If you think that Bucs wide receiver Jalen McMillan just slid down the depth chart to WR4 with the arrival of Emeka Egbuka, the team’s first-round pick. Think again.

New offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has big plans for McMillan, as he enters his second season in Tampa Bay.

McMillan, last year’s third-round pick, beat out Trey Palmer for the WR3 spot behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin during his rookie season. And when Godwin was lost for the year due to a severe ankle injury in Week 7, McMillan was elevated to WR2 alongside Evans for the second half of the season.

But just because the Bucs drafted Egbuka in the first round doesn’t mean that McMillan will see less playing time in his second year. In fact, McMillan will still be counted on to play a significant role in the offense in 2025, according to Grizzard.

Grizzard, who was Liam Coen’s pass game coordinator last year, was on The Rondé Barber Show last week and was asked which player – aside from Evans, Godwin or running back Bucky Irvin – needed to play well this year for Grizzard’s offense to work.

“I think it’s hard to just narrow down one,” Grizzard said. “Where J-Mac (Jalen McMillan) left last season, and the progress he showed on and off the field, you could see that carry over into the spring. With not having Chris out there and bringing Emeka along, and him showing Emeka the ropes … then his ability to just do that, and be himself, and really just take off where he left off. I think that would be huge if we were just going to actually circle one.

“You know, at the end of the day, it takes all 11. But he’s in a good spot.”

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard Is Very High On Jalen McMillan

Josh Grizzard came to Tampa Bay last year from Miami where he was the receivers coach for the Dolphins’ outstanding duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. In last week’s interview with Grizzard, Rondé Barber aptly noted that the Buccaneers have a ridiculous amount of talent at the receiver position with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and now rookie Emeka Egbuka.

Bucs TE Payne Durham and WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

“We do,” Grizzard replied. “Coach [Todd Bowles] and Jason [Licht] and his guys did an unbelievable job of putting that room in a position to have so many playmakers. And I guess if you want to compare it to Miami with having now four to five guys – now you’re dealing with multiple body types, speeds, play styles. Not that ‘Reek (Tyreek Hill) and Jalen are the exact same, but you’re talking about shorter receivers, who are fast, quick. That have a lot of the same attributes.

“I feel like in this room not only do we have the speed element, but we also have guys that could go over the middle that can win the go-balls like Mike. So there’s even a multitude of skill sets.”

McMillan made a big impact last year with 37 catches for 461 yards (12.5 avg.) with eight touchdowns, which was second on the team behind Evans’ 11. His first NFL catch was a 32-yard touchdown against Washington in the 2024 season-opening win. McMillan ended his rookie season on a hot streak with seven touchdowns in the final five games of the regular season, including a TD in each of those five games.

Josh Grizzard Is Also Impressed With Rookie WR Tez Johnson

Tampa Bay’s first-round pick, Emeka Egbuka, wasn’t the only receiver the team drafted this year. When Oregon’s Tez Johnson was still available in the seventh round, the Buccaneers pulled the trigger and added the Ducks’ elusive playmaker to an already stacked receiver room.

Johnson will be competing for the punt and kick returner jobs in addition to WR5 on the depth chart. Despite being rail thin at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, Johnson has a knack for getting open and making big plays. He made a very good first impression in the rookie mini-camp, OTAs and the mandatory mini-camp, and is expected to make the 53-man roster this year.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Tez did a great job of coming in here this spring,” Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard told Rondé Barber. “He brings a lot of energy too. Great personality and a worker and he’s getting used to that Florida heat a little bit coming from Oregon. But he’s in a good spot.”