Maybe Patriots are better top to bottom with WRs 1-6 than what the Bucs have on paper.
Cowboys, Rams, Bengals, Steelers, Lions, Vikings, Seahawks, Jags, Broncos, Cardinals, and 49ers have very strong 1-2 duos. But not many of these teams have strong 1-2-3 triplets like the Bucs: Godwin-McMillan-Egbuka.
A lot of teams have a lot of unproven WRs and rookie WRs that could shake things up so we will see. But if Tez Johnson and Hurst progress as well then the Bucs have an edge over a lot of teams in the NFL with thei overallr WR group. So yeah top 5 WR group is very possible.
i think there's a sense of homer-ism going on though as it comes to our WR core.
Chris Godwin had 3 straight 1,000 yard seasons in 2021 through 2023. Dude was looking on pace for 1,400 yards in 2024 but suffered dislocated ankle which made him only play 7 games. Then last year, injury riddled year, looks liked running in mud but only played in 9 games and amassed 360 receiving yards. So yeah, we love us some Chris Godwin but until he shows it on the field here in 2026, he is a shell of his former self.
Jalen McMillan looked formidable his rookie season. 8 touchdowns. He missed 4 games however due to multiple hamstring injuries. Then obviously 2025 a concern with only playing in 4 games due to broken neck. Just like the great Mike Alstott, this dude is one tackle away from no longer playing. But alas the Potential is there, the question is can he stay on the field?
Emeka Egbuka burst onto the scene his rookie year. His first 9 games were 677 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. His next 7? 253 yards and zero touchdowns and only topped 50 receiving yards once compared to 6 times in his first 9 games. What happened? it wasn't a lack of targets so hopefully just a rookie wall and he will bounce back from second half disaster this year.
Listen the potential is there but this group is maybe top 15 entering the year with potential to maybe be top 10; but that top 10 would assume at least 2 out of 3 guys amass 1,000 receiving yards something none of them have done to date and in Godwins case the last 2 years.
There is durability issues with this group hence the depth and Hurst/Tez being 4 and 5 guys. That's not exactly a good thing.
Grant it, i think WR is one of the best positions on our team, maybe excluding OT, but top 5 based on what? certainly not stats.
I don't think it is homerism because the Bucs have a more battle tested group right now 1-4 on their WR depth chart. Egbuka and Tez playing significant snaps as rookies is going to pay off big time this year.
I mean if you look at the NFC in general lets run down the list:
Dallas - Top three is set but they went out and picked up MVS and drafted Anthony Smith.
Giants -Nabers and Slayton but beyond that they are going to need to see Calvin Austin, Malachie Fields, Mooney and Schuster to fill gaps so they are throwing everything they can to see who can step up to help Nabers and Slatyon by shoring up the position.
Eagles - Wicks was traded for and they drafted Lemon but they do not have AJ Brown's dominance anymore as he was traded away. They still have Smith and they are shifting to a quick passing game scheme. Beyond that they are hoping Hollywood Brown or Elijah Moore can stick and provide some help as depth.
Commanders - Another off season massively shaking up their WR core with McLaurin at the top. Burks is ??? and they drafted Antonio Williams in the 3rd. They have Layne and McCaffrey as depth with Dyami Brown but no one that stands out beyond Mclaurin right now.
Bears - Odunze has to pick it up a notch now without DJ Moore with Burden II thrust into more of a bigger role. They did sign Kalif Raymond with drafting Zavion Thomas in the third but a lot can go right and they are looking good. But a lot can go wrong for them too.
Packer - Like BurdenIII of the Bears , Mathews steps into a bigger role for the Packers now with Wicks traded away. Watson has to stay healthy because Reed can't do it alone and now Wicks is no longer there. Beyond their top three they have Savion Williams as a third round pick from last year's draft and reclamation project Skyy Moore.
Vikings- Jefferson and Addision with Jennings on paper is a strong trio. And they have 2025 third rounder Tai Felton with 2026 third rounder behind those three but nothing else other than street free agents right now.
Falcons - Yeah they have London but they signed Zaccheaus back into the fold and Dotson. But their depth is questionable with a lot of question marks so they are looking to sign a WR. They do have this year's third round selection of Branch but he is another nickel WR in the same mold as Zaccheaus and Dotson and no true boundary WR opposite of London right now. Overall the Falcons once again look on paper to have a weak WR room compared to other NFC teams but that could change if the 49ers release Aiyuk and the Falcons are there to scoop him up.
Panthers - Tet, Coker and Legette as a top three are extremelly physical but that is why they drafted Brazzelle in round 3 and signed Melchie to compete with Moore as dime speedsters to compliment their top three.
Saints - Vele was an attempt for more size to the room with Olave as the boundary downfield threat. Adding Tyson this year from round 1 just augments their room a bit more. Picking up Polk, and then drafting Lance in round 4 this year and Brown in round 6 means they are all business improving their WR. On paper I think the Saints are clearly better at WR than the Falcons overall but that could change. Tipton and Palmer are in the mix downfield specialists.
Cardinals - Harrison Jr and Wilson are the most under the radar 1-2 duo in the league and then they go out and add Bourne in the mix and he is very consistent. Beyond that though they do not have much but they did draft Reggie Virgil in round 5 and Fehoko is sticking around as a depth specialist.
Rams - Their trio is still there with Nacua Adams, and Whittington. They did draft CJ Daniels in round 6 but beyond that they really are make or break with their top three as a WR group.
49ers - Adding Evans helps a room which looks pretty ordinary and is now helped along. Kirk bring a stable veteran presence along with Evans and allows Pearsall to develop without being forced to be top target in the WR room. They still have 2024 4th round picks Watkins and Cowing so a break out is possible. Stribling in round 2 ensure the 49ers at least have a strong 1-4 group on paper but if Watkins and Cowing show up to the party they are a strong WR group overall. Robinson as a vet is still around may stick another season.
Seahawks defending SB champ - JSN, Cooper, and Shaheed are an underrated 1-2-3 triplet WR group. Bobo and Horton are also competent WR's in their own right and they drafted Henderson Jr in round 6 to compete with Cody White. Their WR group 1-5 compares very well when stacked against the Bucs as an example.
The Bucs overall are not far off surpassing many of these teams if Godwin returns to form, Egbuka/Tez/McMillan progress and Hurst has a rookie coming out party. 1-5 Bucs WR group compares well to the rest of the NFC. Throw in K. Johnson, Sills, Houston, Greene and Rivers Jr and it is going to be another tough cut for the Bucs on final cut down. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bucs WR cuts end up on active rosters on other teams again.
What happened? it wasn't a lack of targets so hopefully just a rookie wall and he will bounce back from second half disaster this year.
Playing the X and struggling to get away from press coverage. Id have to look but Evans was mostly inside so Egbuka is probably in that role a fair amount even when Evans was back