Trey Palmer May Be on the Trade Block as Tampa Bay’s WR Room Will get Crowded

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an uncommon plan of loading vast receivers this 2025 NFL season. It’s far deeper than the WR unit years in the past. The workforce knew that accidents destroyed their 2024 marketing campaign, and it is perhaps a greater thought to maneuver certainly one of them to a different workforce: Trey Palmer.

The accidents of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans proved to be pricey for the Bucs, however some gamers stepped up of their absence.

Jalen McMillan Emerges as Key Playmaker Down the Stretch

Godwin sat out the final 10 regular-season video games, and Evans additionally missed time on the sidelines, however due to the regular efforts of tight finish Cade Otton and rookie working again Bucky Irving, the workforce managed to hold on.

According to Heavy, Evans’ return towards the tip of the season stabilized the offense, but it surely was rookie vast receiver Jalen McMillan who actually rose to the event on the essential stretch.

McMillan went on hearth during the last 5 video games of the season, catching seven of his eight whole touchdowns over the interval and scoring in all 5 video games. The breakout effort secured his place as a future basis piece of the offense.

Now, with Chris Godwin wholesome and the addition of first-round decide Emeka Egbuka, nineteenth general within the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bucs’ vast receiver corps went from skinny to deep with expertise.

Emeka Egbuka Adds Immediate Value to the Offense

Egbuka, a top-ranked prospect with distinctive route-running capability, is featured as a plug-and-play starter who can line up at any of the three vast receiver positions. He’s been an enormous assist to quarterback Baker Mayfield (or whoever is looking indicators) in what’s growing into one of many deeper WR teams within the NFC South.

With this expertise acquisition, Tampa Bay is in a spot the place it could pursue commerce choices, and third-year vast receiver Trey Palmer will be the odd man out.

Trey Palmer as Trade Candidate

Palmer, who was a high-ceiling sixth-round draft decide from Nebraska, finds himself battling a logjam at vast receiver that would ship him to the inactive roster.

Logan Ulrich of NFL Trade Rumors lately listed Palmer among the many finest vast receiver commerce candidates on the roster as coaching camp approaches.

Ulrich famous that whereas Palmer confirmed potential as a deep menace throughout his rookie season, he could possibly be squeezed out of Tampa Bay’s crowded receiving corps, particularly with the workforce drafting two new wideouts and returning their prime 4 receivers from final 12 months.

Palmer had a good first 12 months in 2023 with 39 receptions for 385 yards and three touchdowns, however his offense declined in 2024 as he transitioned to a special-teams position, notching solely 12 catches for 172 yards and one landing. His emphasis on punt return work may need diminished his alternatives on the passing facet.

Buccaneers Drafting Strategy Indicates Change in Offensive Priorities

Tampa Bay’s entrance workplace has evidently put a premium on vast receiver depth in latest drafts. Besides McMillan and Egbuka, the workforce picked up Tez Johnson from Oregon with their final decide in 2025 (No. 235 general).

With Evans, Godwin, McMillan, and Egbuka presumably securing the highest 4 WR positions, that leaves Palmer, Johnson, Sterling Shepard, and Ryan Miller to struggle during the last two positions.

If Johnson might be counted on as a punt returner, Palmer’s distinctive worth would possibly even erode additional, making a back-end-of-the-draft commerce the neatest transfer for each groups.

Tampa Bay’s WR Depth a Double-Edged Sword

What was a evident weak spot in 2024 grew to become a major power for the Buccaneers in 2025. With its reloaded receiving corps, Tampa Bay now has the mobility to make roster maneuvers and even purchase belongings by buying and selling Trey Palmer.

In one other NFL commerce rumor tale, Tom Brady reportedly blocked the Las Vegas Raiders from getting Sam Darnold.