Tez Johnson already showed flashes as a rookie, but his offseason work suggests the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have another intriguing weapon emerging in a crowded wide receiver room.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine named Johnson the Buccaneers’ biggest surprise player of the offseason in a 2026 NFL offseason breakdown, noting that the second-year receiver stood out during spring practices despite competing in arguably the deepest position group on the roster. Johnson was pressed into extensive action last season and finished his rookie year with five touchdown catches, so his progress may not come as a complete shock. Still, his performance during the offseason work was difficult to ignore.
Maybe this won’t shock a lot of people considering Johnson was pressed into action extensively last year in his rookie season and had five touchdowns, but in arguably the most competitive room on the team, Johnson stood out. He had two touchdown catches from Jake Browning in their final practice and caught several others.
Johnson had two touchdown catches from Jake Browning during Tampa Bay’s final practice and caught several other passes throughout the session, continuing to make a strong impression as the Buccaneers sort through their receiver rotation.
That matters because Tampa Bay does not lack options at the position. The Buccaneers have established talent, proven production, and multiple players fighting for defined roles. In that kind of room, standing out in spring practices is not enough to guarantee a major role, but it can help a young receiver carry momentum into training camp.
Johnson’s path will come down to consistency. The Buccaneers already saw his ability to create scoring plays as a rookie, and his offseason production shows he can continue to earn the trust of quarterbacks and coaches. The next step is proving he can separate when coverage becomes more physical in camp, handle the details of the offense, and contribute when targets are limited.
For Tampa Bay, Johnson’s development could be significant. If he becomes more than a depth receiver, the Buccaneers’ passing game gets another quick, explosive option capable of creating problems underneath and in the red zone. That would give Baker Mayfield and the offense more flexibility in a season that already carries major expectations.
Johnson still has work to do, but his offseason was a strong reminder that his rookie production was not a fluke. In one of the Buccaneers’ most competitive rooms, he made sure coaches had to keep noticing him.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Tez Johnson named Buccaneers’ biggest surprise player of offseason
Reporting by Glenn Erby , Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Glenn Erby , Buccaneers Wire | USA TODAY Network
