Injury report: Derrick Brooks has been suspended due to injury.
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shift their focus to the offseason, there are question marks at every position on the roster. In this series, we’ll look at each position grouping and see what the Bucs have on the roster who is an impending free agent, and the outlook for the 2024 season.
On The Roster
Chris Godwin
Godwin enters the last season of his contract extension as the top receiver on the roster with Mike Evans pending free agency. He posted his third consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2023 though he saw the lowest touchdown output since his rookie year with just two scores. The Bucs’ new offensive coordinator Liam Coen stated he plans to move Godwin back into the slot more this coming season. A position where he has seen a majority of his success throughout his career.
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Trey Palmer
The Bucs traded back into the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Palmer giving up a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. Due to a preseason injury to Russell Gage Plamer was thrust into the number three receiver role. It took the rookie some time to settle into the position but he started eight games and put up 39 receptions for 385 yards and three touchdowns.
Rakim Jarrett
Jarrett made the team out of camp as an undrafted free agent. He played in the first 10 games of the season tallying four receptions for 60 yards. He was finally starting to come on until an injury in Week 10 landed him on injured reserve. He was elevated off IR in Week 17 but was inactive for the Bucs’ final three games.
Ryan Miller
Miller signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent and was with the Bucs through training camp. He was released at the final cut-downs and signed onto the team’s practice squad. He spent the season there but was elevated in Week 13 against the Panther seeing three offensive snaps but didn’t record a target or reception. He signed a futures contract in January.
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Cephus Johnson
Johnson signed with the Bucs during training camp after signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He was waived during final roster cuts and signed onto the practice squad where he spent the year. He signed a futures contract in January.
Raliegh Webb
Webb joined the team’s practice squad late in November after an injury to Jarrett thrust David Moore to the active roster. He entered the league in 2022 and saw action with the Ravens and Patriots before signing with the Dolphins in the Summer. He signed a futures contract in January.
Russell Gage
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Gage suffered a preseason injury in joint practices against the Jets and missed the entire year on injured reserve. He is likely to be released saving the Bucs about $6.5 million against the cap.
Impending Free Agents
Mike Evans
Re-signing Evans is a top priority for the Bucs this offseason the veteran receiver posted his tenth consecutive season of 1,000 yards or more and tied for the league lead in touchdowns with 13. Evans and the Bucs have both stated their desire to make him a “Bucs for life” but the team is set to let the All-Pro test free agency. There will be plenty of suitors but the Buccaneers are likely to have him back in the fold.
The team would’ve saved over $7 million against the cap if they got a new deal done by February 19 but no extension was signed.
Devon Thompkins ERFA
Thompkins is an exclusive rights free agent this year. Unless the Bucs do not tender his option, which is unlikely, he can only play for Tampa Bay in 2024. Early in the season, he split the wide receiver’s three duties with Plamer before being bumped down the depth chart. Thompkins was the team’s primary return man last season.
David Moore
It was expected that Moore would likely make the team out of training camp but the veteran wide receiver was released at the final roster cuts. He signed onto the Bucs practice squad and wasn’t elevated until Week 11 after Jarrett’s injury. He spent the next three weeks as a practice squad elevation before signing onto the active roster.
He had a breakout game against the Packers and delivered against the Eagles in the playoffs. It’s unclear if he is in the team’s plans for 2024 as he could decide to follow new Panthers head coach Dave Canales to Carolina.
2024 Outlook
The biggest question mark heading into next season is if Evans will be on the roster. While the two sides want to get a deal done, there’s no telling with the uncertainty of free agency. If Evans does return the top three wide receivers will be pretty much set with Godwin and Palmer rounding out the room.
The Bucs could decide to prepare for life after Godwin whose contract expires after the season. Or add competition for Palmer by way of the draft or a veteran in free agency as well. The coaches were high on Jarrett’s development but expect competition for the final two or three spots on the roster.
