Heading into the 2025 offseason, it’s clear that most of the Bucks’ glaring needs are on the defensive side of the ball. They need to upgrade at inside linebacker as well as outside linebacker. It may also be appropriate to rebuild the secondary. They could add depth to the interior defensive line. Given the role the defense played in Tampa Bay’s deficiencies in 2024, there should be changes at every level of that unit in the coming months.
But what about crime? The Bucks have almost everything set on the ball-side personnel, but the team must find a replacement for offensive coordinator Liam Cohen. But it’s really only the coaching staff that makes dramatic changes to the offense, not the players. Tampa Bay has the quarterback, backfield, offensive line and starting wide receiver all in place as the group looks to build on a great 2024 offensive season.
Bucks WR Ryan Miller – Photo courtesy of USA Today
That being said, the Bucs need to upgrade their wide receiver depth this offseason. That depth was tested this year, and while the offense got by thanks in large part to the genius of Cohen, the play of Baker Mayfield, and the offensive line, general manager Jason Richt has no plans for the 2025 team. It’s hard to imagine leaving a wide receiving corps alone when building. team.
Head coach Todd Bowles looked back positively on the growth of his depth wide receivers this year and spoke highly of each of them. The latest edition of the Todd Bowles Show.
“It’s a huge growth,” Bowles said. “I thought it was a tray. [Palmer] He was one of our better blockers. Everyone thinks he’s just a downfield player because of his speed, but he’s one of our better blockers and our most offensive player. ryan [Miller] He was the one who did everything for us. He can block, he can catch, he’s very smart. He can play all three positions. When he was in the game, he was Johnny on the spot for us and produced a lot as well. It showed us what he did on the practice squad. [paid] off.
“rack [Jarrett]came out of surgery and made some big catches for us. He might be the toughest one of them in terms of getting off and getting dirt and running routes. and [he] Has good hands. So he had a big influence on us. cam [Johnson]you just have to be healthy. We have to get him healthy. He’s a very talented player who needs to stay healthy and consistent and I think he’ll help us a lot. ”
All of this sounds great and there’s some talent to work with in the room, but the important point remains the same. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin (assuming he re-signs, but Pewter Report continues to say he will), and Jalen McMillan are a great trio at the top of the depth chart is. All the team needs to do is find a reliable WR4 and allow the rest of the year’s depth receivers to compete for the remaining spots on the roster.
Bucs need a more reliable WR4 – looking to the future
Bucs WR Sterling Shepard – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Todd Bowles may have been happy to see some of his depth receivers step up when Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and even rookie Jalen McMillan were out with injuries in 2024, but the offense I never felt like we really had receiver depth. It may be dependable.
it might have been trey palmer One week it’s Ryan Miller and the next week it’s Rakim Jarrett all over the place. For the most part, it was 31-year-old Sterling Shepard who started the season on the practice squad.
Any number of these players can and should return to the team for offseason workouts, training camp, and the 2025 preseason. However, this collection of receivers could be better suited to the WR5 and WR6 roles on offense. The Bucks’ 2025 WR4 probably isn’t on the roster right now, so they need to acquire him in the next few months.
The 2025 NFL Draft could be the right path to target a new WR4, and the defense has so many needs that it makes sense to select a receiver by Day 3 Maybe. One is if a team decides to promote a passing game coordinator. Josh Grizzard He could continue Cohen’s offense, which features a high 11 (three wide receivers).
Bucs WR Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
It’s usually Evans, Godwin, and McMillan. But having a young fourth receiver able to step in right away is a luxury and could take the offense to the next level. It would also be a nice safety net since the trio of Evans, Godwin and McMillan missed a combined 17 games in 2024.
If you live in Tampa Bay, the future is worth keeping an eye on. Evans reached 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns this season despite missing three and a half games, and Godwin was on his way to the best season of his career before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7. However, Evans will be 32 years old this year. Godwin will be 29 years old at the start of the 2025 season.
Having a promising rookie wide receiver would allow them to have a good succession plan over the next few years. McMillan finished his rookie campaign well and won’t be 24 until December. As Jason Richt and his staff plan for the offseason, they will be preparing for two veterans in Evans and Godwin, two young up-and-comers in McMillan, and a 2025 draft pick at the top of the receiver corps. It must be a very interesting idea to build an offense.
