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Jalen McMillan Jalen McMillan Facing tough target competition
Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 2:58 PM
McMillan is part of a crowded WR room that just added Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall draft pick.
Analysis: One might assume no concerns about job security for a 2024 third-round pick who scored seven TDs over the final five weeks of his initial NFL regular season. Unfortunately for McMillan, there's a chance Egubka proves to be the superior player, and not much chance of Mike Evans or Chris Godwin (ankle) getting benched. Of course, it's also possible the concerns prove unfounded and McMillan cements himself as a quality starter, with Egubka either brought along slowly or getting most of his snaps when Evans/Godwin miss time. There does seem to be a lot of overlap between McMillan, Godwin and Egubka in terms of relative strengths and weaknesses, whereas Evans is a different animal altogether, largely running downfield routes on the perimeter. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Clears up cap space
Wed, Apr 2, 2025, 2:45 PM
Evans agreed Wednesday to restructure his contract, converting part of his base salary into a bonus, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Evans' restructured deal will allow Tampa Bay greater room to maneuver as the team continues to work through free agency and prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft. Coming off his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, and with teammate Chris Godwin (knee - ACL) having re-signed with the Buccaneers, Evans is primed to run things back with quarterback Baker Mayfield in a familiar -- and ideal -- situation. Evans will turn 32 less than a month before the 2025 regular season kicks off, in what will be a contract year. He's yet to show any signs of slowing down and remains positioned as Mayfield's go-to receiving option, though former offensive coordinator Liam Cohen's departure to take on the Jaguars' head coaching position is notable. Replacing Cohen via the internal promotion of last year's pass-game coordinator, Josh Grizzard, still gives the Buccaneers' offense some amount of continuity at even the coordinator spot. |
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Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Staying in Tampa Bay
Fri, Mar 14, 2025, 2:54 PM
Shepard is re-signing with Tampa Bay for one season, according to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht.
Analysis: Known for a promising career that was derailed by a series of severe injuries, Shepard left the Giants for the first time last year and ended up spending much of 2024 as Tampa Bay's No. 3 or 4 receiver. He'll likely enter camp somewhere between fourth and sixth on the depth chart, unless Chris Godwin's recovery from an ankle dislocation comes along slower than expected. Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are locked in as the team's top three wide receivers, leaving the likes of Shepard, Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett to compete for depth roles. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask Slated to back up Mayfield again
Wed, Mar 12, 2025, 8:32 PM
Trask and the Buccaneers agreed on a one-year, $2.787 million contract Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Trask will spend his fifth straight NFL campaign with Tampa Bay after the organization selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old has yet to see much regular-season action, taking just 32 offensive snaps and completing four of 11 pass attempts for 28 yards during his time in the league. Trask is slated to serve as the backup to Baker Mayfield again now that he's re-signed with the Bucs. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Re-signs for three years
Mon, Mar 10, 2025, 11:16 AM
Godwin (ankle) and the Buccaneers reached agreement Monday on a three-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Godwin will stay with the only NFL team he's ever known, reportedly getting a $66 million contract that has two-thirds of the money guaranteed at signing. He would've signed an even larger deal if his fantastic 2024 campaign hadn't been cut short by a dislocated left ankle Week 7. It's a good sign that the team with the most information about his recovery was willing to give Godwin a large contract, but we still haven't seen any reports about a recovery timeline or the possibility of ligament damage in his injured ankle. Godwin turned 29 in February, after averaging a career-high 19.7 PPR points in his seven games last season. He's unlikely to approach that level of production in 2025, coming back from a major injury to rejoin a Tampa Bay offense that now has WR Jalen McMillan competing for targets and Josh Grizzard replacing Liam Coen as the play caller. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Not expected to get franchise tag
Mon, Mar 3, 2025, 6:15 PM
The Buccaneers aren't planning to use the franchise tag on Godwin (ankle), Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Tampa Bay has already used the tag on Godwin twice, so using it again would result in a 144 percent raise, Laine notes. She also states that the Buccaneers want Godwin back and that the wideout wants to return to the club, so there appears to be a mutual desire to get a new deal completed. Godwin ended last season on IR due to an ankle injury that he suffered in mid-October, but he's expected to be ready for the start of next season, which will be his ninth in the NFL -- all of which to this point have been with Tampa Bay. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Has void date on contract extended
