The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a talented wide receiver room featuring Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Ted Hurst and Jalen McMillan.
But the biggest playmaker in the Bucs’ passing game is none of the above. It’s Tez Johnson.
Johnson doesn’t get the same target volume as the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart, but he makes the most of every opportunity. He’s a big play waiting to happen and has emerged as Tampa Bay’s unexpected X-factor on offense.
Tez Johnson is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ most underrated playmaker
Johnson’s big-play ability was on full display in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. He only touched the ball four times, but made every opportunity count.
He had two receptions, one for a 19-yard gain and the other for a 14-yard touchdown.
Johnson also had one rush attempt, gaining 14 yards and picking up a first down.
He even made an impact on special teams with an explosive 22-yard punt return.
Johnson has proven he can make magic happen with the ball in his hands, and that’s extremely valuable to a Buccaneers offense that has struggled for much of the season. Tampa Bay is currently averaging just 150 passing yards per game, ranking dead last in the NFL.
The best way to help out Baker Mayfield and breathe life into the passing game is by drawing up more plays for its best playmaker, and right now, Johnson is that guy.
His nine receptions on the season are seventh-most on the Buccaneers, but he’s turned those nine catches into 178 yards, the fourth-most on the team.
His 19.8 yards per reception average leads all Buccaneers receivers by a wide margin, and he also owns Tampa Bay’s longest reception of the season with a 64-yard gain against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5.
With all of the other weapons on this offense, it’s easy for opposing defenses to overlook Johnson, who stands at just 5-foot-10 and is the NFL’s lightest player at 165 pounds.
Zac Robinson has been far from perfect as the offensive coordinator, but he deserves credit for scheming up well-timed opportunities for Johnson and giving him chances to create explosive plays.
With Egbuka and Godwin both struggling to make the impact the Buccaneers have come to expect from them and McMillan sidelined with an injury, the passing game desperately needs a spark, and Johnson can provide it.
Good things happen almost every time Johnson has the ball in his hands, and the more he gets involved in this offense, the better.
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