We still have a ways to go before the regular season arrives, but when it does the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be a few steps ahead of where everyone thinks they'll be.
Despite being picked to be among the worst teams in the league, the Bucs made it all the way to the NFC Divisional Round and won a third straight division title along the way. Tampa Bay used most of its offseason to bring back key players who made last season possible, something that is oddly being held against them.
There were new additions, though. The Bucs added some pretty stellar rookie talent in the draft, and one of those guys is already getting some big-time early buzz. Jalen McMillan was a third round pick for Tampa Bay this year, and he's gaining some national praise in a short amount of time.
Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer are impressing all the right people this offseason
MMQB's Albert Breer highlighted some early success stories around the league and called out two specific Buccaneers players. Wide receivers Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan have earned high marks within the locker room already, but Breer mentioned them as potential breakouts based on what he's seen so far.
" Palmer flashed his big-play ability as a rookie, playing in every game, starting six, and hitting for a 56-yard touchdown in the Bucs’ playoff win over the Eagles. He took another step over the past couple of months, along with the third-rounder McMillan (like seemingly every player coming from the Washington offense into the NFL this spring), who was outstanding in his early work," Breer wrote.
This is a dream scenario for the Bucs.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are stone-cold locks who could be impactful pieces of Liam Coen's new offense, but having Palmer and McMillan breakout would give the Bucs four solid options with which to carve up opposing defenses. Opening up the passing game would also give an improved offensive line a chance to finally get the run game going with Rachaad White and rookie Bucky Irving.
Like last offseason, the Bucs seem to be getting pushed aside by experts who believe the Falcons or Saints will take over the NFC South. The disrespect isn't new, but it's more disappointing this offseason, given all that Tampa Bay did to exceed expectations a year ago.
If McMillan and Palmer can step up the way it looks like they might so far this offseason, then the Buccaneers are going to once again catch everyone by surprise.