Keeping Scotty Miller might not make sense for the Buccaneers in the grand scheme of things.
The Buccaneers have a lot of difficult decisions to make this offseason. Some might not be popular, but it is worth noting that popular moves with the Bucs fanbase are often the exact opposite of what teams should do.
Scotty Miller exploded onto the scene during his second season and first year with Tom Brady, but we never saw that player during 2021. Injuries certainly played a part, but the Bucs did have every opportunity to use Miller with so many guys out down the stretch, and their decision to go to other guys is very telling.
If the Bucs aren’t willing to use Miller when it counts, and Tom Brady, the quarterback that made Miller a household name, is out, Tampa should start listening to some trade offers.
The thought of trading a guy like Miller after he played a part in one of the best single moments in Buccaneers history likely pisses a lot of people off, but his role on this team is quickly disappearing.
Most people start with the terrible analysis on Miller by assuming he plays in the slot. This is perhaps a bit of stereotyping on size and build mixed with a bit of Tom Brady coming to Tampa, but Miller actually plays more of the Z role on the outside.
Miller is a vertical receiving threat that can’t block and rarely gets chances to make plays after the catch in the middle, even when Chris Godwin is out.
There is a reason why most outside guys have size. Mike Evans, Cyril Grayson, and Breshad Perriman took far more of these reps than Miller, and no one ever expected Grayson or Perriman to ever get that chance over Miller last season.
This shows a lack of fit, and not having Tom Brady throwing passes to Miller any longer could bring this experiment to a close. Speed is great for a receiver, but it isn’t everything. Based on what we have seen in a small sample size, Grayson has already proven that he brings much more versatility to the role than Miller, and we haven’t even talked about the Bucs adding bodies in the draft and free agency.
While the Bucs probably wouldn’t get much, there are more than a few teams out there that would at least ponder the idea of adding Miller after watching his highlight reel. Perhaps they lack that speed on the outside and would be willing to part with a Day Three pick.
Regardless, Miller is likely slated to contend for the WR6 role as it stands, and overvaluing a WR6 after one good season is not the way a team like the Buccaneers stays in contention.
Tampa should at least keep their ears open.
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