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 7:05 PM
The Buccaneers and Godwin (ankle) agreed Tuesday to push back the void date on his contract to March 12, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Godwin is slated to be an unrestricted free agent, and by extending the veteran wideout's void date until the final day of the league year, the two sides will have more time to negotiate a new deal. Auman notes that Tampa Bay will carry some dead money from Godwin's current deal in 2025 no matter what, but the Buccaneers will divide the cap hit between the next two years -- as opposed to all $18 million being on the books for next season -- if they are able to work out an extension with the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Godwin ended last season on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated left ankle Week 7 against Baltimore, but he's expected to be recovered by the start of 2025 training camp. |
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Ko Kieft Ko Kieft Serves exclusively as blocker
Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 9:18 PM
Kieft did not see any targets across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: After exceeding 200 snaps from scrimmage in his first two seasons, Kieft's participation on offense dipped to 102 snaps in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Additionally, after the 2022 sixth-round pick posted an 8-82-2 line 15 targets in his first pair of campaigns, Kieft was exclusively limited to blocking duties in 2024, and he'll head into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 projected to serve in the same capacity now that Coen has been retained. |
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Devin Culp Devin Culp Shows potential as rookie
Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 9:12 PM
Culp brought in five of six targets for 88 yards across five regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: The rookie seventh-round pick had played all of five snaps from scrimmage in Weeks 7, 8 and 16 when Cade Otton's knee injury afforded him additional opportunity over the last two regular-season games. Culp played 19 and 16 snaps in Weeks 17 and 18, respectively, while operating as a complementary tight end alongside Payne Durham, and he generated all of his stats during that pair of contests. Culp displayed some downfield prowess during that span by tallying two receptions of 20-plus yards among his five grabs, and he should have plenty of opportunity this offseason and in training camp to make a case for more playing time as he heads into the second year of his rookie contract in 2025. |
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Rakim Jarrett Rakim Jarrett Slight uptick in '24
Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 9:08 PM
Jarrett secured nine of 11 targets for 124 yards and recorded 141 kickoff-return yards over 10 regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: Jarrett managed to slightly improve on his 4-60 line over 10 games as a rookie in 2023, and he added kickoff returns to his resume by recording stats in that category over four contests down the stretch. The speedy Maryland product's best performance came in Week 8 against the Falcons, when he posted a 3-58 line in the game immediately following Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury. Jarrett will look to once again make a case for a reserve receiver role during the upcoming offseason and training camp as he approaches the final season of a three-year, $2.7 million contract in 2025. |
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Trey Palmer Trey Palmer Takes step back in second season
Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 9:00 PM
Palmer brought in 12 of 22 targets for 172 yards and one touchdown while adding 14 kickoff-return yards and 136 punt-return yards across 15 regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: Palmer had put together a solid rookie 2023 campaign in which he'd appeared in all 17 regular-season games and generated a 39-385-3 receiving line while adding 22 rushing yards on three attempts. However, despite Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury in Week 7 and Mike Evans' three-game absence with a hamstring injury, Palmer saw a big dip in production from scrimmage in his second season. On a positive note, Palmer was deployed as a returner for the first time and was effective running back punts, and he'll have an opportunity to make his case for reverting to a larger complementary role this offseason as he prepares to play out the third season of his rookie contract in 2025. |
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Ryan Miller Ryan Miller First catches of career in '24
Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 8:52 PM
Miller brought in 12 of 20 targets for 128 yards and two touchdowns across 11 regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: The second-year undrafted free agent's stats were the first of his career after he played just two snaps from scrimmage during his one regular-season appearance as a rookie in 2023. Miller recorded multiple catches on three separate occasions and also had a 39-yard grab on his first NFL catch in Week 6. Miller should have a good opportunity of sticking on the roster as a reserve option again in 2025, considering he's under contract for a mere $960,000. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask Sparse action in 2024
Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 8:47 PM
Trask appeared in four games during the 2024 regular season and completed his only pass attempt for five yards while netting minus-4 yards on five carries.
