When Mike Evans left the Bucs for the 49ers, it had a direct impact on Tampa Bay’s wide receiver room. Congruently, it also impacted quarterback Baker Mayfield, who’s the person distributing the football to Evans and others while trying to put up points for the team.

There’s been a couple of different storylines for the Bucs this offseason, but on the offensive side arguably the biggest one is how the Bucs move on at receiver with their long time leader no longer there. What hasn’t been talked about a lot is how this impacts the performance and production that Mayfield could have this year.

How Will Bucs And QB Baker Mayfield Look With These WRs?

On the one hand, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are missing a player that garners tons of attention anywhere on the field and is always the go-to guy in the red zone with tons of production. On the other, the Bucs had to have had in their head year in and year out that they need to get Evans 1,000 yards to keep up with his long going streak.

This isn’t to say that’s a bad thing, since Evans became the greatest offensive player in franchise history and did great things for the Bucs. But it had to always be in the back of Mayfield’s head that there’s some pressure, whether subconsciously or not, to get him the ball.

With this different room of receivers, it will literally be whoever’s open gets the football. Yes, Godwin is the long time veteran, but he is more zen than anybody would find in the league. Same goes for second year player Emeka Egbuka, who could be an emerging star for Tampa Bay.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When Baker Mayfield finally got his opportunity to speak about this team without Evans, he really highlighted how good this group is.

“For Mike to leave it allows Chris to step up, he’s always been an unbelievable leader, but for him to really take charge of that room,” Mayfield began saying while at his Youth Football camp.  With all the injuries we had, a lot of guys played last year, so to also have J-Mac, Chris and Emeka really really healthy right now, it feels good to lead those guys.

“Just to watch the steps they’re taking in year one, year two, when it comes to Mek and Tez, watching them help Ted Hurst out as well. There’s a lot of weapons in that room, so when you lose a guy like that you got to have a lot of people fill those shoes. It’s not just one person and we have that.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Sam Navarro

Baker Mayfield Supports Tampa Community With Youth Football Camp

A great event was put together last Friday on June 5th as Mayfield hosted his youth football camp for boys and girls ages seven to 15 at the Bucs indoor facility. The event was also helped out by D1 training.

Baker Mayfield was super active during the event going from station to station coaching up kids, encouraging them and sharing life lots of hi-fives and smiles. It looked like a wonderful time was had at all.

“I think I have more fun than the kids at these camps,” Mayfield joked. “It’s fun to do the drills, have some small, fundamental coaching, see where the kids are at. Compete within those drills. You see the real personalities come out, that’s the most fun. They walk away with a bunch of memories. I remember going to football camps as a kid as well. Get fired up and enjoy it.

“(I’m) blessed to have this platform. Living out a dream playing football as my job. I remember being their age looking up to guys that were in my position and wanted to be around it and have fun and just enjoy it. It’s important to give back to the community.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mayfield is usually on the playing side of the game but with this camp he gets to be on the coaching side of it. He joked that he’s channeled some of his tactics from former Bucs Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden when coaching them up and being supportive.

“There’s a little Chucky in there when it comes down to it,” Mayfield said. “It’s fun to be on that side of it. Just to try and give little tips and pointers.