The Buccaneers entered the 2016 off-season with questions at wide receiver, and continue to have questions entering Week 8 of the NFL’s regular season.
Aug 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) and quarterback Jameis Winston (3) celebrate touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Buccaneers, 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
When the final Buccaneers‘ game of the 2015 season ticked down to zero earlier this calendar year Mike Evans was surrounded by questions about his hands, Vincent Jackson was battling injury, Austin Seferian-Jenkins was fighting maturity issues and the entire team was left wondering what could have been after a four-game losing streak to end the season.
10 months later the team is at .500, V-Jax is done for the year due to yet another injury and ASJ is in the Big Apple after his “huge” mistake.
So the Bucs are still looking for the future of their receiver corps. Adam Humphries is an average to slightly above average slot guy at this moment in his career with plenty of upside potential waiting in the wings. Russell Shepard showed up just in time during the team’s Week 7 win, but if he was a legitimate number two wouldn’t he already have shown it?
Louis Murphy is coming back at some point this year…we think, but beyond those players there just isn’t much to be said of Tampa’s wide receiver depth.
Of course, trades are always an option, but often require the team receiving the player to give up more than the player received is really worth.
Then there’s free-agency. Players who still have the itch to play, have stayed in playing shape and are good enough to come on to a roster mid-season and find a way to make a difference.
Recently the Bucs worked out veteran Nate Washington, and here we’ll look at what we think about the possibility of adding Mr. Washington and a few other veteran receivers who may not come with high price tags, but could pay big dividends should Jason Licht take a flier on him.
Sep 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) runs after a catch as Kansas City Chiefs free safety Husain Abdullah (39) defends during the game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nate Washington, Free Agent
Nate Washington was brought in on Tuesday, October 25th, for a workout with the Bucs and left without a deal.
Now, this can mean many things, but one clear meaning could be he just didn’t have what the team hoped to see.
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Another is the team wants to see how their passing game looks against the Raiders this Sunday and how Louis Murphy continues to recover from his year-long injury before adding another player to their depth chart.
There are obvious concerns with signing Washington; the main one being his age and the relative ability of receivers his age to stay healthy for long periods of time.
Being the same age as Vincent Jackson, who spent more time on the Bucs injury report over the last two years than he did on the field, the thought of signing another aged veteran who may just come in to get hurt will certainly give any franchise some pause.
To this point in his career however, Washington has shown he has an ability to stay healthy having played in every game of his career from 2006-2014. In 2015 as a member of the Houston Texans he played in 14 games bringing in 47 catches for 658 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The benefit of signing this player are pretty obvious too. He has the work ethic needed to be successful, and could potentially stretch the field for a passing attack lacking severely in vertical legitimacy.
Over his career Washington has compiled 28 receptions of 28-yards or more with three coming in 2015 alone. Comparatively, Jackson has 33 for his career, but hasn’t had one since he had three in 2014 for the Bucs.
Coming in at the veteran’s minimum would cost the franchise very little, and if he came in with the same kind of role-playing ability he’s shown throughout his career then he could serve to open things up a bit for Jameis Winston and his other receivers.
Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) runs after a catch as Buffalo Bills defensive back Sterling Moore (41) defends during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins
In seven games this season DeSean Jackson has three games with five catches or more, and another three with three or fewer.
The inconsistency plaguing Washington has certainly effected the speedy 5’ 10” receiver who has just one touchdown in the same span and has eclipsed 90-yards just twice.
A more shocking statistic could be the lack of big plays coming from the 29-year old. Only once this season has he had a catch go for longer than 40-yards, a far cry from the typically explosive Jackson we’re all used to seeing.
Shifting to the Bucs, they’re a team who needs a receiver capable of big plays. Only one player – Mike Evans – has a play for 40-yards or longer this season, although Cameron Brate did get close with a 38-yard gain.
However, if we’re talking about relying on our tight end for big plays, then we’re probably in trouble offensively.
Jackson can’t be happy with the current situation. He went to D.C. to play with RGIII and dominate ESPN’s highlight coverage.
Instead, he’s struggled with injury one year and had a rather mediocre year in his first with the team.
It may be time for Jackson to leave the NFC East, and if the Bucs are willing to give up a 2nd-Round pick for a kicker, why not a 3rd for a speed demon like this one?
