Buccaneers wide receiver group ranked among the best heading into 2025 by PFF
Buccaneers wide receiver group ranked among the best heading into 2025 by PFF
Traditionally, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fly under the radar and don't receive much media chatter or coverage, despite being NFC South Champions for four straight seasons and winning a Super Bowl just five years ago. So when Pro Football Focus released its top wide receiver rooms heading into the 2025 NFL season, it was a breath of fresh air to see the Buccaneers considered a "coin flip" for first, with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and running back Bucky Irving all finished the 2024 season ranked inside the Top 15 in their respective positions. When you factor in Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Rachaad White, Baker Mayfield has the deepest pass-catching corps in the NFL, and it's not necessarily a close battle either.
Last season, Evans tied Jerry Rice with logging his 11th consecutive 1,000 receiving yard season, in as many years, showing he hasn't lost a step, proving that death, taxes, and Evans eclipsing 1,000 yards may be the only things certain in life. Godwin's season ended early due to a brutal ankle injury suffered in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens; however, before that, he was the league's most consistent wide receiver, leading the way in receptions and on-target catch percentage, and Baker Mayfield's favorite target.
The Buccaneers were able to re-sign Godwin on March 10 and get a hometown discount, inking the 29-year-old to a three-year, $66 million contract with $45 million guaranteed.
With Godwin out for the remainder of the season and Evans going down with a hamstring in the same Week 7 loss to the Ravens that would keep him sidelined until Week 11, the Buccaneers would turn to rookie WR Jalen McMillan, who did not disappoint. The rookie would finish the season with 37 receptions for 461 receiving yards with eight receiving touchdowns, and while those numbers aren't staggering, it's about how he finished the season.
In the final five games of his rookie campaign, McMillan caught 24 of his 31 targets for 316 yards and seven touchdowns.
Egbuka was drafted 19th overall and added more fuel to the fire inside the Bucs' wide receiver room, almost to an embarrassment of riches. Egbuka totaled 205 receptions, 2,868 yards, and 24 touchdowns over four years at Ohio State. Not only is he a good route runner and a solid blocker, but he's got reliable hands, posting a 71.6% catch rate and coming out on top of 50-50 balls, with a 54% contested catch rate.
Entering his third year and learning his third different offense, it's got to comfort Mayfield knowing that not only does he have one of the league's best RB duos in Irving and White, but the NFL's best wide receiver depth chart.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ravens sign Jaire Alexander following the cornerback's release by the Packers
FILE - Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) walks on the field before a NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, file) OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Jaire Alexander has signed with the Baltimore Ravens less than two weeks after the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback was released by the Green Bay Packers. The Ravens posted video Wednesday of star quarterback Lamar Jackson enthusiastically greeting Alexander after he signed with the two-time defending AFC North champions. Advertisement The Packers released Alexander on June 9, ending a seven-year run in which he emerged as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks before injuries limited his availability. ESPN reported that the 28-year-old Alexander was getting a one-year deal with a base value of $4 million and another $2 million in incentives. Alexander's future with the Packers was the subject of much speculation throughout the offseason because of his hefty contract and recent injury history. Alexander, who has 12 interceptions, had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in May 2022. A first-round draft pick by Green Bay in 2018, Alexander missed two games early last season with injuries to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee injury, returned to play 10 snaps in the Packers' next game against Chicago and then was out for the rest of the season. Advertisement The games he missed were because of injury with one exception. Alexander was suspended for a late-season game in 2023 because of conduct detrimental to the team after he appointed himself captain and participated in the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown. ___ AP NFL:
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
PFF ranks Packers' receiving corps 21st overall heading into 2025—fair or foul?
