Not every draft pick can turn out to be a star. Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has quietly been one of the best in the NFL in recent years, but even he can't turn every draft pick into a contributor.
Drafting wide receiver Trey Palmer was far from a mistake, but the Bucs could still get something in return for the young speedster if they deal him soon.
Pro Football Trade Rumors writer Logan Ulrich thinks Tampa Bay could have Palmer on the trade block.
Buccaneers receiver Trey Palmer on projected trade block
NFL Trade Rumors recently put together a list of potential trade candidates for every NFL team. There were some juicy names included, like Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones and Green Bay Packers wideout Romeo Doubs.
For the Buccaneers, Ulrich listed three trade pieces: Rachaad White, Rakim Jarrett, and Trey Palmer. White likely won't get dealt as he's viewed as a strong second running back in the Bucs' offense. Jarrett could be available for trade, but Tampa wouldn't get all that much in return. That leaves us with Palmer, the perfect trade candidate.
The Buccaneers took Palmer out of Nebraska in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, he was viewed as a developmental receiver with the speed to become a quality player. Now, well, it's about the same. Palmer's speed helps him threaten defenses over the top (his average depth of target was over 14 yards last season), but he doesn't bring much else to the table. He's not a refined route runner or a consistent contested catch winner.
Palmer still has the tools to develop into something, but it seems like the Bucs are done waiting. They drafted Emeka Egbuka in the first round this year to fill their third starting receiver spot alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Palmer could still fill in that fourth receiver role and serve as a safeguard for any potential injuries to starters. But if Tampa can get some value in return for him, they could use it to cover other areas of need on their roster.
This is the perfect time of year to shop a player like Palmer. Teams are dealing with injuries heading into the season, and preseason action is likely proving to some general managers that their receiving group isn't what they thought it was. Maybe some desperate team will put in an offer for Palmer that the Bucs can't refuse.