The Good (and Concerning) from Bucs Minicamp

There will be a massive void in the Bucs' receiver room this season, as Mike Evans left in free agency after spending the first 12 seasons of his Hall of Fame career in Tampa. But the team still has strong depth at the position, from an experienced veteran like Chris Godwin Jr. (going into his 10th season), a second-year phenom in Emeka Egbuka, and an underrated bounce-back candidate in Jalen McMillan.

The Bucs landed another high-upside playmaker with size and athleticism in third-round rookie Ted Hurst, and Tez Johnson is another second-year receiver with tons of potential and big-play ability. There's no replacing a rare talent and franchise legend like Evans, but offseason workouts are already showing that Tampa Bay will still have no shortage of talent at the position.

When Will Bucky Irving Return?

Bucky Irving's injury-riddled 2025 campaign was one of many disappointments for the Bucs last year, but fans are hopeful he can return to the elite level of play we saw from him as a rookie. If that's going to happen, though, Irving will actually have to be cleared to return to play, something that still hasn't happened yet.

Irving is still working his way back from shoulder surgery, and the team hopes to see him back out on the field at some point this summer . Rachaad White left in free agency, but the Bucs signed a versatile veteran in Kenny Gainwell, and still have a valuable power back with home-run potential in Sean Tucker. Irving has proven he can be a special player when healthy, but he's just not there yet, and it'll be a concern until we see him between the lines again.

Bounce-Back for Benjamin Morrison?

Last year, the Bucs invested a second-round pick in Morrison, who missed most of the predraft process while recovering from a hip injury. He showed flashes of high-end potential when healthy last season, but he still dealt with injuries that held back his development as a rookie.

Morrison has flashed multiple times in minicamp, making the kinds of splash plays we saw from him at Notre Dame when he was fully healthy. He would have been a first-round pick without the hip injury, and the Bucs could end up with a steal if he can avoid further injury. After losing Jamel Dean to free agency, Tampa Bay is counting on Morrison to make a big leap in his sophomore campaign, and he just might be ready to rise to the occasion.

Baker Mayfield's Contract Situation

Tampa Bay's starting quarterback is heading into a contract year without a long-term extension in place, which is risky business for both parties. The Bucs don't want to invest a ton of money in Mayfield if he's not able to return to his 2024 form, and Mayfield isn't willing to take a hometown discount on the team that gave him a chance back in 2023.

Mayfield has given the team a deadline for getting a new deal done, but acknowledged the two sides are still far apart in negotiations. If a deal isn't done before the start of training camp, it looks like Mayfield is headed for another prove-it year. He could earn big money if he puts together another fantastic season, and the Bucs could end up paying more than they would have by getting an early extension done now. But if Mayfield falters, he could cost himself millions by not taking whether the Bucs are offering now. Either way, Mayfield could end up playing well by using the motivation to fuel his play, but it could loom over the team as a distraction if a deal doesn't get done.