am
I was really excited about Buka early on. Tez is well-rounded too. They are both young and maybe Zac will do the trick this upcoming season.
January 25th, 2026 at 5:19 am
I would agree with a yes on the Bucs young receivers taking them into the next decade. I think 3 things need to happen. 1. They have to stay healthy, as I ve said many times, maybe the Bucs need to take a good look at the training staff. I am aware this is to NFL a rough hard hitting game but, darn near every player on the team was out with an injury the pass 2 years and many multiple times. 2. Play calling. 3. As someone has already said Mayfield has to be more accurate, can’t catch a pass when it 5 ft over their head. I think that’s how Evans and McMillan both got hurt going up to catch a high pass
January 25th, 2026 at 5:33 am
Why has the staff not been working Culp as a receiver? His hands aren’t quite as good as Evans’s, but he otherwise is a clone.
January 25th, 2026 at 6:09 am
Bucs need an Evans replacement. I think ME13 returns in 2026. After that 50/50. I think their 1st round pick in 2027 needs to be a tall, big, quick WR who high points the ball. Someone like Charlie Becker from IU that will be draft eligible in 2027. The 2026 draft needs to be used to fix the D.
January 25th, 2026 at 6:11 am
Bucs WRs EE, Tez and Jalen can absolutely help carry the Bucs into the future.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:07 am
Atlanta buc and BB are dead on. Baker was injured and he sucked. Someone should of maned up and sat Baker. Yes we would of lost those games but we lost those games anyway. We could of had a healthy Baker down the stretch.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:09 am
Maybe – if Todd and his handpicked Teddy 2-gloves doesn’t get them killed or paralyzed in the preseason
January 25th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Lakeland … ‘Draft a quality TE, another WR, we’re good to go’.
It’s DEPTH that we’re missing on offense Lakeland. Every team ha to contend with injuries. If we don’t fix the DEPTH issue, future years will just be a replay of 2025.
Of course, on defense we need to replace probably half of our starters AND much of the DEPTH. Wishing also that we could replace the scheme, but that doesn’t look to be in the cards for 2026.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:12 am
What TDTB said–Culp is nearly the same size as Evans, (probably faster) has caught 6 of 7 lifetime targets for 94 yards and a tuddy. When Evans retires, we won’t HAVE a tall receiver anymore, which limits many things an OC can do. Guy never sees the field as a TE, is otherwise wasted
January 25th, 2026 at 7:13 am
I wish we could get Jameis as our backup, he’s a great interview
January 25th, 2026 at 7:17 am
Joe Chris godwin is signed thru 2027. He won’t become a free agent till 2028, He has a 2026 cap hit 33.6 and 2027 cap hit 29.9.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Let’s see how the 2026 injuries report will affect the Bucs in 2026. The biggest problems in 2025 was the offensive line, Evans and Godwin, Bucky missing multiple games. Mayfield’s shoulder and knee injuries doomed the Bucs after the bye week.
The issue is the defense, because they were so up and down throughout the year. That’s the biggest question mark staring Todd Bowles in the face.
Lots of issues to address over the coming months.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:44 am
So many needs. So few draft picks.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:45 am
George R, I’m sure you are right.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:49 am
EE , Tez and JMac are very respectable ,,, wouldn’t mind them giving that practice squad guy (Greene?) a shot too
January 25th, 2026 at 8:17 am
“….Bucs fans are wringing their hands hoping iconic Bucs receiver Mike Evans returns for another season.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
No player on this roster is replacing ME. He is a first ballot HOFer for a reason. 50-50 jump balls? Count on Evans. Need a 1000 yards every season for 11 straight years, ONLY ME and some guy named Rice. Back shoulder TD in the red zone? Money in the bank. Draw double coverage so CG and EE are wide open? Its ME every game.
Some of you (GofortheFace, WBL) – rightfully – said you would not spend the money on resigning ME when we are already paying CG $22mm per and we spent a 1st round pick on EE. Ok, I can understand that logical, rational, normally correct thinking.
BUT I argue that since we kept Bowles, who cares what resources we give him when he is just going to waste them? Spend $40mm and trade valuable draft picks for a Maxx Crosby type to have him drop into coverage?! WHY??
I say resign ME. If Todd is coaching, the Bucs are NOT going to the SB, so I want to watch those spectacular catches and another 1000+ yards. I want to see our offense flourish and how awesome our WR group can be when the other team has to bracket coverage ME. At least our offense can be entertaining. The Bucs soft as Charmin defense is always going to be frustrating to watch as long as Todd is coaching it.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:49 am
“Some of you (GofortheFace, WBL) – rightfully – said you would not spend the money on resigning ME when we are already paying CG $22mm per and we spent a 1st round pick on EE. Ok, I can understand that logical, rational, normally correct thinking.”
Never said that brother lol
I spoke on Mikes’ value
Our season turned the day he broke his collarbone.
GoForTheFace said there’s no reason to pay Evans & Godwin $20M at their age.
The way I feel about that is, say hypothetically that’s the case.
You’re then telling me Evans & Godwin combined aren’t worth the $4 we’re paying Uncle Rico by himself? $30M of that is a roster bonus, $10M base?
I’m not against drafting another WR either, Shepard needs replacing and Tez isn’t a lock to make the roster if we do bring in more talent at the
January 25th, 2026 at 9:05 am
WBL, sorry about that. That was what I thought I remembered, but then, being old, I have occasional Alzheimer moments.
“Uncle Rico”, – LMAO – I had to google that. Sorry, I am a Baker fan. Yes, I think Godwin and Evans are worth whatever it takes. They make Baker better and IMO, the Baker of the first half of ’25 makes them more valuable. I believe that the Baker that went 6-2 will return. If not? We draft a QB in the 1st rd of ’27.
I see all the criticisms of Baker, but I do not see anyone who offers alternative solutions. It is easy to give criticism – give me a solution to the problem. Who would you have be the Bucs QB in ’26??
January 25th, 2026 at 9:10 am
And I completely agree with you on Tez and Shep. The only thing is, IMO, we have bigger needs for those draft picks. But maybe we should quit wasting those valuable draft picks on the defensive side of the ball, unless Licht can find an Edge rusher that can both get to the QB and drop into coverage, literally, a Super Hero kind of guy. I think the Hulk is a FA