Analysis: The third-year pro put up only one pass attempt for the second straight season, as Baker Mayfield once again suited up for all 17 regular-season games and the Buccaneers' wild-card loss to the Commanders. Trask has only 11 pass attempts over seven regular-season contests across his first four seasons, and he's now slated for unrestricted free agency once the new league year begins March 12. The 2021 second-round pick would likely be welcomed back by the Buccaneers, but Trask may want to seek out a team where his path to playing time may be a bit more realistic. |
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Michael Pratt Michael Pratt Signs with Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 5:59 PM
Pratt signed a reserve/future contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Analysis: Pratt was a seventh-round pick by the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he didn't make the team out of the preseason and spent the majority of the campaign bouncing between the Bucs' practice squad and active roster as the team's emergency QB3. Pratt never got into a regular-season game but will get another shot to try and impress the coaching staff this offseason. |
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Dennis Houston Dennis Houston Inks deal with Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 5:54 PM
The Bucs signed Houston to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Houston spent last summer with the Giants but was cut with an injury settlement in August. He latched on with Tampa Bay's practice squad in October and spent the remainder of the season there. Houston will get a chance to earn a longer look this upcoming offseason. He hasn't appeared in a regular-season contest since 2022 with Dallas. |
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Marquez Callaway Marquez Callaway Signs with Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 5:52 PM
Callaway signed a reserve/future contract with the Bucs on Tuesday.
Analysis: Let go by New Orleans in August, Callaway signed with Tampa Bay's practice squad in October and appeared in a pair of regular-season contests, though he played a total of five offensive snaps. Turning 27 years old in March, Callaway will compete for a roster spot this coming offseason. |
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Payne Durham Payne Durham Slight production uptick in '24
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 10:31 PM
Durham, who did not log any targets across 15 snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 11 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns across 16 games.
Analysis: Durham saw a significant increase in opportunity on offense during his second season, logging 417 plays from scrimmage after playing only 125 as a rookie in 2023. However, the Purdue product was likely on his way to potentially falling short of his meager 5-58 receiving line of a season prior before top tight end Cade Otton suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss the final three games of the regular season. That opened the door for Durham to serve as the No. 1 tight end from Weeks 16-18, during which he generated a 9-81-2 line on 12 targets despite position mate Devin Culp also showing some promise during that span and absorbing some targets in his own right. Nevertheless, Durham garnered active status over Culp for Sunday night's postseason game, although with Otton back in action, that didn't lead to any production. Durham will be heading into the penultimate year of his rookie deal in 2025 and profiles as the likely No. 2 option at the position again. |
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Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Solid as reserve option in '24
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 10:21 PM
Shepard, who was active for Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders but did not log any stats over 27 snaps, finished the 2024 regular season with 32 receptions for 334 yards and a touchdown on 51 targets along with eight rushes for 69 yards across 14 games.
Analysis: The veteran wideout was signed partly due to his college connection with Baker Mayfield, and Shepard ended up proving he still had something left in the tank after three injury-hampered and mostly ineffective seasons to cap off his long tenure with the Giants. Shepard ended up playing a bigger role than first envisioned due to Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury, recording at least four catches in four games and exceeding 40 receiving yards on four occasions as well. Shepard's season-long reception and receiving yardage totals outpaced the combined 23 catches and 211 yards he'd mustered in his final two Giants campaigns in 2022 and 2023, while his eight rush attempts represented a new career high. Shepard will once again be an unrestricted free agent come the new league year in March, and it's possible the Buccaneers opt to move on considering Godwin's expected return and Jalen McMillan's emergence over the course of his rookie year. |
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Sean Tucker Sean Tucker Finishes season quietly
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 10:12 PM
Tucker, who was active but did not log any snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 50 carries for 308 yards and two touchdowns, a 9-109-1 receiving line on 12 targets, 410 kickoff-return yards and one fumble, which remained with Tampa Bay, across 17 games.
Analysis: The second-year running back established new career-high figures across the board, with the highlight of his season coming in a Week 6 win over the Saints where he posted 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions for 56 yards and another score. Tucker continued to see sporadic opportunities throughout the season and flashed plenty of his trademark explosiveness, and he could be set to see another increase in opportunity in his 2025 contract year, perhaps at the occasional expense of Rachaad White. |
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Rachaad White Rachaad White Finishes season on downturn
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 9:41 PM
White, who rushed once for one yard and secured both targets for 14 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night, finished the 2024 regular season with 144 carries for 613 yards and three touchdowns and a 51-393-6 receiving line on 57 targets across 16 games. He also committed three fumbles, losing them all.
Analysis: White went into his third season set to still operate as the lead back while rookie Bucky Irving was eased into the NFL ranks as a complementary option. However, there was eventually a changing of the guard in the backfield once it became clear Irving was the more explosive player and capable of handling a true No. 1 back workload, and White ultimately finished the regular season with zero touches for only the second time in his career during the Week 18 win over the Saints. The 2022 third-round pick is set to play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and considering what Irving put on film once given control of the ground attack, White may not receive a contract extension offer this offseason. |
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