The loss to the Baltimore Ravens could not have been any worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game itself didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. If you’re going to lose games, make it against AFC opponents. The true loss came in the form of injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Godwin’s 2024 season is now over after suffering a dislocated ankle with under a minute to play in the 41-31 loss. Evans re-aggravated his hamstring injury and is likely out until after the bye week. So what do the Buccaneers do at wide receiver?
Well, for starters, Jalen McMillan has to step up. The Bucs drafted him in the third round and he is supposed to be a big part of their future. Now, he’s going to have to become a big part of their present. Then there’s Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard who are not going to strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators, but have both proved effective throughout their careers. It wouldn’t surprise me if Shepard filled the slot role while McMillan and Palmer were the outside receivers. Then there’s Marquez Callaway who was signed to the practice squad, Kameron Johnson who will hopefully return soon, Rakim Jarrett who is in the 21-day window to return from injured reserve, Ryan Miller who flashed in preseason, then Tanner Knue and Dennis Houston also on the practice squad.
If the Bucs are going to look outside their current roster for help, there are a few players that could be of use. Cooper Kupp would obviously be a big boost - but that is extremely unlikely. First, the Rams would have to eat a lot of the salary for this season but then you have about $20-million in salary for next year that would, effectively, end any chance that Godwin is able to come back.
Here are some trade and free agent options that the Bucs could look into;
Mike Williams - New York Jets
He’s not going to be a guy that comes in to fill Godwin’s role, but he would help in an overall sense. Following the trade for Davante Adams, Williams seems to be the odd man out with the Jets. It wouldn’t cost much more than a day three pick or even a day three pick swap to take Williams and his $2.74-million dollar cap hit. He signed a one year, $10-million dollar deal with the Jets that included four void years to spread the cap hit out. The Jets are going to eat some money whether they keep him or move on from him, so he’s an affordable option on the trade market.
Williams has just eleven receptions for 160 yards this season and is coming off a 2023 season with the Chargers where he had 19 receptions for 249 yards and a touchdown in three games. He’s a viable deep threat that takes the top off the defense.
Russell Gage - Free Agent
Second time’s the charm? After being released by the Bucs in a cap saving move, Gage signed a one year deal with the Baltimore Ravens before being released in early August. Gage never panned out in Tampa due to injuries, but could come in and run with a similar offense to what the Bucs did last season so the learning curve wouldn’t be too steep.
There was a lot of excitement around Gage when he signed with the Bucs in 2022 but he was limited from the jump. He appeared in thirteen games for the Bucs in 2022, finishing with 51 receptions for 426 yards and five touchdowns before missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL. A one year, veteran minimum deal could get Gage back on the field to make an impact and help his case for 2025 free agency.
Michael Thomas - Free Agent
I know, I know - I gagged a little as I typed it - but if you need a guy in the slot, who better than Captain Slant Boy himself? Thomas was once one of the most feared receivers in the league before being plagued by injuries and was unceremoniously jettisoned from the New Orleans Saints this past off-season. Now, he could be looking for an opportunity to audition for teams for 2025 and in the Bucs’ pass heavy offense he would have a great chance to do exactly that.
From 2016 through 2019, Thomas never had fewer than 1,100 yards including a league leading 1,725 yards. Though he never hit double digit touchdowns, he had nine touchdowns three times. Since 2020, he’s played in just twenty games and missed the entire 2021 season with an ankle injury. Heading to Tampa to be a big target over the middle for Baker Mayfield could be the career resuscitation he needs.
Elijah Moore - Cleveland Browns
A second round pick in 2021, Moore is in the final year of his contract and only carries a $3.1-million dollar cap hit. The Browns are in complete disarray and have already traded away Amari Cooper. The Ft. Lauderdale native played his college ball at Mississippi and has not been what the Jets or Browns hoped he would be. Odds are, the Bucs could snag him for a late day three pick - maybe one in 2026.
Moore has 161 receptions for 1,760 yards and eight touchdowns in his career, with his best season coming in 2023 with Cleveland where he had 640 yards and two touchdowns on 59 receptions. In Tampa, he would certainly find more snaps and opportunity than he has with either of the dysfunctional organizations he’s been with thus far - as well as the best quarterback play he would have had in his career.
Hunter Renfrow - Free Agent
After his breakout season in 2021 where he had 1,038 yards on 103 receptions and nine touchdowns, Renfrow was awarded a mega deal that the Raiders quickly regretted. In Renfrow’s defense, he had an insane drop off in quarterback play and struggled to repeat his 2021 performance. Now, he’s a proven player that could boost the Bucs’ passing attack.
Remember Adam Humphries and how vital he was to the Bucs way back when? Then remember Renfrow being compared to Humphries throughout the draft process? That’s the kind of player you would get. A fearless, speedy guy that can play in the slot or on the outside, can run whatever routes you need, and isn’t scared to get hit over the middle. Another very inexpensive option for the Bucs to bring in rest of season.
While the Bucs may just roll with what they have, there are some options out there they could pursue either through free agency or trade. Ultimately what Jason Licht and his team need to figure out is whether or not it’s worth it to give up future draft capital for a team that is down their top two receivers - with one set to come back this year - but has other glaring holes to fill as well, most notably at linebacker and corner.
This is a playoff caliber team when healthy. Without Godwin, without improvements at inside linebacker and corner, they aren’t a Super Bowl contender. And unfortunately that’s just the reality of the situation.
