Where Each Bucs Player Can Improve In 2024: WRs, TEs

The Bucs will not only use the 2024 offseason program to work on the players getting bigger and stronger in the weight room as well as getting faster, but also to improve in certain areas. While head coach Todd Bowles will be installing some new wrinkles on defense and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen and his new assistants will be installing a new playbook, each Bucs player will be tasked with honing their skills and working on some individual weaknesses.

With input from the Bucs coaches and front office members, as well as my own analysis and observations, I’ve come up with one specific area for each player to work on heading into training camp and the 2024 season. I’m only evaluating players that saw true playing time last year in Tampa Bay, and leaving rookies and newly acquired free agents that played elsewhere out of the equation.

This is the second of a seven-part series that will examine a position group or two of Bucs players. Today, it’s Tampa Bay’s wide receivers and the team’s tight ends. Next up will be the Bucs offensive line.

Where Each Bucs Player Can Improve: WRs And TEs

WR Mike Evans – Limit Wasted TD Opportunities

In terms of touchdown production, Evans rebounded from a down year in 2022 (when he scored just six TDs) with 13 last season. But it could have been more. Evans had dropped touchdowns against the Eagles and the Titans and was tackled at the 1-yard line in games at Indianapolis and at Houston.

Evans, who is counted on each year to be the offense’s top touchdown producer, set the franchise record for single-season receiving touchdowns as a rookie with 12 back in 2014. He topped that mark in 2020 with 13 and then set a new record with 14 scores in 2021.

Evans had a legitimate chance to shatter that mark with 17 scores last season had he wound up in the end zone on those close calls. With the rapport he has with Baker Mayfield, there’s no reason Evans can’t catch 15 TDs or more in 2024.

WR Chris Godwin – Thrive In The Familiar, But Find The End Zone

Godwin is entering a critical contract year in 2024 and the Bucs are going to make him play out the season before talking about an extension – just like the team did last season with Mike Evans. After Godwin spent more time as an outside receiver in Dave Canales’ offense in 2023, Liam Coen plans to use him much more often as a slot receiver. That’s an area where Godwin thrived, especially from 2019-2022 in Bruce Arians’ offense where he produced three 1,000-yard seasons during that span, including his lone Pro Bowl season in 2019.

Godwin should thrive in a familiar role and will need to in order to justify his $20 million salary and earn that (or more) next year in Tampa Bay or elsewhere. But in order for him to command that much money, he’s needs to become more of a point producer in what could be his final season in red and pewter. Godwin’s touchdown production has fallen from nine TDs in 2019 to seven TDs in 2020 to five scores in 2021 to three in 2022 to just a pair of TDs last year. Godwin needs some extra red zone work with Baker Mayfield this offseason to prove he can be a go-to guy for points – not just Mike Evans.

WR Trey Palmer – Work On Those Hands

Palmer was thrust into the WR3 role as a rookie with Russell Gage going down for the season with an ACL injury in training camp. While he scored two touchdowns in the Bucs’ first four games of the year, his rookie season was filled with some ups and downs – notably three fumbles and a few dropped passes. Palmer needs to be a more consistent receiver and hang on to the ball once he’s caught it.

Tampa Bay loves Palmer’s aggressiveness in the running game. He’s an outstanding perimeter blocker and he’s physical while engaged with the defender he’s blocking. But Palmer had a penchant for getting his hands out too wide at times and was flagged for holding three times, which cost the Bucs some rushing yardage as a result. That’s another aspect of his hands where he needs some work this offseason.

WR Rakim Jarrett – It’s Time To Splash

The Bucs coaches and personnel members love Jarrett. Everyone speaks highly of him, and he’s probably penciled in as WR5 or WR6 on the depth chart depending on how the roster shakes out in terms of special teams. He’s a tough, speedy receiver with good size at 6-foot, 192 pounds. That toughness was put to the test last year when he tore his quad muscle at San Francisco on a 41-yard catch, but he continued to play in that game before going on injured reserve for four weeks the next day.