Nov 15, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Chris Givens (13) carries the ball during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Givens, Free Agent
The Bucs are missing speed. As a speed specialist who ran a 4.41 40-yard dash when he came out of Wake Forest in 2012, Chris Givens is a relatively young receiver who has had some success in the NFL while never catching on with a single franchise.
After spending the first three years of his career with the St. Louis Rams, Givens was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2015 and subsequently released after the year was over.
Signed by the Eagles during the off-season he was again waived before the year began leaving him without a team at the start of the season.
At 6’ 0” he isn’t the towering presence the team is used to on the outside, but he’s got the speed to get off the line and run under just about any pass the strong-armed Jameis Winston can throw.
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The 26-year old would be a cheap signing off the street and could immediately play in specific situations where his speed is used to push the deep coverage up field allowing more space underneath for tight end Cameron Brate, receiver Mike Evans, and slot receiver Adam Humphries.
As an added bonus, Givens can even make some plays himself and given the right coaching and time to learn the system.
In his short career he’s totaled 107 catches for 1,779 yards and five touchdown catches.
While playing sparingly in his four years of action he’s also totaled eight catches of 40-yards or more and 33 of 20-yards or more.
Louis Murphy, the injured veteran many are looking to, to provide that vertical stretch has just 10 catches for more than 40-yards and in his seven-year career has 34 plays over 20-yards.
If the Buccaneers are willing to wait, and wait, and wait some more for production like that, then certainly they can take a chance on a young talent like Givens.
There’s really no downside to this move in my opinion as the team has plenty of injured vets and not enough youthful energy on the offense.
In addition to the potential boost his speed could bring to the passing game, Givens has 28 career kick returns for a 22.9 yards per return average and zero fumbles. Considering the struggles this team has had in the return game over the last few years – and last week – this area would be just one more he could potentially impact the team early while learning for the final stretch of the season.
October 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) runs with the football against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes (24) during the first quarter at Levi
Torrey Smith, San Francisco 49ers
Jason La Canfora posted on Twitter that the Bucs were making a push to land a veteran wide receiver and commented on what the team is willing to use as bargaining chips.
There are two names predominantly being thrown around trade rumors currently, and they are Chicago Bears’ wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and 49ers receiver Torrey Smith.
You might have caught this from the photo on this slide, but I prefer Smith of the two.
I get it, Jeffery has the bigger name and is obviously more talented singularly, but Smith brings more to the Bucs.
At the risk of being called a broken record: This team needs speed!
Smith has plenty of that, and Jeffery simply doesn’t.
While playing in Baltimore he could take full advantage of his speed paired with the attention paid to Anquan Boldin on the other side of the field.
These two advantages combined with well-timed crossing, post and fly routes led to Smith leading the team in receiving in 2013 while compiling over 3,500-yards in four seasons as a Raven.
In his second year now with the 49ers he’s struggled mightily due to the lack of a quarterback with the arm strength needed to get the ball behind the defense and let the speedy veteran catch up to the ball.
As a result, Smith had the lowest catch, yards and touchdown numbers of his career in 2015 while averaging just 2.1 catches, 41.4 yards and one touchdown catch every four games.
This year, he’s on pace to have less than 30 receptions, 460-yards and around 4.5 touchdowns in 2016.
Neither the team nor the player were expecting drops as dramatic as the ones Smith has seen since moving to the west coast.
No reports of what the 49ers would want in return for Smith, but considering his high price tag the Bucs would probably ask San Francisco to take a low-end draft choice and perhaps exchange bad contracts with them by sending Alterraun Verner to them as well.
Aug 20, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Former Florida State Seminoles teammates Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Rashad Greene (right) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston exchanged jerseys after a football game at EverBank Field.The Buccaneers won 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Rashad Greene, Jacksonville Jaguars
So, this one’s a little bit out of the Madden trade book of a Buc’s fan who is also a Florida State fan – not that I’m a Seminoles’ fan.
Rashad Greene was Jameis Winston’s favorite target at Florida State and the two connected so many times Greene has the school record for catches in a single-season with 99 his senior season.
99 catches is a good year in the NFL with 16 games, let alone 14 collegiate games.
As a Jacksonville Jaguar Greene simply hasn’t built up a rapport with quarterback Blake Bortles and is a very deep fourth receiver behind Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee.
