A total of 330 players were summoned to take part in the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, and no single position received more invites than the nation's wide receivers. Nearly 60 wideouts will be taking turns on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf this week, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be paying close attention to all of them.
"As far as other receivers, that's one of the things that we have to get answered here in the offseason," said Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter, speaking at the Combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday, three days before the receivers would actually take the field. "We're working through that."
Photos of the 2017 NFL Combine participants.
WR Rodney Adams, South Florida
S Jamal Adams, LSU
DT Montravius Adams, Auburn
WR Quincy Adeboyejo, Mississippi
DB Brian Allen, Utah
DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama
OLB Ryan Anderson, Alabama
LB Alex Anzalone, Florida
OG Isaac Asiata, Utah
CB Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
S Budda Baker, Washngton
P Toby Baker, Arkansas
OT Zach Banner, USC
DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
DE Tarell Basham, Ohio
QB C.J. Beathard, Iowa
ILB Kendell Beckwith, LSU
OLB Vince Biegel, Wisconsin
OT Adam Binsnowaty, Pittsburgh
WR Victor Bolden, Oregon St.
OT Garett Bolles, Utah
ILb Ben Boulware, Clemson
WR Kendrick Bourne, Eastern Washington
DE Tashawn Bower, LSU
LB Tyus Bowser, Houston
OG Ben Braden, Michigan
DT Caleb Brantley, Florida
LB Blair Brown, Ohio
DE Fadol Brown, Mississippi
LB Jayon Brown, UCLA
WR Noah Brown, Ohio St.
TE Pharaoh Brown, Oregon
OT Daniel Brunskill, San Diego St.
OL Collin Buchanan, Miami(OH)
LB Riley Bullough, Michigan St.
K Harrison Butker, Georgia Tech
TE Jake Butt, Michigan
WR KD Cannon, Baylor
DE Josh Carraway, TCU
TE Cethan Carter, Nebraska
S Jamal Carter, Miami
DE Taco Charlton, Michigan
WR Jehu Chesson, Michigan
DB Chuck Clark, Virginia Tech
CB Jeremy Clark, Michigan
RB Corey Clement, Wisconsin
DT Chunky Clements, Illinois
RB Tarik Cohen, North Caarolina A&T
WR Stacey Coley, Miami
OT Aviante Collins, TCU
CB Gareon Conley, Ohio St.
RB James Conner, Pittsburgh
RB Davin Cook, Florida St.
DE Bryan Cox, Jr., Florida
LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
TE Darrell Daniels, Washington
WR Amara Darboh, Michigan
OT Julie'n Davenport, Bucknell
WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
LB Jarrad Davis, Florida
RB Justn Davis, USC
DE Keionta Davis, Tennessee-Chattanooga
LB Kevin Davis, Colorado St.
WR Robert Davis, Georgia State
OG Dion Dawkins, Temple
RB Matt Dayes, N.C.State
CB Treston Decoud, Oregon St.
C J.J. Dielman, Utah
QB Josh Dobbs, Tennessee
DL Dylan Donahue, West Georgia
CB Rasul Douglas, West Virginia
G Jessamen Dunker, Tennessee St.
WR Malachi Dupri, LSU
WR Travin Dural, LSU
DL Ken Ekanem, Virginia Tech
CB Corn Elder, Miami
C Pat Elflein, Ohio St.
K Jake Eliiott, Memphis
ILB Brooks Ellis, Arkansas
OL Jermaine Eluemunor, Texas A&M
TE Evan Engram, Mississippi
WR Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse
QB Jerod Evans, Virginia Tech
S Justin Evans, Texas A&M
TE Gerald Everett, South Alabama
OG Dan Feeny, Indiana
OLB Devonte' Fields, Louisville
WR Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
RB D'Onta Foreman, Texas
LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
C Kyle Fuller, Baylor
RB Wayne Gallman, Clemson
OT Anotonio Garcia, Troy
DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
ILB Be Gedeon, Michigan
OT Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M
S Nate Gerry, Nebraska
WR Shelton Gibson, West Virginia
DT Ryan Glasgow, Michigan
DT Davon Godchaux, LSU
WR Chris Godwin, Penn St.