The loss to the Baltimore Ravens could not have been any worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game itself didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. If you’re going to lose games, make it against AFC opponents. The true loss came in the form of injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Godwin’s 2024 season is now over after suffering a dislocated ankle with under a minute to play in the 41-31 loss. Evans re-aggravated his hamstring injury and is likely out until after the bye week. So what do the Buccaneers do at wide receiver?
Well, for starters, Jalen McMillan has to step up. The Bucs drafted him in the third round and he is supposed to be a big part of their future. Now, he’s going to have to become a big part of their present. Then there’s Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard who are not going to strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators, but have both proved effective throughout their careers. It wouldn’t surprise me if Shepard filled the slot role while McMillan and Palmer were the outside receivers. Then there’s Marquez Callaway who was signed to the practice squad, Kameron Johnson who will hopefully return soon, Rakim Jarrett who is in the 21-day window to return from injured reserve, Ryan Miller who flashed in preseason, then Tanner Knue and Dennis Houston also on the practice squad.
If the Bucs are going to look outside their current roster for help, there are a few players that could be of use. Cooper Kupp would obviously be a big boost - but that is extremely unlikely. First, the Rams would have to eat a lot of the salary for this season but then you have about $20-million in salary for next year that would, effectively, end any chance that Godwin is able to come back.
Here are some trade and free agent options that the Bucs could look into;
Mike Williams - New York Jets
He’s not going to be a guy that comes in to fill Godwin’s role, but he would help in an overall sense. Following the trade for Davante Adams, Williams seems to be the odd man out with the Jets. It wouldn’t cost much more than a day three pick or even a day three pick swap to take Williams and his $2.74-million dollar cap hit. He signed a one year, $10-million dollar deal with the Jets that included four void years to spread the cap hit out. The Jets are going to eat some money whether they keep him or move on from him, so he’s an affordable option on the trade market.
Williams has just eleven receptions for 160 yards this season and is coming off a 2023 season with the Chargers where he had 19 receptions for 249 yards and a touchdown in three games. He’s a viable deep threat that takes the top off the defense.
Russell Gage - Free Agent
Second time’s the charm? After being released by the Bucs in a cap saving move, Gage signed a one year deal with the Baltimore Ravens before being released in early August. Gage never panned out in Tampa due to injuries, but could come in and run with a similar offense to what the Bucs did last season so the learning curve wouldn’t be too steep.
There was a lot of excitement around Gage when he signed with the Bucs in 2022 but he was limited from the jump. He appeared in thirteen games for the Bucs in 2022, finishing with 51 receptions for 426 yards and five touchdowns before missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL. A one year, veteran minimum deal could get Gage back on the field to make an impact and help his case for 2025 free agency.
Michael Thomas - Free Agent
I know, I know - I gagged a little as I typed it - but if you need a guy in the slot, who better than Captain Slant Boy himself? Thomas was once one of the most feared receivers in the league before being plagued by injuries and was unceremoniously jettisoned from the New Orleans Saints this past off-season. Now, he could be looking for an opportunity to audition for teams for 2025 and in the Bucs’ pass heavy offense he would have a great chance to do exactly that.
From 2016 through 2019, Thomas never had fewer than 1,100 yards including a league leading 1,725 yards. Though he never hit double digit touchdowns, he had nine touchdowns three times. Since 2020, he’s played in just twenty games and missed the entire 2021 season with an ankle injury. Heading to Tampa to be a big target over the middle for Baker Mayfield could be the career resuscitation he needs.
Elijah Moore - Cleveland Browns
A second round pick in 2021, Moore is in the final year of his contract and only carries a $3.1-million dollar cap hit. The Browns are in complete disarray and have already traded away Amari Cooper. The Ft. Lauderdale native played his college ball at Mississippi and has not been what the Jets or Browns hoped he would be. Odds are, the Bucs could snag him for a late day three pick - maybe one in 2026.
Moore has 161 receptions for 1,760 yards and eight touchdowns in his career, with his best season coming in 2023 with Cleveland where he had 640 yards and two touchdowns on 59 receptions. In Tampa, he would certainly find more snaps and opportunity than he has with either of the dysfunctional organizations he’s been with thus far - as well as the best quarterback play he would have had in his career.
Hunter Renfrow - Free Agent
After his breakout season in 2021 where he had 1,038 yards on 103 receptions and nine touchdowns, Renfrow was awarded a mega deal that the Raiders quickly regretted. In Renfrow’s defense, he had an insane drop off in quarterback play and struggled to repeat his 2021 performance. Now, he’s a proven player that could boost the Bucs’ passing attack.
Remember Adam Humphries and how vital he was to the Bucs way back when? Then remember Renfrow being compared to Humphries throughout the draft process? That’s the kind of player you would get. A fearless, speedy guy that can play in the slot or on the outside, can run whatever routes you need, and isn’t scared to get hit over the middle. Another very inexpensive option for the Bucs to bring in rest of season.
While the Bucs may just roll with what they have, there are some options out there they could pursue either through free agency or trade. Ultimately what Jason Licht and his team need to figure out is whether or not it’s worth it to give up future draft capital for a team that is down their top two receivers - with one set to come back this year - but has other glaring holes to fill as well, most notably at linebacker and corner.
This is a playoff caliber team when healthy. Without Godwin, without improvements at inside linebacker and corner, they aren’t a Super Bowl contender. And unfortunately that’s just the reality of the situation.
.png)
.png)
.png)
