Evans' departure necessitates new offensive strategy.
Versatility is key for existing receivers.
Ted Hurst drafted as potential 'X' receiver.
Atlas AI
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are retooling their passing game this offseason following the departure of five-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is building a rotation that emphasizes versatility, motion and matchups. The plan aims to distribute targets across roles while the staff develops a true boundary option over time.
Reallocating the nearly 29% of Tampa Bay’s aerial scoring Evans produced since 2014 is central to the strategy, team officials said. Rather than a like-for-like replacement, the staff expects targets to ebb and flow by opponent and game plan as Robinson layers in his concepts.
Robinson’s blueprint leans on flexible alignments to free receivers and keep coverages off balance. Instead of anchoring the offense to one designated “X” target, coaches intend to vary responsibilities week to week. That approach is designed to give quarterback Baker Mayfield clean answers and multiple outlets.
The philosophy mirrors systems Robinson has worked in previously, where formations, stacks and motion — not a single star spot — shape the passing structure. With that in mind, the Buccaneers view their receiver depth as a collective that can manufacture separation and yards after the catch across the formation. Coaches plan to keep their best movers off the line to create free releases while they cultivate a longer-term outside threat.
Receiver roles under Robinson’s plan
Chris Godwin as high-volume slot engine
Chris Godwin Jr. is expected to continue as a high-volume slot option, the spot where he has been most productive. He led the league with 50 receptions over Weeks 1–7 in 2024 before a dislocated ankle ended that run, and the staff still sees him as the driver of many option and choice concepts inside.
Egbuka and McMillan as primary “Z” options
Emeka Egbuka, a 2025 first-round pick, profiles as a primary “Z” who can line up off the line of scrimmage and move across formations. His inside-out versatility suits motion and stacks to create free releases. Jalen McMillan, who missed much of last season, also fits best with room to operate rather than pressing into a physical “X” role. Both can slide into the slot when needed, allowing Robinson to vary looks without wholesale personnel changes.
Tez Johnson in selective packages
Tez Johnson adds a change-of-pace element after finishing his rookie year with five touchdowns. At 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, coaches plan to be selective with his usage, scheming him into space and motion rather than asking him to win through contact at the line.
Hurst drafted to grow into true boundary “X”
Traits and development runway
To address the outside role Evans long occupied, Tampa Bay selected Ted Hurst in the third round at No. 84 overall. At 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds, Hurst posted a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine, an 11-foot-3 broad jump that led his position group, and a 36.5-inch vertical.
In two seasons at Georgia State after starting at Valdosta State, he totaled 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per reception. He also drew notice with a one-handed grab during Senior Bowl week that highlighted his catch radius and body control.
Coaches describe Hurst as a prototypical “X” with size, hands and instincts, but they also stress he has development ahead. The staff expects him to threaten vertically, win isolation shots and, over time, help dictate coverages. Team personnel have emphasized that his role will be earned gradually as he absorbs the playbook and proves consistency in camp and preseason.
After addressing edge rusher and inside linebacker in Rounds 1 and 2 with Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter, the Buccaneers were comfortable investing in Hurst’s upside on Day 2. Robinson’s receiver-friendly structure — which does not depend on a single true “X” — gives the rookie room to grow while the ball is spread based on coverage and leverage.
Scheme flexibility and what to watch
The Buccaneers expect to vary personnel groupings and route families without tipping intent, with Godwin commanding attention inside and Egbuka, McMillan and Johnson interchanging roles. That multiplicity is designed to trade predictability for matchup advantages as a long-term outside threat develops.
The next checkpoint comes in training camp, where Hurst’s progress and the rotation among the “Z” and slot roles will shape how quickly Tampa Bay’s post-Evans passing game takes hold.