Zac Robinson has big plans for Tez Johnson that can help him become a major weapon in 2026
Johnson flashed some playmaking ability in 2025 and Robinson can help him level up in Year 2.
Tez Johnson stepped up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and it led to a very effective rookie season.
But now, it’s all about taking the next step in the young receiver’s career and he’ll have every chance to do that under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
A good chunk of Johnson’s 2025 success came from his ability to make plays downfield. Per Pro Football Focus, 23.8% of his 44 targets were pass attempts of 20+ air yards and he caught 40% of them, which came in second behind Emeka Egubka on the team (min. 20 total targets). Overall, Johnson caught four of 10 deep targets for 97 yards and three touchdowns.
Robinson has shown in the past he’s not afraid to air it out more than most teams: 15.2% of Michael Penix Jr.’s 2024 attempts were 20+ air yards, which was fourth-most among quarterbacks with at least 114 dropbacks.
That dipped in 2025, but factors like injuries to Penix Jr., the right tackle position, and other factors played a role. Regardless, Robinson knows he has a downfield weapon in Johnson. Especially when considering he specifically pointed out as much during his opening press conference.
“We’ll never tell the quarterback to just launch a deep ball if nothing is there, but you’ve got to be able to stretch the field vertically, absolutely,” Robinson told reporters. “As soon as you don’t have that element, the field feels small. I know there are some guys here, obviously, that can get down the field… but watching Tez Johnson, he’s got elite speed down the field and he can track it. All of those things are exciting.”
Johnson can help replace Mike Evans’ deep ball production if needed
It’s important for the Buccaneers to start thinking about ways to replace Mike Evans’ deep ball production if he ends up playing elsewhere. While there’s still a long path to travel in that process, it remains worth utilizing a proactive mindset and look ahead to potential solutions.
Johnson is certainly a solution. While it would require more schemed-up elements to get him the ball downfield, it can definitely be done. Evans can just out-physical and outrun opposing quarterbacks on deep plays and Johnson can do the latter of that, but not the former due to this 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame.
However, Johnson’s tenacity and aggressive play help make up for his lack of size. Either way, he showed in 2025 that he can make plays downfield and get into the end zone. That’s key and it’s totally fair to expect Robinson to take full advantage of the skill set.
“The plays are the plays, but these players, they make these things come to life,” said Robinson. “If you start there and that unmatched play-energy shows up on tape and that opponent is looking at that every single week, that’s what we’re striving for.”
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