PFF ranks Packers' receiving corps 21st overall heading into 2025—fair or foul? There's no denying the potential inside the Green Bay Packers' receiver room. But with all that potential comes a lot of uncertainty about how the group will perform on game day this season. On paper, the Packers have surrounded quarterback Jordan Love with enough weapons to field a top-ranked passing attack next season. However, until Green Bay's receivers live up to their perceived talent, the room will continue to carry plenty of question marks heading into 2025. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 receiving corps ahead of the 2025 season, placing the Packers at an unremarkable 21st overall. Sikkema wrote: 'Running back Josh Jacobs led the Packers in PFF receiving grade (89.2). It was a career-high mark, but the rest of the pass-catching unit left something to be desired. The team's 8.1% drop rate was the fourth highest in the league, and only Jayden Reed surpassed 800 receiving yards. Still, Tucker Kraft emerged as Green Bay's go-to tight end with a 71.0 PFF receiving grade, and Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson all recorded PFF receiving grades between 71.0 and 73.0. First-round draft pick Matthew Golden should help the cause. There are a lot of names to consider in the Packers' receiving corps, but none truly strike fear into defenses right now.' Overall, Sikkema's reasoning is sound. None of the Packers' pass catchers kept opposing defenses up at night last season. They also had glaring issues holding onto the football, finishing tied for the third-most drops in the league. Individually, Reed got off to a blazing hot start but struggled with drops and saw his production dip drastically in the second half of the season. After a rookie season containing flashes, Dontayvion Wicks was a breakout candidate entering 2024. But he caught only 52.7% of his targets, which ranked dead last among receivers with at least 70 targets, per PFF. Meanwhile, Doubs had become one of Love's most trusted targets but missed four games last season due to a suspension, injuries, and an illness. Matt LaFleur has spoken highly of Doubs' offseason performance, and the team has no concerns about his health moving forward despite two concussions last season. Now entering his fourth NFL season, Doubs has yet to eclipse 700 receiving yards. He may need to have his best year yet if he hopes to stick around beyond his rookie deal. One of the offense's biggest X-factors since joining the team in 2022, Christian Watson, could miss most of next season after suffering an ACL tear in the regular season finale against Chicago. While Watson's size, athleticism, and talent are unmatched in Green Bay, injuries have kept him from becoming a dominant, game-changing receiver. Unless something changes, he could also be nearing the end of his time with the Packers. The biggest thing holding back all of the aforementioned receivers is consistency. All four have looked like high-level playmakers at different points in their careers, but no defense is overly worried about any of them. That could change with the addition of Golden, the team's first first-round pick at receiver in over two decades. Golden—and even third-rounder Savion Williams—appear to be positive additions, but expecting rookies to transform an offense overnight is foolishly optimistic. On a positive note, Sikkema highlighted Jacobs and Kraft as bright spots in last year's passing game. With Jacobs' well-rounded skill set and Kraft's continued development, the team doesn't have to worry about its running back or tight end if both stay healthy. At the end of the day, rankings are offseason busy work. That said, the urgency inside Green Bay's receiver room is very real. Even if no true No. 1 option emerges for Love, it would still be a victory if the group collectively starts to strike fear into opposing defenses.
Associated Press
22 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Ravens sign Jaire Alexander following the cornerback's release by the Packers
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Jaire Alexander has signed with the Baltimore Ravens less than two weeks after the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback was released by the Green Bay Packers. The Ravens posted video Wednesday of star quarterback Lamar Jackson enthusiastically greeting Alexander after he signed with the two-time defending AFC North champions. The Packers released Alexander on June 9, ending a seven-year run in which he emerged as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks before injuries limited his availability. ESPN reported that the 28-year-old Alexander was getting a one-year deal with a base value of $4 million and another $2 million in incentives. Alexander's future with the Packers was the subject of much speculation throughout the offseason because of his hefty contract and recent injury history. Alexander, who has 12 interceptions, had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in May 2022. A first-round draft pick by Green Bay in 2018, Alexander missed two games early last season with injuries to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee injury, returned to play 10 snaps in the Packers' next game against Chicago and then was out for the rest of the season. The games he missed were because of injury with one exception. Alexander was suspended for a late-season game in 2023 because of conduct detrimental to the team after he appointed himself captain and participated in the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown. ___ AP NFL:
