Heading into Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, much is the same as it was last year. Specifically on the offensive side of the ball, the Bucs have the luxury of bringing back all starters from a season ago.
Just a tad lower on the depth chart is where we could see some immediate shakeup, though. Backup slot receiver Sterling Shepard has been a great veteran presence in the locker room and a good friend of quarterback Baker Mayfield, but his spot might end up getting snatched real quickly at camp.
Wait, why are we talking about a backup slot receiver? It's pretty simple. Take a look at last season. The wide receiver position saw some significant injuries at times, and Shepard wound up playing meaningful football.
Sterling Shepard's time as the key backup slot receiver could be coming to an end
Rookie seventh-round pick Tez Johnson is the main worry for Shepard, which might sound a little extreme on the surface considering he was selected in the very last round of this year's draft.
But, Johnson was once viewed as a possible Day 2 pick and ended up slipping. Since joining the Bucs, his limited offseason work has been impressive and the attitude, hustle and motivation has all been there.
The Oregon product came into the pros as a receiver who finished each of the last two seasons with 10 receiving touchdowns. The production can't be argued with, but the youth and longevity is a different conversation.
At one point, we thought Shepard might have been out of the league completely. His career was dangling by a thread. But, his old college buddy Baker helped prolong the cause. And, Shepard proved he wasn't yet done in this league.
Johnson has a shot to bring Shepard closer to retirement, though, once again.
The rookie's ability to "put cornerbacks in a blender" was put on full display at this year's Senior Bowl where Johnson had a phenomenal showing. He fell after the Combine, but Johnson has already proven to be much more than just a seventh rounder in his first few months with the Bucs.
Shepard is a massive, positive veteran presence. But, his presence might be found much more often on the sideline in 2025.