WR Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois
K Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State
DB Shaquill Griffin, Central Florida
CB Nate Hairston, Temple
DE Daeshon Hall, Texas A&M
WR Chad Hansen, California
OG Sean Harlow, Oregon St.
DE Charles Harris, Missouri
S Josh Harve-Clemons, Louisville
WR Keon Hatcher, Arkansas
WR Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
RB De'Angelo Henderson, Coastal Carolina
DE Trey Hemdrickson, Florida Atlantic
DT Treyvon Hester, Toledo
TE Cole Hikutini, Louisville
RB Brian Hill, Wyoming
SS Delano Hill, Michigan
TE Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
WR Krishawn Hogan, Marian (IN)
LS Colin Holba, Louisville
OT Will Holden, Vanderbilt
WR Mack Hollins, North Carolina
RB Elijah Hood, North Carolina
S Malik Hooker, Ohio St.
WR Bug Howard, North Carolina
TE O.J. Howard, Alabama
CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
P Hayden Hunt, Colorado St.
RB Kareem Hunt, Toledo
G Danny Isidora, Miami
CB Adoree' Jackson, USC
S Eddie Jackson, Alabama
S Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami
S Lorenzo Jerome, St. Fracncis (PA)
OG Dorian Johnson, Pittsburgh
S Jadar Johnson, Clemson
DT Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
S John Johnson, Boston College
OT Roderick Johnson, Florida St.
P Cameron Johnston, Ohio St.
RB Aaron Jones, Texas-El Paso
DT D.J. Jones, Mississippi
DT Jarron Jones, Notre Dame
S Josh Jones, N.C. State
DT Nazair Jones, North Carolina
CB Sidney Jones, Washington
WR Zay Jones, East Carolina
QB Brad Kaaya, Miami
RB Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
Cb Damontae Kazee, San Diego St.
LB Keith Kelsey, Louisville
S Desmond King, Iowa
CB Kevin King, Washington
TE George Kittle, Iowa
QB DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
QB Trevor Knight, Texas A&M
DE Tano Kpassagnon, Villanova
WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
OG Forest Lamp, Western Kentucky
CB Ashton Lampkin, Oklahoma St.
WR Jerome Lane, Akron
DE Harvey Langi, BYU
CB Brendan, Langley, Lamar
Cb Marshon Lattimore, Ohio St.
DE Carl Lawson, Auburn
DE Jeremiah Ledbetter, Arkansas
LB Marquel Lee, Wake Forest
TE Jordan Leggett, Clemson
QB Mitche Leidner, Minnestoa
CB Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
DB William Likely, Maryland
QB Sefo, Liufau, Colorado
RB T.J. Logan, North Carolina
S Shalom Luani, Washington St.
WR Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
RB Marlon Mack, South Florida
QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
WR Josh Malone, Tennessee
G Damien Mama, USC
WR Gabe Marks, Washington St.
OLB JoJo Mathis, Washington
S Marcus Maye, Florida
RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
OT Conor McDermott, UCLA
DT Malik McDowell, Michigan St.
RB Elijah McGuire,Louisiana-Lafayette
WR Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
DE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
LB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio St.
RB Jeremy McNichols, Boise St.
S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
OLB Matt Milano, Boston College
CB Fabian Moreau, UCLA
WR Drew Morgan, Arkansas
G Jordan Morgan, Kutztown (PA)
OG Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, Miami
CB Jaylen Myrick, Minnesota
S Montae Nicholson, Michigan St.
LB Hardy Nickerson, Illinois
TE David Njoku, Miami
WR Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
DE Noble Nwachukwu, West Virginia
DL Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
RB Dare Ogunbowale, Wisconsin
DT Larry Ogunjobi, North Carolina Charlotte
C Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
TE Scott Orndoff, Pittsburgh
WR Zach Pascal, Old Dominion
LB Jabrill Pepers, Michigan
RB Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
QB Nathan Peterman, Pittsburgh
DE Carroll Phillips, Illinois
TE Hayden Plinke, Texas-El Paso
C Ethan Pocic, LSU
DE Ejuan Price, Pittsburgh
RB Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego St.
