Updated Buccaneers depth chart after 2024 NFL Draft: Breaking down the offense
By Brad Smith
Buccaneers Depth Chart: Wide Receivers
WR1 | WR2 | WR3 |
|---|---|---|
Mike Evans | Chris Godwin | Jalen McMillan |
Deven Thompkins | Rakim Jarrett | Trey Palmer |
Cepheus Johnson III | Ryan Miller | Raleigh Webb |
By re-signing legendary receiver Mike Evans to a two-year, $52 million contract this offseason, Tampa Bay will enter 2024 with one of the best receiver duos in Evans and Chris Godwin. Collectively, Evans and Godwin have combined for 13 seasons with 1,000+ yards. Evans has caught 762 passes for 11,680 receiving yards and 94 touchdowns in 154, while Godwin has posted 529 passes for 6,690 passing yards, and 34 touchdowns in 104 games.
In addition to Evans and Godwin, the Buccaneers also have 2023 five-round pick Trey Palmer, who showed flashes of stardom as a rookie. Playing in all 17 games, Palmer caught 39 passes for 385 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 9.9 yards per catch, with all of those marks ranking third among Buccaneers wide receivers.
During the draft, Tampa Bay selected Washington's Jalen McMillan with the No. 92 pick, who blossomed into a star slot receiver for the Huskies. In 11 starts, McMillan notched 45 receptions for 559 yards, five touchdowns, and 12.4 yards per catch, and was selected to the All-Pac-12 Second Team. Ahead of 2024, the quartet of Evans, Godwin, Palmer, and McMillan is a solid receiver core for Mayfield to repeat his success.
Buccaneers Depth Chart: Tight Ends
TE1 | TE2 | TE3 | TE4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Cade Otton | Ko Kieft | Payne Durham | Devin Culp |
Instead of adding a game-changing talent at tight end in free agency or the draft, Tampa Bay stood pat and is set to have Cade Otton be TE1 for a second straight season. Starting in all 17 games, Otton, the No. 106 pick in the 2022 draft, caught 47 passes for 455 receiving yards, four touchdowns, and 9.7 yards per reception, all career-highs.
Behind Otton in the depth chart are Ko Kieft and Payne Durham, but similar to Trask and Wolford, neither have shown the ability to complement Otton in an expanded role in Tampa Bay's offense. Therefore, the Buccaneers opted to add Washington's Devin Culp with the No. 246 pick in the seventh round on Saturday.
At 6'4" and 250 pounds, Culp enjoyed a career year in his fourth and final season as a Huskie. In 14 games, Culp caught 16 passes for 208 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and served as a safety blanket for fellow first-round selection Michael Penix. If nothing else, Culp is a jump-ball specialist that will give Mayfield another option to look at deep in the red zone.