This bold Buccaneers draft move might blow up in their face

Depending on how the board falls in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be tempted to do a number of things. One of the growing expectations is for the Bucs to trade back, something Adam Schefter brought up as a possibility earlier this week.

The Bucs could also stand pat and lean toward the consensus, which is to take either Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell or Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, both of whom would fill huge needs.

Another route the Bucs could go, one that is more on the table than it would seem, is select a wide receiver.

There are a handful of talented receivers projected to be picked early in the upcoming draft class, and the Bucs have shown strong interest in one particular receiver prospect, but is drafting a wide receiver in the first round the correct move for the Buccaneers?

No, the Buccaneers should not draft a wide receiver in Round 1

The argument in favor of drafting a receiver early is simple. Mike Evans is 31 years old, while Chris Godwin is 29 years old, and coming off his second major injury. Together, the two form one of the most consistent and reliable receiver duos in the NFL, but the Buccaneers need to be proactive in preparing for the eventual future without their aging stars.

Last season, there was a stretch where the Bucs were without both Evans and Godwin due to injury, and the team simply wasn't deep enough at the receiver position to maintain the necessary offensive production without both of their top options in the fold.

Luckily, the Buccaneers were able to rely on an efficient rushing attack led by rookie running back Bucky Irving to keep them afloat, but the need for a high-end receiver that could serve as a capable insurance option was on full display in 2024.

Despite investing a third-round draft pick in the position, drafting Jalen McMillan out of the University of Washington just a year ago, adding another early-round receiver has picked up serious traction as a potential option for the Buccaneers in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Texas' Matthew Golden seems to be the apple of Jason Licht's eye if he drafts a receiver in the first round. Golden measured in at 5-foot-11, 191 pounds and commanded national attention after running a blazing 4.29 40-yard dash.

The Buccaneers not only held a formal meeting with Golden at the NFL Combine in March, but they also hosted him on a top-30 visit in Tampa, which he announced himself by sharing a photo of Evans and Godwin from the Bucs' facility via his Instagram, seemingly indicating some mutual interest.

Golden caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns for the Longhorns in 2024. His production as a receiver and returner, where he scored two kickoff return touchdowns in his college career, combined with his impressive athletic testing have helped raise his draft stock significantly.

He is considered by many in the draft community, including respected draft analyst Todd McShay, as the draft's top wide receiver prospect outside of Travis Hunter.

"Golden’s starting-level traits and big leap forward as a go-to playmaker have him primed to become a productive catch-maker with the potential to develop into a WR1 in the future," wrote Lance Zerlein, an analyst for NFL.com.

Golden is a fine player, and could very well have a successful NFL career, but that doesn't mean he is the right fit for the Buccaneers in 2025. The Bucs are in win-now mode with a short Super Bowl window ahead of them, and the team believes they are just a few pieces away from being legitimate contenders.

With more pressing needs at outside cornerback, nickel cornerback, inside linebacker, and edge rusher, drafting a wide receiver in the first round is a luxury that the Buccaneers simply can't afford right now.

At best, Golden would be the third option at wide receiver behind Evans and Godwin, and while the move could certainly prove to pay dividends in the long-term, the Bucs should instead target a more immediate-impact player on the defensive side of the ball with their first-round draft selection.

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