Jarrett returned to action late last year after diligently rehabbing the injury, which the coaches appreciated. But now it’s time to produce. Jarrett had just four catches for 60 yards last year and he needs to make some more splash plays in OTA practices, training camp and the preseason to not only secure his roster spot, but see more playing time. Whether it’s factoring in as a return man or a wide receiver, Jarrett needs to make more plays, and Liam Coen’s offense seems to be a good fit for his YAC (yards after catch) playing style.

WR Deven Thompkins – Excel As A Returner

At 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, Thompkins faces even more of an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster this year with the drafting of wide receiver Jalen McMillan in the third round. McMillan is the second receiver the Bucs have drafted over the last two years, so Thompkins will have to focus on being the team’s primary returner for the second straight year.

Thompkins was used primarily on end arounds last year and ran for 56 yards on eight carries, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. But given his small hands and small frame, he fumbled the ball three times with one of those resulting in a turnover. Thompkins did have 17 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown, but only averaged a woeful 4.9 yards per catch. It’s crazy that he averaged more yards running the ball than he did catching it. Thompkins better shine on kick returns and punt returns to have a chance to stick in Tampa Bay again.

TE Cade Otton – Improve (Mightily) As A Blocker

Otton was the iron man on offense last year, playing 98% of the team’s snaps on offense and rarely coming off the field. That undoubtedly caused a decrease in his stamina as games went on, and likely negatively affected his ability to run block. Otton’s run blocking grade per Pro Football Focus slid from 58.2 as a rookie to 56.8 last year, and his pass blocking grade fell from 79.3 in 2022 to 47.4 last season.

Otton fared well as a receiver, especially in the postseason where he led all Bucs players with 13 catches for 154 yards (11.8 avg.) and a touchdown. But in order to be more of a complete tight end, he must not be a liability as a blocker. The poor blocking from the entire tight end unit was one of the reasons why the Bucs hired new position coach Justin Peelle to improve the blocking technique.

TE Payne Durham – Gain A Step In The Speed & Agility Program

At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Durham is a big target who caught 15 touchdowns at Purdue, but has yet to haul in his first NFL score. He’s spent the offseason hitting the weight room and getting bigger and stronger to become a better all-around tight end in his second year in Tampa Bay. But the area of the offseason program he needs to work on his speed.

While he had a respectable 1.61 time in the 10-yard split at the NFL Scouting Combine, Durham ran a 4.87 in the 40-yard dash, and that caused him to fall to the fifth round in the draft. It’s not like Durham needs to challenge newcomer Devin Culp in any footraces, but he could stand to get a bit faster in and out of his breaks as a receiving tight end. That will only help him create separation and present himself as a more open target for Baker Mayfield this season.

TE Ko Kieft – Become A Blocking Beast

The addition of new tight end Devin Culp will threaten Kieft’s chances of making the 53-man roster. It seems like Cade Otton, Payne Durham and Culp have secured roster spots and the Bucs may only keep three tight ends in favor of six receivers in Liam Coen’s wide receiver-heavy personnel usage. If that’s the case, Kieft may be the odd-man out. Kieft is known as Tampa Bay’s blocking tight end, but he’s not very good in that role.

The biggest tight end on the roster at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Kieft is a relatively good pass protector with a 68.2 PFF grade in that area. But his run blocking grade regressed from 65 as a rookie to 60.9 last year. If Kieft is going to be the primary blocking tight end, he needs to do that in a dominant fashion. While he brings nothing to the table as a receiver, Kieft does stand out on special teams. But improving as a blocker this offseason will surely help his cause.

TE David Wells – Make A Good First Impression

Wells was a surprise No. 2 at tight end in training camp, where he really surprised the coaches and staff as a receiving weapon. The journeyman tight end is a big target at 6-foot-6, 260, but once he secured the TE2 job after the preseason, he became the invisible man at the start of the season outside of a fumble against Chicago which almost led to a turnover. That play led to an embarrassing stat line of just two catches for minus-10 yards. After the bye, Wells only played in one game down the stretch, which was against New Orleans in Week 17.

The best thing Wells can do is to use a clean slate with a new tight ends coach in Justin Peelle and a new offensive coordinator in Liam Coen to his advantage. Making a good first impression will be huge for the 29-year old tight end. While he has scant playing time in the NFL after spending many a season around the league on practice squads, Wells is the oldest tight end in the room and that experience may help his chances of sticking around.

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