A change of scenery could do this young receiver some good, and playing with a quarterback he instantly has rapport with would accelerate the young man’s learning curve immensely.
As a dual sport track star at FSU, Greene doesn’t have top-end speed, but he does have enough to get on top of coverages and make defenders pay for underplaying his routes.
The Buccaneer may be able to off-load one of their expendable cornerbacks here as the Jags do need some depth at both corner and safety positions.
If this were to happen, it would likely be in exchange for Johnthan Banks and a late-round draft pick. He was drafted in 2015 in the fifth round, so we’re talking 6th or 7th, but honestly giving up a 5th for a guy who knows your passer, has speed and caught 99 balls just over a year ago is worth the risk in my opinion.
Again, this isn’t a move which is even a vague rumor in the outer reaches of football chat rooms, but it’s a move I’d personally love to see happen.
Dec 6, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 23-19. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Roddy White, Free Agent
Ok, you knew this was coming so try not to act quite so surprised.
A lot has been said in social media and bar conversations about Roddy White coming to the Buccaneers, so here’s my take:
First things first, in June of 2016 Roddy White told ESPN the following,
“I’m considering playing for a winner, but if I’m not I’m fine just where I’m at right now,”
With the Bucs at 3-3 nearing the midway point of the year, I’m not sure White would consider them one of those winning teams he’s looking for, and honestly I don’t know if his approach is really a good one for a young team anyhow.
I’ve never spoken to White, but his words tell me he’s looking to latch on to a ring winner and scoop his up on the tail-end of the journey. After spending 11-years in the NFL playing for the Atlanta Falcons who seemingly always sat on the verge of greatness without ever getting over the hump, his words hint at a man ready to retire but looking for his LeBron to get him a ring rather than being the X-Factor on a contender.
The Bucs aren’t in this position, and they need a player looking to become an impact rather than benefit from the impact of others.
As to White’s playing ability, he blames his struggles in his last year with the Falcons on Kyle Shanahan and his role in the offense for his struggles.
While 2015 was statistically the worst he’d had since becoming a real impact player in 2007, White’s production and abilities had been suffering for a few years by the end of 2015, and even though he can’t carry the load of a top receiver any longer it didn’t seem he was willing to accept it.
With Julio Jones quickly taking over as the top receiver in Atlanta, White wasn’t the go-to guy anymore and simply doesn’t appear to be willing to play second fiddle unless the first chair is filled by a Super Bowl ring.
Beyond attitude and motivation, here’s the real reason White isn’t the right fit for Tampa.
Zero plays of 40+ yards since 2012 and three straight years of sub-12 yards per catch season.
White simply can’t get up the field and pressure the deep part of coverage any longer. The reasons Nate Washington makes sense even at 33 years of age, are the attributes missing from the 34-year old White.
Roddy doesn’t seem to want to play for the Bucs, and honestly he brings no value to the roster anyway.
Oct 10, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (32) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Buccaneers won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jacquizz Rodgers has shown us all that a player who struggles on one team can quickly become a success on another. At 3-3 with the home stretch looming, the time for the Buccaneers to make a move is now.
True, the names on this list are either playing the same amount of pro football as I am, toiling on their current teams or even buried under established talent on their respective depth chart.
No matter who they are, every NFL player has the potential to be a breakout star waiting for his chance in the right situation.
Victor Cruz was an unknown until he got on the field and we all know the story of Tom Brady and the legend of the sixth-round draft pick.
However, if the Buccaneers are serious about making a move it needs to be the right kind of move. Bringing in another tall and relatively slow receiver doesn’t make sense. Bringing in a quicker than fast slot guy doesn’t make sense.
What does make sense is a receiver who can play outside and stretch a defense up the field.
Dirk Koetter’s offense has called for a good amount of deep throws, but waiting for lumbering receivers to get up field with a pocket collapsing around you will never get the job done.
Adding a player who can get to the top of a 20-yard route in less than three seconds is ideal, and would allow Winston to use the arm he’s been blessed with.
These are just my thoughts, and I’ll never claim to know everything so, let’s hear yours!
Comment below or look me up on Twitter. Who do you want to see playing for your Bucs? Who do you like from this list and who don’t you like?
Thanks as always for reading.
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