DT Elijah Qualls, Washington
WR James Quick, Louisville
OT Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
WR Michael Retor, Stanford
DE Haason Reddick, Temple
RB Devine Redding, Indiana
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee
P Austin Rehkow, Idaho
WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
OLB Duke Riley, LSU
DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown St.
TE Michael Roberts, Toledo
WR Jalen Robinette, Air Force
OT Cam Robinson, Alabama
DT Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame
WR Darreus Rogers, USC
FB Sam Rogers, Virginia Tech
WR Fred Ross, Mississippi St.
WR John Ross, Washington
C Chase Roullier, Wyoming
WR Travis Rudolph, Florida St.
QB Cooper Rush, Central Michigan
QB Seth Russell, Baylor
WR Curtis Samuel, Ohio St.
WR Artavis Scott, Clemson
WR Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M
OT Justin Senior, Mississippi St.
OT David Sharpe, Florida
RB Rushel Shell, West Virginia
CB Sojourn Shelton, Wisconsin
DE Garrett Sickels, Penn St.
OG Nico Siragusa, San Diego St.
OT Dan Skipper, Arkansas
DT Tanzel Smart, Tulane
TE Jonnu Smith, Florida International
RB De'Veon Smith, Michigan
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
TE Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
DE Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
WR Jamari Staples, Louisville
FB Freddie Stevenson, Florida St.
WR ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
CB Channing Stribling, Michigan
CB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
WR Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
CB Teez Tabor, Florida
DL Pita Taumoepenu, Utah
CB Cordea Tankersley, Clemson
WR Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
WR Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech
DT Vincent Taylor, Oklahoma St.
OT Sam Tevi, Utah
RB Jahad Thomas, Temple
WR Noel Thomas, Connecticut
DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford
FS Tedric Thompson. Colorado
CB Jack Tocho, N.C. State
DT Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama
C Jon Toth, Kentucky
S Damarius Travis, Minnesota
QB Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
NT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, USC
S Michael Tyson, Cincinnati
K Conrad Ukropina, Stanford
LB Tanner Vallejo, Boise St.
DT Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA
P Justin Vogel, Miami
DT Charles Walker, Oklahoma
DE Demarcus Walker, Florida St.
LB Anthony Walker, Jr., Northwestern
WR Greg Ward, Jr., Houston
DT Carlos Watkins, Clemson
QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
LB T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
QB Davis Webb, California
WR Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma
C Chad Wheeler, USC
CB Marquez White, Florida St.
CB Tre'Davious White, LSU
WR Kermit Whitfield, Florida St.
RB Jamaal Williams, BYU
RB Joe Williams, Utah
S Marcus Williams, Utah
WR Mike Williams, Clemson
RB Stanley Williams, Kentucky
DE Tim Williams, Alabama
DE Jordan Willis, Kansas St.
CB Howard Wilson, Houston
CB Quincy Wilson, Florida
DE Deatrich Wise, Arkansas
CB Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado
S Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech
DE Chris Wormley, Michigan
Not pictured: Erik Austell, Billy Brown, Christopher Carson, Ethan Cooper, Rudy Ford, Conner Harris, Javarius Leamon, Cameron Lee, Corey Levin, Art Maulet, Avery Moss, Bradley Northnagel, Ezra Robinson, Eric Saubert, Adam Shaheen, Nate Theaker, Jerry Ugokwe, and Bobo Wilson
By "other" receivers, Koetter is obviously differentiating between the pass-catchers the team already has and the pool of potential additions that will be available not only in the NFL Draft but also in the soon-to-open free agent market. Koetter made it clear shortly after the end of the 2016 season – a very promising campaign that saw the team miss out on a playoff spot on a third-level tiebreaker – that one thing the roster definitely needed more of in 2017 was explosive playmakers.
That offense is led by a 23-year-old quarterback who has thrown for 50 touchdowns and more than 8,000 yards in his first two seasons. Jameis Winston is clearly the future of the team and likely to be the first real "franchise quarterback" the team has ever fully developed, or at least the first since Doug Williams. Focusing on upgrading Winston's targets is obviously a sound strategy.
