Bucs Hire New Wide Receivers Coach

Continuing to round out their coaching staff, the Bucs have hired Bryan McClendon to be their wide receivers coach, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. McClendon was last at the University Of Georgia as their passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.

The Bucs needed to find a new wide receivers coach after previous coach Brad Idzik joined Dave Canales to the Panthers, upgrading his position to offensive coordinator. There had been a theme in some of the latest offensive hirings after Liam Coen became the Bucs’ OC because offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and assistant offensive line coach Brian Picucci both had previously worked with Coen before. McClendon, however, does not have a connection or affiliate to Coen.

Where there is a bit of familiarity is between Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and McClendon. Bowles’ son Troy currently plays for the Bulldogs, so Bowles is a bit more aware of that coaching staff and evidently sees more of their games consistently.

Bucs WRs Coach Bryan McClendon – Photo by: USA Today

McClendon’s Coaching History

McClendon has worked for some big name programs as a coach before making the jump to the NFL. He had a brief career in the league as he was on the Bears for training camp. McClendon began his coaching career with Georgia from 2007 all the way to 2015. He started out as a graduate assistant, working his way up to eventually running backs coach (09-14), assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator (2015) and interim head coach (2015).

In his next move, McClendon was with the University of South Carolina from 2016 to 2019. He spend those four seasons as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. It was back out west accepting that same role with Oregon from 2020 to 2021, that eventually became interim head coach for that last season before McClendon went back to Georgia for the last two seasons.

Bucs’ WR Room

In previous years, having the role as Bucs’ wide receivers coach is one that many would fight for. Now, it all depends on what happens with Mike Evans and if he returns to Tampa Bay. If Evans is back, the Bucs at least keep a great threat at the top with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who each recorded over 1,000 yards on the season as Evans was tied for the league lead with 13 receiving touchdowns. In the event Evans signs somewhere else, the Bucs’ wide receiver room is in a little trouble.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

This’ll be a great opportunity to shine for Godwin going into a contract year as Coen has alluded to using Godwin in the slot once again. Russell Gage is more than likely a cap casualty this offseason. It wouldn’t be surprising to see David Moore re-signed again on a cheap contract, so that leaves a group of very young players such as Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett head into year two and Deven Thompkins goes into years three. Thompkins is an exclusive rights free agent, so the Bucs can match any offer he receives.

Palmer started to have a breakout late in the season and has the best chance to emerge as a future starter out of the younger group. He’s shown moments of how he can be a playmaker, such as an 84-yards and one touchdown performance in Week 16 or taking a catch for 56 yard and a score in his first career playoff game.

Jarrett is liked by the coaching staff and has more to give after an injury cost him a number of games last season. Thompkins has been used as more of a gadget player an the team’s primary kick and punt returner, but did have a receiving touchdown last season.

The Bucs will have to drastically change their look at wide receiver if Evans is not-resigned. Ideally, should Evans return, the Bucs could afford to draft a receiver if they wanted to in the middle rounds, but it might just force them to take one in the first round to add another piece to the group and help out Godwin. Either way, it’ll be on McCLendon to get the group going.