The Bucs have fairly the battle brewing for his or her depth receiver roles. Behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage, the competitors is huge open.
The favorites for these WR4 and WR5 – and potential WR6 – roles are possible the group’s incumbents. Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden, Breshad Perriman and Cyril Grayson, Jr. aren’t prone to relinquish their roster spots with no combat. However may a darkish horse emerge and impress sufficient to earn his means onto the group?
Tampa Bay has loads of receivers on its roster. Then once more, Tampa Bay has loads of gamers on its roster. That’s why it felt so important for head coach Todd Bowles to single out one undrafted free agent receiver – Deven Thompkins – when requested who impressed him through the group’s mini-camp this week.
“I’d like to see what Thompkins does in coaching camp,” Bowles mentioned. “He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s explosive off of the ball and he’s made some good catches. So, we need to see how he continues to study and the way he does in coaching camp and preseason. I’ll be taking a look at him.”
Utah State WR Deven Thompkins – Picture by: USA As we speak
Bowles had extra to say on the 5-foot-7 pass-catcher. When requested once more later in his Thursday press convention about any gamers who improved their inventory throughout mini-camp, he introduced Thompkins up once more.
“No person’s improved their inventory till we get in pads. However, there are guys that run round in [a] t-shirt and shorts that look good,” Bowles mentioned. “Like I mentioned, Thompkins is fast and quick and I sit up for seeing him in coaching camp.”
After all, the Bucs have seen tales like this earlier than. A lot was mentioned about Kenny Bell, the group’s fifth-round choose in 2015. He starred in the summertime and early in coaching camp, however when the pads got here on, he wasn’t the identical.
Even Darden, a fourth-round choose final yr, struggled to acclimate to the NFL throughout his rookie season. So, the massive challenges lie forward for Thompkins, an undrafted free agent out of Utah State.
Thompkins’ 4.35-second 40-yard sprint tells you lots about his velocity. His place because the second-leading receiver in all of faculty soccer final yr – with 1,704 yards – says lots about his potential to provide. We’ll quickly see whether or not or not he’ll replicate that kind of success on the NFL degree. However for now, Bowles is amongst these trying ahead to seeing him when the Bucs come again collectively for coaching camp in late July.
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