The Bucs very easily could have the best group of wide receivers in the game. When healthy.
So if Chris Godwin is good to go, who becomes the No. 3 receiver? Is it Jalen McMillan, who proved strong in the final weeks of the season when he went off?
Or is it first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka?
Ben Solak of BSPN is a fan of Egbuka, but says do not forget about McMillan.
… McMillan is a savvy route runner with better speed than he’s given credit for, and he has some spectacular catch ability in him. I still believe in the player, even if the opportunity for high volume is vanishing.
The opportunity for high volume isn’t vanishing. Rather, Joe believes, it is on hold.
First, Godwin’s recovery timetable is a complete unknown. The Bucs, in the wake of the draft, have waffled about Godwin being game-ready by Week 1. So until he is, McMillan is in line for a lot of playing time.
When Godwin returns, that is when the fun begins. If it’s not Week 1, then Joe guesses the Bucs will ease Godwin into the lineup if they’ve been winning, rather than throwing him into the fire and expecting him to take a full-time load of snaps and the physical punishment that comes with it.
As for the future, if Godwin cannot return to his normal self, the Bucs have an out clause after the 2026 season. Plus, Evans’ future is unclear as he’s now in a contract year. McMillan and Egbuka could be the Bucs’ top two receivers by next year, though Joe sure hopes not.
While Joe can see Solak’s point that McMillan may get fewer targets, that is quite possibly a temporary lull for McMillan.
