Wide Receiver Selections for the Bucs Are Close to the Wire

Wide Receiver Selections for the Bucs Are Close to the Wire

The Bucs’ final roster decisions were further complicated by the impressive performances of wide receivers Ryan Miller, Cody Thompson, and Kameron Johnson during Friday night’s victory over the Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins were defeated 24-14 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night, with rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan having the play of the game. After setting up wide to the right, McMillan received an outside release on CB Siran Neal and ran a go route down the sideline on the opening drive of the game. McMillan leapt to receive the ball between two defenders as Baker Mayfield floated it over the top, only managing to get one foot and one hand inbounds. On the following play, the Buccaneers scored a touchdown.

On the Bucs’ opening drive, Chris Godwin also had a nice play, although a familiar one, taking a tunnel screen out to the left for a gain of nine yards to gain possession of the ball.

over midfield. After running back Rachaad White finished the possession with a four-yard dash into the end zone, Godwin, McMillan and the rest of the Buccaneers’ starters took their seats on the bench for the rest of the night.

The Buccaneers are starting the process this weekend of cutting their 91-man camp roster down to 53 for the regular season, so Godwin and McMillan are obviously safe. Mike Evans is also a lock, having been rested that evening for self-evident reasons rather than an injury. Despite missing the game because of a slight injury, second-year wide receiver Trey Palmer is a key member of the team’s offensive schemes following a strong debut year.

It gets less apparent after that. Which number of receivers—five or six—will the Bucs keep on the active roster? Seven is a factor to consider. And who takes the last one, two, or three places that are open?