Buccaneers' Todd Bowles Makes Huge Statement On Offensive Rookie

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 10:28 PM ET

We know that this time in the offseason is when teams get their system and scheme in place with the roster still taking shape, but it is also a time when rookies can announce themselves as genuine weapons.

For Tampa Bay Buccaneers seventh-round draft pick Tez Johnson, coming to the Buccaneers, who have perhaps one of the best and deepest receiving rooms in football, getting noticed was always going to be a hard thing to do.

But he's making head coach Todd Bowles take notice.

In fact, such has been Johnson's efforts at minicamp, Bowles had a rather huge statement when talking about Tez.

"We know he can get down the field," Bowles said. "He has a lot of speed, but he's just not a speed guy, he's a very good receiver, he's a route runner, he's more than a punt returner. He actually has a chance to be a vital part of our offense if he keeps trending the way he's trending."

That is quite the feather in Johnson's cap.

With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Sterling Shepard, to already have the head coach talking about not only you making the team, but being a "vital" part of the offense, Tez has hit the ground running in his first NFL offseason.

Yes, we know that this isn't "proper" practice with the defense unable to be physical and make genuine plays on the ball, so we will reserve our thoughts for training camp when the pads come on.

But there's no doubting that Tez has been doing all the right things since arriving, and he's making Bowles take notice of his talent.

Now, he has to maintain it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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