The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but would that stop them from spending their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft on another dynamic pass-catcher?
In his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Bucs using the No. 26 overall selection on Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who just broke the NFL Scouting Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash.
Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick:
The Bucs are running it back from 2023, with quarterback Baker Mayfield, wideout Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David among the players re-signing. General manager Jason Licht has done well with a tough salary-cap situation — Tampa Bay held a $35.1 million dead-cap charge for Tom Brady last year — and his team should challenge again to win the NFC South (though Atlanta is improved too).
So how can the Bucs improve with this pick? I see room for a third wideout to take the top off the defense. And what better way to do that than with the fastest prospect in NFL combine history? At 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, Worthy is small, but he is electric with the ball in his hands. He’ll help Mayfield’s yards-per-attempt average just by running past corners on crossers. He had 26 touchdowns over three college seasons.
There’s no denying that Worthy would bring game-breaking speed and big-play potential to Tampa Bay’s passing attack, but the Bucs already have a budding young talent in Trey Palmer who has a similar skill set. Palmer showed off his own elite speed multiple times during his rookie season, and even had the fastest burst of any receiver in the league last year, according to Next Gen Stats.
Taking Worthy is the first round would be a luxury for a Bucs team that desperately needs upgrades in the starting lineup at multiple spots on both sides of the ball (left guard, center, outside linebacker, inside linebacker).
To check out Kiper’s full first-round mock draft at ESPN.com (subscription required), click here.
