With Mike Evans gone, Tampa Bay’s offense is leaning on Emeka Egbuka. A Pro Bowl-caliber tight end could give Baker Mayfield another reliable target and improve depth behind Cade Otton.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into a new offensive rhythm after Mike Evans’ departure, and the next move could be a major one for how Baker Mayfield attacks defenses.
Evans leaving for the San Francisco 49ers is more than a roster change—it ends an era.. Over the first 12 seasons of his career. Evans topped 1. 000 receiving yards 11 times with Tampa Bay. turning him into a constant for Mayfield’s predecessors and an emotional anchor for the franchise.. Losing that kind of production forces harder choices elsewhere, especially in the passing game.
For Tampa. those choices start with Emeka Egbuka. the 2025 first-round pick who already looks like the offense’s most dependable receiver.. As a rookie, Egbuka led the team in catches with 63, adding 938 yards and six touchdowns.. He’s now Tampa’s clear WR1. a role that carries both opportunity and pressure: defenses will key on him more. and Mayfield will need trusted options beyond one primary read.
The Buccaneers did bring back tight end Cade Otton, a steady piece in the middle of the formation.. But behind Otton, the group is still finding its footing.. Tampa’s other tight end options have not consistently produced at the level needed to keep defenses honest—particularly when Tampa wants to stay balanced between quick passing. intermediate routes. and the type of play designs that keep pass rushers from pinching too hard.
That’s why a potential addition of Jonnu Smith is being discussed as a fit for Tampa’s offense.. Smith, who spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, recorded 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns in a TE2 role.. Those totals may not look flashy at first glance. but the larger point is role clarity: Smith is a multi-skill tight end who can contribute in space and in matchup-heavy situations. which matters when a team is rebuilding its receiving ecosystem after a star wide receiver exits.
Smith’s recent résumé also suggests there is upside beyond a single stat line.. He is one year removed from his best season as a pro. when he posted 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.. That kind of production is rare for tight ends and is often tied to how an offense uses them—motion. mismatches. and routes that force linebackers and safeties into uncomfortable reads.
Why Tampa may target another tight end for Mayfield
The tight end room is where offensive coordinators often get creative. especially with an established quarterback and a growing set of targets.. In Tampa’s case. the logic is straightforward: when Mayfield has more ways to move the ball through the air. the offense can avoid becoming too predictable. even if Egbuka is drawing double coverage.
A tight end like Smith could also help with play-to-play efficiency.. Tight ends don’t just provide another receiver; they also serve as structural pieces for passing concepts.. They can affect coverage leverage, open lanes for other routes, and create quick opportunities when the defense anticipates deeper throws.. For a quarterback, that means more catchable targets on different levels of the field.
There is also a game-state impact.. Tight ends are often involved in third-down and red-zone packages because they are reliable enough to draw targets but versatile enough to match defensive schemes.. Tampa’s backup tight end production has been limited. and the margin gets thinner when the offense needs to convert on short or contested plays.
Real-world impact: depth turns into answers
To fans. the Evans era ending is emotional. but the day-to-day impact shows up when drives stall or when the first read is covered and the second option isn’t consistently open.. Depth is not a luxury in the NFL; it is a way to keep the offense functioning under pressure—whether that pressure comes from injuries. bad matchups. or simply the ebb and flow of a season.
Egbuka’s emergence gives Tampa a foundation.. Cade Otton provides continuity at tight end.. But if Tampa wants Mayfield to operate with confidence across entire games—not just when the first plan works—adding another high-level pass catcher could shift how often the offense forces defenses to cover the whole field.
There’s another angle, too: scheme fit.. Tampa’s offensive approach under its current staff is designed to use tight ends as part of the rhythm of the offense. not merely as blockers.. When a tight end is used as a dynamic option. the position becomes a safety valve and a coverage stressor at the same time.
What comes next for Tampa Bay
If Tampa pursues Smith, the move would signal that the Buccaneers are serious about upgrading their passing reliability while Egbuka ramps into his WR1 responsibilities. It would also suggest that the franchise wants to protect Mayfield from being forced into too many single-read situations.
Ultimately, this is about maintaining offensive identity while the roster transitions.. The Evans departure created a gap that can’t be filled by effort alone; it requires a new distribution of targets and a more complete set of options.. A Pro Bowl-caliber tight end would not just add talent to the depth chart—it would change how defenses prepare for Tampa. and it could determine whether the offense takes a noticeable step forward in the season ahead.