Bucs meeting with a draft prospect that doesn't appear likely to help them out during a crucial 2025 season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made waves this offseason by keeping one of their own home. The Bucs inked Chris Godwin to a new three-year, $66 million contract last month to keep their 2017 third-round pick from leaving town. The Bucs' top three wide receiver set of Mike Evans, Godwin, and 2024 third round pick Jalen McMillan […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made waves this offseason by keeping one of their own home. The Bucs inked Chris Godwin to a new three-year, $66 million contract last month to keep their 2017 third-round pick from leaving town. The Bucs' top three wide receiver set of Mike Evans, Godwin, and 2024 third round pick Jalen McMillan appears to be as good as any in the league.
However, that apparently hasn't stopped them from taking a closer look at one of the top prospects at the position. Texas WR Matthew Golden put up a post on social media indicating he's in Tampa and visiting with the Bucs.
Selecting Golden would be a move that I'd find to be, well, curious.
First, I should lead with the acknowledgment that the team is just doing their homework here. That's what these visits are for. Bucs general manager Jason Licht has also shown before he's not afraid of taking who he and his staff believe are the best player available, so positional strength and need isn't always a driver for him.
And it's also true that Evans won't play forever. He delivered yet another 1000-yard season last year despite missing multiple games and doesn't appear to be slowing down. However, he obviously will at some point, and planning for that future is something Tampa Bay will have to do.
However, this is a team that's on the doorstep of being a true Super Bowl contender. The parts they need to get over that hump lie on defense, where there are plenty of options available who could help them shore up their issues. Taking a player who would have a hard time seeing the field in 2025 wouldn't really fit with going all in for that championship run.
And not everyone is sold on Golden being that top WR prospect, including our own college football managing editor and draft analyst Travis May.
It's just reconnaissance work for Licht, but it's a player that would be a bit of a head scratcher if the Bucs were to pull the trigger on him with the 19th overall pick. We'll find out soon enough what the Bucs will do, with the start of the draft just over two weeks away.
A rule that helped sink the Bucs twice last season has been changed for 2025
The league is making an important tweak to a controversial rule
