Kurt Warner: Bucs Missing Safety Blanket, Safety Net Receiver
September 27th, 2026
Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner may be the most level-headed, Xs-and-Os-driven analyst in the country.
The guy doesn’t do hot takes and rarely shows a bias.
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show last week, he talked about the Bucs and thinks the missing link is a go-to receiver.
“I think that’s hurt them and Baker — to not have one guy to be able to go, ‘Hey, this is the guy, my safety net, my safety blanket, that I can come back here and [throw to] this guy,” Warner said.
That may be in the mind of Baker Mayfield, but Joe has trouble agreeing. Mayfield certainly trusts Chris Godwin. And Todd Bowles said in the offseason it would be a positivfe for Mayfield to no longer have to worry about feeding Mike Evans, so he could just focus on the best option at all times.
Interesting that Warner sort of said it was a given that the Bucs defense would continue to struggle this season..
“You thought the offense could stabilize them and it’s just not doing it right now,” he said.
Football sure is a game of inches. If Ted Hurst squeezes that touchdown pass in his hands with seconds remaining last Sunday, the conversation around the Bucs would be very different today.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:19 am
McMillan Hurst EE Tez are all recent draftees still learning – Godwin is great but he plays like a tight end and Baker trusts him – he is Baker’s main safety valve – I think mentally Baker misses Sterling Shepard – just saying
September 27th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Chris Mills was brought in to be Zac safety blanket
But, unfortunately he’s on I.R at the moment
September 27th, 2026 at 7:29 am
***I meant David Sills**
September 27th, 2026 at 7:45 am
you need mike evans for the threat of mike evans.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:48 am
We need to get one of those massive dominant tight ends who always seem to get open.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Bucs could have had a marquee TE by signing Isiaah Likely this offseason. All they had to do was pass on Anzalone and sign Likely. Wonder which player would have given them more bang for their buc???
September 27th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Baker if forcing the ball to Egbuka. Get the damn ball to Chris. He’s our #1 guy. And how about some quick slants or anything over the middle. Everything going to the sidelines. The pass plays are all slo developing, longer routes unless its one of those stupid sideline throws behind the line that loses yardage. Not at all impresses with Robinson.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:17 am
The problem looks more to be the QB, and O line. Evans left to play with a better QB, O line. Face it. Baker, and our O line, are garbage compared to the 49s. Mike knows. We are not a good football team, from the top down. We all know why by now, it’s up to the Glazers to make the changes.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Disagree, missing a QB who isn’t staring at the rush.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:46 am
I also disagree with Kurt Warner. The Bucs have LOTS of talent in their WR room.
When JMac is healthy, that will help a lot too.
That said, I do believe that Baker is missing Evans in the red zone, as he was great in those situations. But he does have WRs, including Hurst, that he’ll eventually be able to rely upon.
September 27th, 2026 at 9:46 am
@Todd
You nailed it bro.
Isaiah Likely would have been a great signing.
Otton cost as much as Jamal Dean.
I would have rather signed Likely or Dean over Otton.
Otton is a #2 TE. Like Brate. He’s not a TE 1. He’s just too small.
If Mark Andrews is available next year, we need to sign him.
September 27th, 2026 at 10:04 am
Kurt Warner is very intelligent and has a high football IQ.
He knows the defense under Bowels is always going to be a let down.
It truly is the albatross of the franchise. Add in a Mr Mid QB and worthless OC.
The Glazers love what Todd is cooking and clearly want another serving.
Oh the culture!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡
September 27th, 2026 at 10:26 am
godwin is too slow. he plays like hes cooper kupps age
September 27th, 2026 at 10:48 am
Licht and Bowles are a side show at the circus. My screen name has been Cleanhouse for years for a reason.
Hearing a lot of you say my name these days.
It would be amazing theatre to fire a GM and coach early to mid season.
September 27th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Bucs fans/media are the only ones still delusional about this WR room. A washed player can’t be a safety blanket. Your 1st round WR’s best attribute can’t be how well he knows the playbook. Like c’mon.
No one has the size, speed, and experience to win their matchup, be on their spot, and then make easy routine adjustments to a ball.
So that’s why everything is always a little off and takes unsustainable luck to complete passes. But I’m hopeful Hurst and JMac can grow into an okay 1-2 punch.
September 27th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Baker has ole reliable – CG14!! Absolutely NO EXCUSES!!
September 27th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Summers Eve ,Everyone outside of the Bucs is very intelligent to you..A guru!