With the last preseason weekend approaching, final roster cuts loom for each NFL club. It remains to be seen how many receivers the Buccaneers will carry on the active roster and how many could come back via the practice squad, but in the meantime, competition is heating up for Tampa Bay's pass catchers.
In the Florida heat, many players in the bubble are fighting for their dream and as the pressure and expectations escalate, stars are born. Veteran Chris Godwin has encouraged younger players in the receiver room to "be present" and to focus on the blessing of being on an NFL field. Impressed with this year's bunch, Godwin dished on the talent of the 2024 group in Tampa Bay.
"I think each year, one of the things that kind of stands out to me, I feel like the classes of rookies come in a little more ready or more able to handle the workload," noted Godwin. "The transition from college to the pros is a speed difference and a conceptual difference in understanding how to play ball, but I feel like each year our receiver group gets better and better and each year we have more and more guys that in my opinion can legitimately have a shot at making the team, which is impressive.
"That is a testament to those guys and the work that they have put in…We probably have 10 guys that can realistically make the roster. Kam [Johnson] has been doing a really great job. Cody [Thompson], Ryan [Miller] have been doing a great job, (as well as) Raleigh [Webb]. I think throughout camp, Rock [Rakim Jarrett] has been doing good things and there have been a lot of guys that have made plays throughout camp to show that they are capable of doing it."
Each year, it is not just an increased quantity at the position but quality in the pool. From 2009 to 2019, the number of receivers picked in the first two rounds reached double-digits once — and it has happened every year for the previous four drafts. Much like the NFL, as the college game has revolutionized to pass-centric attacks, receivers are held at a premium. The players are physically more prepared in pass-heavy systems and athletes are beginning to train at an earlier age to foster growth.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, several of the aforementioned names have raised their stock, including Johnson and Thompson. Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Barton College, has gradually worked back into the mix from a ribs injury and has played a significant role in the team's pre-snap movement to keep defenses off balance. He is explosive in the lateral-stretch game and is a polished route runner, baiting defenders with his agility. Thompson, a former Seahawk who signed with the Bucs in June, scored the team's lone touchdown on Saturday against the Jaguars. He set up the methodical drive with a chain-moving fly sweep and helped bolster the offense at EverBank Stadium. Thompson has a good feel for speed variations in routes to create separation and plays with outstanding body control. Both have been bright spots for the Bucs and will vie for one of the team's final roster spots.
