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As we race toward August, Footballguys.com will examine one team per weekday with our quick-hitting Team Sleepers feature. These players might not be complete busts, but we will be highlighting players our staff thinks will disappoint this year and underperform their average draft position (ADP).
Go Deeper: See in-depth projections for every Buccaneers player here >>>
This is a weekday series that will stretch through August 1. If you like this and want another, come back the next workday. Another will be here.
Please note that our staff has identified the players listed below. The official Footballguys stance for every Buccaneer can be found on our projections page.
Busts on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Mike Evans - 7 votes
- RB Bucky Irving - 4 votes
- WR Emeka Egbuka - 3 votes
- No One - 1 vote
- DL Calijah Kancey - 1 vote
- CB Jamel Dean - 1 vote
- WR Chris Godwin - 1 vote
- QB Baker Mayfield - 1 vote
Reasons WR Mike Evans Could Be a Bust
- Mauricio Gutierrez: Last year, he barely managed to produce 1,000 yards again. He benefited from some absences. In 2025, there are too many pirates in Tampa and not enough treasures to share among them all.
- Andy Hicks: Eleven consecutive 1000-yard seasons come to an end in 2025. His ADP allows no upside.
- Phil Alexander: Evans has aged gracefully so far, but entering his age-32 season, a sharp decline could come fast and without warning.
- Jeff Bell: Evans needed a huge late-season push to hit his ceremonial 1,000-yard threshold and ceded the top receiver spot to Chris Godwin.
- Craig Lakins: Though it pains me to include him here, I can't forget the way he barely squeaked out another 1,000-yard season in 2024. He's being drafted a round too early for my liking.
- Julia Papworth: The elder statesman will need to bank on another double-digit touchdown season, another 1000 yards receiving, all while another year older and surrounded with more talent to make his ADP worth it in 2025.
- Colton Dodgson: He was targeted on 28.7 percent of his routes in 2024. That involvement likely needs to hold for Evans to return value at age 32.