For the first time in 13 seasons, the Buccaneers go into training camp without arguably the best offensive player in franchise history, Mike Evans. In his wake, Evans leaves a 1,000-yard-sized hole in Tampa Bay’s offense, a chasm that the Bucs’ remaining receivers must now bridge, beginning in training camp.
Even 13 years into his career, Evans would have been Tampa Bay’s presumed WR1. That designation is now up for grabs. The safe bet to take up the WR1 mantle is Tampa Bay’s longest tenured offensive player, Chris Godwin. The nine-year veteran has shown at different points in his career, particularly in 2019 and the first half of 2024, that he can bear the burden of leading a receiving corps.
The main point of uncertainty for Godwin is whether he can stay healthy for an entire season. Knee and ankle injuries have derailed Godwin’s career over the last few years. He is also no spring chicken at 30. This could be his one and only opportunity to lead Tampa Bay’s receiving corps.
Godwin’s ascension is anything but assured. The Bucs have one of the best young wide receiver corps in the division if not the league. 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate through the first nine games of the season, catching 40 passes for 667 yards and six touchdowns, before his effectiveness took a nosedive over the latter half of the season, with just 23 catches for 261 yards and no touchdowns.
Egbuka has the potential to become the focal point of Tampa Bay’s passing offense, starting as early as training camp. To this end, his goals must be consistency, solidifying Baker Mayfield’s trust, and beating man coverage. Egbuka’s fortunes against man coverage in particular could make the difference between becoming the future of the Bucs’ receiving corps and staying a role player in the offense.
The dark horse in this WR1 race is Jalen McMillan. The third-year receiver missed most of last season with a neck injury suffered in the preseason that could very easily have cost him his career.
Upon his return, McMillan was immediately Tampa Bay’s most effective receiver against man coverage, averaging 3.29 yards per route run, almost twice the next best Bucs receiver. This skill, along with his strength on contested catches, could push him ahead of Egbuka and Godwin in the eyes of their big-game hunting quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
The rest of the receiving corps may not be in the running to lead the room, but they are in position to carve big roles. 2026 third-rounder Ted Hurst is making a big leap from Georgia State, but he has the physical gifts to challenge for the starting X position in the rapidly approaching future. He will likely spend training camp getting up to speed and learning special teams.
The far more diminutive second-year WR Tez Johnson proved his value in an NFL offense last season despite his 5’10”, 165-pound frame. While he lacks the physical profile to play a central role in Tampa Bay’s offense, his five touchdowns on 44 targets last year speak to his undeniable playmaking ability and depth value.
The receiver depth chart is unlikely to see much competition at the fringes of the roster. While Kam Johnson may not be an irreplaceable receiver, he is unquestionably Tampa Bay’s best return specialist. Given Tampa Bay’s special teams struggles last season, they cannot really afford to move on from a reliable returner when there are no clear options to replace him anywhere on the depth chart.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2026 Bucs training camp preview: Wide Receiver
Reporting by Jason Kanno, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jason Kanno, Buccaneers Wire | USA TODAY Network
