NFL
How Long Will the Buccaneers Wait to Replace Hall of Fame WR Mike Evans?
2 minread2 minutes read
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Atlanta Falcons by Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images
Tampa’s offense regressed massively in 2025, and while some of that is undoubtedly due to the health of quarterback Baker Mayfield, the team also was devoid of twitchy downfield targets.
The Buccaneers issues were only compounded with longtime top receiver Mike Evans departed in free agency, and while he was no longer as explosive as he once was, Evans remained a vital target in must-catch situations, third down, redzone, short-yardage and tight windows.
They used a first-round a year ago on a receiver, Emeka Egbuka, who got off to a torrid start but then tailed off significantly. And the Bucs also lack a dynamic move tight end who can win with speed deep; Cade Otton is a nice piece, but the overall group of pass catchers certainly seems to be lacking and glaring a week away from the draft.
It stands to reason this will be addressed fairly early on the draft, if not with their first pick.
What’s The Calculus For Tampa?
Ideally, several rival executives believe the Bucs would love to land a top pass rusher with their top pick, but that is a position group that could be well picked through by the time they select at 15th overall. Weighing what is likely to still be available at those critical position groups later in the draft will go a long way to making the decision on who to grab first.
“It’s gotta be an edge or a downfield weapon, right,” said one NFL general manager picking in the bottom half of the draft.
“They took a receiver last year. I could see them grabbing the edge from Miami (Akheem Mesidor) or Auburn (Keldric Faulk).”
The Bucs defense also took a tumble a year ago, and head coach Todd Bowles’s job security may hang in the balance if he cannot get them back into contention.
The defensive line was the strength of the franchise when they won their last Super Bowl, even if Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady got much of the attention, and it needs new additions. We suspect that carries the day in the first round unless the draft board takes even more twists and turns than is the norm.
La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.