The Bucs wrapped up their three-day mandatory mini-camp Thursday morning at the AdventHealth Training Center, closing it out with a quick one-hour practice just before players and coaches went their separate ways for their summer break. Of course, the next few weeks will be full of traveling, training and some family time before the team reconvenes at One Buc Place in late July for training camp.

The shorter practice on the final day of mini-camp was nothing new, as head coach Todd Bowles has gone with the same type of schedule in previous years as the Bucs’ head coach.

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Bailey Adams and Adam Slivon were in attendance Thursday morning to watch practice unfold. After practice, Bowles, wide receiver Mike Evans, running back Bucky Irving, and inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. all met with the media for the final time before training camp.

Here are Pewter Report’s observations and takeaways from the final day of Tampa Bay’s 2025 mandatory mini-camp:

Bucs Who Were In, Bucs Who Were Out For Final Mini-Camp Practice

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Thursday was a much lighter practice for the Bucs, not only in terms of duration but also regarding participation from some of the team’s top veterans. Quarterback Baker Mayfield watched practice with a bucket hat on and didn’t participate, while the likes of inside linebacker Lavonte David, outside linebacker Haason Reddick, defensive tackle Vita Vea and some other veterans also had the day off.

Legendary wide receiver Mike Evans, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum and running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White were among the regulars who donned helmets and participated in the individual periods before watching from the sideline during 11-on-11 work.

Injury-wise, rookies David Walker and Benjamin Morrison remained sidelined, as did left tackle Tristan Wirfs. Safety Marcus Banks and quarterback Michael Pratt were also out for Thursday’s practice.

When the team went into a brief 11-on-11 period near the end of the hour-long practice, it was the second- and third-team units getting the action.

“The twos and threes got some good reps today,” head coach Todd Bowles said after practice. “We needed to get some red zone and third-down work done, so they understand how they’ve got to come back.”

To add to the loose feeling out on the practice fields during the mini-camp finale, or “getaway day,” many within the Buccaneer front seven swapped jerseys with each other, with inside linebackers switching with players within in the position group while some of defensive tackles and edge rushers traded numbers for the day.

Mike Evans Is Already Impressed With The Bucs’ Rookie Receivers

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have long had one of the NFL’s top receiving duos in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. There have been years in which that duo has had more help than others, namely during the Super Bowl LV run with a group that consisted of Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and the speedy Scotty Miller.

But heading into 2025, Evans feels like the receiving group Tampa Bay has might be the best he’s been a part of. After drafting Jalen McMillan in the third round a year ago, the Bucs went out and drafted Emeka Egbuka in the first round of this year’s draft before rounding out their 2025 class with Tez Johnson. With those three behind Evans and Godwin, the receiving room in the building is already five deep without accounting for guys like Sterling Shepard, Rakim Jarrett, Kameron Johnson, Trey Palmer and Ryan Miller.

Though he’s really been out on the field with them for this week during mini-camp, Evans already had plenty of praise for the young Buccaneer rookie receivers.

“I know I say it a lot, but this might be the best receiver room I’ve been a part of,” Evans said. “I say it every year, but we always get great players coming in. That’s been very fortunate for me in my career, to be around a lot of great young players. They’ve added to the room tremendously. They’re very polished already. Emeka has really strong hands. [He’s] super smart. Tez [has] speed and quickness.”

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Egbuka has drawn some comparisons to Godwin in the months since the draft, and even Evans, who has played alongside Godwin since 2018, couldn’t help but make the comp himself when asked about the former Ohio State receiver.

“He looks like a running back, but he catches like Chris Godwin,” Evans said of Egbuka. “He’s very polished, very well-rounded player.”

As for the injection of youth into the wide receiver room and what it does for Evans, a 12th-year pro who is set to turn 32 years old in August?

“It gives me more motivation,” Evans added. “I was once in those shoes, and I remember that hunger. It helps me keep that hunger, seeing young, great players like that [who] are hungry.”

Other Observations And Takeaways From Day 3 Of Bucs Mini-Camp

• The red zone period was brief, but the only real highlight from the offense was a quick pass from Kyle Trask to Bucky Irving, who made some moves in space to create a chunk gain as he did so often last year.
• After practice, veteran linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. was asked about what he’s seen from the team’s tight ends so far when tasked with covering them. In particular, Walker had high praise for Cade Otton, who he said he’s “sick of” right now because of how “savvy” of a route runner he is.
• Over the course of the Bucs’ three-day mini-camp, it felt like the defense came away as the winners of all three days. It was a little bit of back-and-forth on Tuesday, but the defense stepped up in the red zone period and tallied a bunch of would-be sacks. On Wednesday, the defense intercepted Baker Mayfield three times, coming away as clear winners. And on Thursday, the second- and third-team defenses held strong against the offense during the shortened red zone and third down periods.
• Todd Bowles has maintained throughout OTAs and mini-camp that any players who are sidelined right now (with the exception of Chris Godwin) are dealing with some minor issues and will be ready to go for training camp in July.