The biggest question hanging over Zac Robinson’s first season as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator isn’t scheme or play-calling. It’s whether Tampa Bay has a true No. 1 receiver after Mike Evans is gone.
That’s the challenge Mike Jones of The Athletic highlighted when he picked the biggest obstacle for each of the NFL’s new offensive coordinators in 2026. For Robinson, Jones zeroed in on a familiar issue: can the Bucs keep the offense moving without a clear “go-to guy”?
Robinson already has a working relationship with Baker Mayfield, dating back to Mayfield’s brief run with the Rams in 2022. But Jones pointed out that Tampa Bay’s passing game has a major opening to fill now that Evans is in San Francisco.
Chris Godwin, at 30, is the veteran leader in the receiver room, but injuries have taken a toll over the last two seasons. Emeka Egbuka, meanwhile, turned in a strong rookie year.
Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson are also in the mix, and rookie Ted Hurst III is trying to carve out a role as well. Robinson has said he wants to spread the ball around, but Jones noted that Mayfield still needs someone he can lean on.
That’s where the debate starts.
Evans’ exit obviously changes the shape of the offense, but Tampa didn’t exactly strip the cupboard bare. Egbuka, the Bucs’ first-round pick in 2025, flashed real upside as a rookie. Even with a late-season dip, he finished with 63 catches, 938 yards, and six touchdowns.
If the issues that caused his slump are truly behind him, as general manager Jason Licht expects, Egbuka has the kind of talent to slide into Evans’ old role.
Godwin gives Tampa another path. He has battled availability issues over the past two seasons, but when he’s been on the field, he’s been one of the league’s most dependable receivers. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards in four of his previous seasons, and his route-running remains a major weapon.
Jones sees a Buccaneers offense without a true No. 1. The argument here is different: Tampa may have two candidates, and the real question is which one takes the job first.
Robinson has plenty on his plate in 2026, but the receiver room may not be his biggest problem. If Godwin stays healthy, the Bucs have depth and high-end talent at the position. Egbuka has the ceiling to become the top target, and Godwin has the track record to do it now.
The bigger concern may be whether Tampa can avoid the injury wave that wrecked the offense in 2025.
In Other News...
Mike Evans Exit Says Something Bucs Fans Wont Like About Baker
Mike Evans departure from Tampa Bay in the offseason already stung for a Buccaneers offense that has leaned on him for years, but the broader conversation around where he landed has added another layer to it. The Bucs reportedly made an offer to keep him, yet Evans still chose San Francisco, leaving Tampa Bay fans to wonder what the move says about the appeal of the quarterback situation he left behind.
The comparison at the center of the discussion is Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy, two passers whose numbers are close enough to make the debate feel unsettled. Evans decision does not settle anything on its own, but it has become part of the argument for those trying to read which quarterback receivers trust more, and why a veteran like Evans might have seen one setup as the better bet. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Crossed A Line With One Post And Fans Let Them Hear It
A social media post from the Buccaneers drew immediate attention for all the wrong reasons after the team paired footage of a bison attack at Yellowstone National Park with a clip tied to one of its touchdown celebrations. The reaction was swift enough that the post did not stay up long, but by then it had already sparked plenty of criticism from fans who felt the comparison crossed a line.
The incident involved Carl McDaniel, a 65-year-old man who was injured in the Yellowstone encounter and suffered a broken femur. McDaniel has already undergone surgery and is expected to go through physical therapy as he works his way back, while the Buccaneers are left dealing with the fallout from a post that turned a serious real-life injury into a punchline. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Tucker Just Validated What Buccaneers Fans Know About This Team
Sean Tucker may be penciled in as the Buccaneers third-string running back for 2026 behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, but his view of the offense still carries some weight. He pointed to Tampa Bays offensive line as a major strength, and it is easy to see why that matters in a system built to keep the run game moving and the offense on schedule.
The lines importance was underscored by how much the group was missed when injuries piled up in the middle of the 2025 season, a stretch that helped derail a team that had been in position to chase the NFC South. Even with the backfield hierarchy taking shape, Tuckers comments serve as a reminder that the Buccaneers ceiling may still hinge on whether the front stays intact long enough to let everything else work. [Read more 🡒]