Tez Johnson Thinks He Has Room To Grow
June 29th, 2026
Tez Johnson proved he can hang in the NFL.
When a team drafts a guy in the seventh round, it is sort of a Hail Mary.
It’s hard to find seventh-round picks who can make an impact as a rookie, forget making a team. For every Brock Purdy there are dozens of Zack Quaccias.
So even though Bucs receiver Tez Johnson was a seventh-round draft pick last year, he made the team and impacted the offense.
Riddled with injuries to the wide receiver room, Tez’s number was called and he proved he can play in the NFL, despite his 5-10 frame (standing on tiptoes). Tez had five touchdown catches and 28 catches overall for 322 yards. He also had 16 catches that went for first downs. Tez averaged over 11 yards a catch.
Tez’s highlight might be his 45-yard catch from Baker Mayfield down the middle, where he stretched out and caught the ball with his fingernails, which proved to be the game-winner over San Francisco. He caught two touchdowns against the Patriots.
And then Tez topped off his great catches with a backflip.
Joe got a chance to talk to Tez after minicamp practice and he spoke about his rookie season.
“Yeah, I got a little bit more confidence because of last year,” Tez said. “I was trying to feel [the league] out as it went.
“Now I got that year under my belt, it comes a little bit easier. I’m looking forward to [the 2026 season]. Year 1 is done. Year 2 is another year to prove myself.”
Tez figures he should be better this fall because he’s shown he can hang in the league.
“Oh, 100 percent,” Tez said. “I always believed in myself that I can play. But having that confidence and showcasing it in games, it gave [his confidence] an extra boost.”
But like last year as a rookie, Tez will be learning a new offense after the Bucs hired offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. The early report card on Robinson, from Tez, is that he’s a fantastic teacher. And Tez loves what Robinson stands for.
“Everything,” Tez told Joe what he likes about Robinson. “He’s a really great guy and a great coach. He wants everybody to learn.
“And that’s what you need as an organization. His willingness to help everybody on offense, that’s what we love about him.”
So last year Tez broke out his touchdown celebration backflip in a worthless preseason game and against the Patriots and 49ers. What’s Tez got planned for this season? “[Laughs.] To be continued,” he said.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Ya can’t help but root for this kid. Zac is good in the screen game. Look for him to use Tez there, more than last season.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Tez has the wiggle.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Seeing that 49ers catch live was amazing! I could not believe he hauled that one in! This dude could be a good one!
June 29th, 2026 at 9:21 am
The Goats in any sport always look for ways to grow . To say a 7th round pick in second year has room to grow is the understatement of the year.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Like a Tiquan Underwood miniature
June 29th, 2026 at 9:23 am
My concern is that Zac Robinson was brought in to run a ball control scheme. Arthur Smith comes to mind when he was with the Steelers. It’s not a coincidence that the Bucs signed Gainwell in the offseason. This will limit opportunities for not only Johnson, but all the WR’s.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Bucnjim Says:
June 29th, 2026 at 9:23 am
My concern is that Zac Robinson was brought in to run a ball control scheme. Arthur Smith comes to mind when he was with the Steelers. It’s not a coincidence that the Bucs signed Gainwell in the offseason. This will limit opportunities for not only Johnson, but all the WR’s.
A good OC will go with what the team strengths are. This team’s strengths are in the WR room, even after the ship jumper jumped ship.
I’m not saying for certain that it won’t be more run-centric than previous years, but I’m also not going to expect it to be. Let’s not forget, Atlanta’s got a stud RB. As much as the Krewe loves us some Bucky Irving, he ain’t the stud that Bijan Robinson is.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:38 am
Bucco, I really hope you are right!! This team has all the tools to be a very good offense. Keep in mind that the head coach is conservative and has shown that he will step in and dictate what the offense is doing. He’s not too keen on throwing the ball more than they absolutely have to.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Busting a move ( like doing a backflip) after scoring a touchdown is something that maybe someone on this corner of the interwebs can do, or could have done as a younger man. But getting to that ball, and laying out and still, inexplicably, catching and hauling in that back third of the ball? That’s something that noone on this corner of the interwebs, can do, or could have ever done. Not too shabby, that’s for sure!
June 29th, 2026 at 9:49 am
“I’m not saying for certain that it won’t be more run-centric than previous years, but I’m also not going to expect it to be.”
Can almost guarantee you that Robinson will be trying to make the wide-zone the base/foundation of this offense.
June 29th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Probably no way to know but I’d be interested in how much TB tried to mute Coen and Coen ignored him. Hopefully ZRob can produce something similar. I think we will see a lot of shorter passes, especially screens for backs and EE.
I’m pretty sure everyone understands that Zac is the future here and TB is just a placeholder 2026 unless this team gets to NFC Championship Game.
June 29th, 2026 at 10:10 am
I was pleasantly surprised with Tez’s hands last year. That deep catch was amazing for sure, but Tez was surprisingly reliable to me. i agree with Hodad, Z-Rob likes his screens so let’s see if Tez can break an arm tackle sometimes.
Z-Rob’s wide zone run game will set up Baker for some bootlegs or waggles targeting the TEs. With Bauer Sharp having a little more speed than Otton, I’d love to see him get some drag targets.
June 29th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Tez Johnson and GB packers 1st round pick Matthew Golden had a similar number of catches and yards their rookie year. The major difference was Tez had much less opportunities. TJ also had 5 Touchdowns to Golden’s zero. Most draft ‘experts’ thought that if Golden fell to the Bucs and they were inclined to take a WR it would be Golden. I expect Golden to bounce back this year but so far it looks like the Bucs chose well.
June 29th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
An exciting young player. I hope the team has some special packages to showcase this young man’s abilities and exploit some defenses.
June 29th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Who is Zack Quaccias? 🙂
June 29th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
I love him, and I think he should be higher on the depth chart this year.
But I do wish he’d stop with the backflips.
June 29th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
He has GREAT hands!
Wishing him the best but he will always be a spot player.
June 29th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Wow, checkout my amazing post from last year after the draft…
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Rod Munch Says:
April 26th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
e2’s floor is being a #2 starting WR.
While I think e2’s ceiling is being a really good #2 WR, that floor is why you’re taking him. You just added a guy who you can plug into an offense and pencil in 900 yards and 6 TDs, as their floor.
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Well, e2 had 938 yards and 6 TDs.
Damn I’m good.
June 29th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Munch, you’ve done nothing but clobber Mayfield for failing down the stretch last year.
E2 did not much of anything during that same stretch and yet you’re bruising your back patting yourself for a comment that was not much of a stretch given his pedigree.
Let’s see some real insight for once.