"Dirk and I have lots of conversations," said Koetter. "We're on the same page here and he said at the end of the year that we need to add playmakers. We'll always look to add playmakers to this team and surround Jameis with guys that can make plays. Not to say that we don't like the players that we already have, but you can always have more."
Even though the Buccaneers are in Indianapolis to evaluate the new receivers about to enter the league, their first opportunity to add to the position will be through free agency, which begins in just over a week. It's possible the team will choose to address that issue through both avenues, much as they did a year ago with the two spots that were considered the greatest areas of need at the time. The Buccaneers signed cornerback Brent Grimes and defensive end Robert Ayers in free agency and then doubled up with their first two draft picks, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves and defensive end Noah Spence.
Apparently, the Buccaneers won't be short on options when it comes to the search for more playmakers.
"There are a lot of players that we like at that position, free agents and in the draft," said Licht. "That's the process we're going through now. You can't always get what you want, but we're going to do the best that we can to add depth and to add playmakers."
The 2017 draft is considered relatively strong at the receiver position, if not necessarily as dominant as some of the recent classes, such as the one that brought Pro Bowler Mike Evans to Tampa. Clemson's Mike Williams, Washington's John Ross and Western Michigan's Corey Davis are all considered likely first-round picks at the position and another four or five could come off the board in the second round.
As for free agency, NFL.com lists four receivers among its top 25 free agents. The Buccaneers cannot publicly discuss those players until free agency begins and their contracts expire, but they can reach out to any persons of interest during a two-day pre-market negotiating period that begins next Tuesday.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers can talk to their own pending free agents, a list that does happen to include a wide receiver. That would be veteran Vincent Jackson, who just completed a five-year deal signed in 2012 that ranks as one of the best free agent signings in franchise history. Licht said the Buccaneers have spoken with Jackson about the situation, but it does not sound as if his eventual outcome will greatly affect the team's search for additional playmakers.
"We did have a conversation, or conversations, with Vincent," said Licht. "I have the utmost respect for him; everybody in the organization does. In my mind, in Dirk's mind, in the owners' minds, he'll be a Buc for life. Whatever happens, happens but we'll always want Vincent to be around the organization."
Added Koetter: "Like any guy who's a UFA, those guys have earned the right to see where they stand, to test the market. Vincent's no different than anybody else. In our minds, we're going to always think of Vincent as a Buccaneer. We've got to see how that plays itself out."
It's easy to understand why the Buccaneers are looking for more offensive skill-position players who can create explosive plays. The Winston-led attack ranked almost exactly in the middle of the NFL pack in both net passing yards and points scored, and given the youth of Winston, Evans and much of the offensive line, it is likely to continue trending upward. However, Tampa Bay ranked 29th in the league in overall yards gained after the catch (YAC), and 31st in average YAC per reception.
Finding some more YAC producers would help flesh out an offense that did feature some other very useful parts in 2016. Adam Hayward and Cameron Brate, both former undrafted free agents, produced 50-catch seasons as strong complements to Evans, and both have room to improve. They will not be forgotten even as the team searches for playmakers.
Photos of Jameis Winston participating in the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.
"Anybody that plays in the NFL, guys get better, guys improve, and we believe in player development," said Koetter. "We don't count anybody out. You always want to increase competition and you're always looking to raise your talent level at every position, but whoever we have out there we've got the utmost confidence in those guys."
Hayward fleshed out the role he had begun to fill as a rookie in 2015 and turned into one of the league's more dependable slot receivers. Brate arguably made an even bigger splash, tying for the NFL lead among tight ends with eight touchdowns, and he's expected to be an even bigger weapon next fall.
"We liked what we saw in camp last year, but this year in training camp he was one of our most consistent players, and he maintained that throughout the season," said Koetter. "He's got a good rapport with the quarterback, he's got really good hands, he makes a lot of contested catches, he's really smart and he's getting better as a blocker. I'm really excited about him."
