Even though Mike Evans was a massive name and a future Hall of Famer, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are optimistic that they can be even better next season on offense, including at the wide receiver position itself.
So much hype in the fantasy community and in the media is centered around former first round wideout Emeka Egbuka, who flirted with the possibility of 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie - and probably would have gotten there if the entire offense around him did not implode.
But two more experienced wide receivers are on the mind of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who took some extra time to hype up Jalen McMillan, drafted the year befor Egbuka, and Chris Godwin Jr., a long time Buccaneer who is finally the No. 1 guy with Evans gone.
This is Chris Godwin's year
Mayfield said of the two, via Joe Bucs Fan, “We’ll be able to kind of dictate based on personnel and [our receivers] moving around and really seeing defenses and how they’re going to try and cover us, attack us. It’s a great luxury to have. I think Chris [Godwin] looks really, really good right now. I was training with him the whole offseason and [Jalen McMillan,] as well. Those guys busted their tails. Chris looks like he’s back into his pure form.”
Emeka Egbuka is widely tabbed as the huge breakout star to watch in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense, and even rookie Ted Hurst is getting some love as a darkhorse. But it feels like the average fan outside of Tampa Bay still has no idea who McMillan is, even though upon his return from a serious injury last season, he looked just as good, maybe even better, than Egbuka in that home stretch.
And then there is Godwin, a regular 1,000 yard threat and unquestionably a top player in this league when fully healthy. And if Godwin can stay fully healthy in 2026 as the leader of this exciting unit, it is clear that there will be targets out there for him.
Baker Mayfield tells it like it is, just ask his defense from last season, so if he is going out of his way to effusively praise these guys, then that is more than a strong hint of what is to come. With a contract to play for and Mike Evans snubbing him for Brock Purdy, Baker has a real chip on his shoulder again, and he will want Godwin to feel the same way, too.
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