While this Buccaneers’ wide receiver room isn’t as good as it has been before, there are a lot of solid guys here. Granted, it’s more dependent on potential than it has also been in the past production.
Every expected WR 1-4 is very young, Godwin notwithstanding. Tez and Emeka are entering their second year, Ted Hurst will be a rookie, and while Jalen McMillan is in his third year, he missed so much time it is like he’s in his second year.
However, due to this uncertainty, I think it makes it more fun to predict how each guy will do. The obvious answer to the question I posed in the title is Godwin. He is the most proven guy and is expected to be the WR1 by most. However, I have to be different and so I posit another guy will lead the team.
Jalen McMillan was on a heater to end his first year. It was clear that Baker liked and trusted him down the stretch. I still remember when I thought he was a complete failure of a pick after the first few weeks. He ended the year catching 7 TDs in the last five games. It was ridiculous. McMillan was also getting way more consistent targets from Baker in that stretch.
Even in the four games he played, he had some positives. He averaged more yards per reception (14.8 vs 12.5) although strangely tied his longest catch with 33 yards. He also had a higher catch rate as he caught 80% of his targets. 2025 was also the first time he had a game where he eclipsed 100 yards. It happened in that Dolphins game where they somehow lost to Quinn Ewers and a TE who only had one functional leg. Sorry, that game still pisses me off.
The reason I think he can and will lead the team in yards is he is probably the only true deep threat the team currently has. Well, outside Tez Johnson, but I would be surprised if he is on the field enough to lead the team in receiving. Both Godwin and Emeka I would argue are more possession receivers (although Emeka did lead the team in yards last year). McMillan with his strong hands and big play ability will lend his hand to having over 1k yards. He and Emeka also seem to be generating the most buzz in OTAs for whatever that’s worth. Here’s another thing I am willing to plant a flag on. I think he will also have the most TDs, but Godwin will lead the team in receptions. You get to figure the math out on that one.
Want more from Devin? Click here, then follow him on Twitter.
