Tampa Bay Buccaneers Biggest Off-Season Needs
By Brian DeFeo
Number Two Wide Receiver
The Bucs have a top receiver in the NFL on their roster currently in Mike Evans. Behind him there is a steep drop off. With Vincent Jackson injured to end the past two seasons, a number two receiver is an immediate need for this offense. Adam Humphries is a great slot and number three receiver but he is not meant to be a primary target opposite Evans. The best option for Tampa is a speedy receiver to give Winston a guy who can catch up to all of his overthrows. There, I said it. Cecil Shorts leg may never be the same, Louis Murphy was cut, and everyone else really belongs on the practice squad.
The free agent market isn’t extremely deep at the position with Alshon Jeffery being the best available. Every one else is either older or not a reliable threat. An interesting name I like is Cordarrelle Patterson. If you look at what he did his rookie season and what Tyreek Hill did this season for the Chiefs, Patterson could be a play maker as a returner and speed threat.
With free agency being not as deep, the draft has options for the Bucs to make a play at strong number two target. With the Bucs having the 19th pick in the draft there are a few first round targets I can see being targeted. Washington’s John Ross and Western Michigan’s Corey Davis are the best wide receivers that should be available around where the Bucs pick. Ross and Davis are speed guys who could take the Bucs offense to another level. The offense regressed a little this season compared to 2015 but with the youth of the team gaining more experience another receiver could take them to the next level.