Buccaneers: Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver

Like any NFL team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to get deeper and more explosive at the wide receiver position this offseason, and though they waited to address the position until the later rounds of the draft, they were still able to accomplish that goal.

The Bucs have one of the better one-two punches in the league in young phenom Mike Evans and veteran leader Vincent Jackson, both massive targets who present serious matchup problems for opposing defenses, especially in the red zone.

They also extended the contract of Louis Murphy, who came up with a few huge plays last season.

Then came the draft, where the Bucs added a pair of playmakers—Nebraska's Kenny Bell and Utah's Kaelin Clay—who are expected to contribute early, both on offense and on special teams.

What will the Bucs depth chart look like at receiver heading into the 2015 season?

No. 1: Mike Evans

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Arguably the brightest spot of the 2014 season for the Bucs, Mike Evans exploded onto the scene in his debut campaign, leading the team with 68 catches for 1,051 yards and a franchise-record 12 touchdown receptions.

Evans had a decent start to the year before breaking out in the second half of the season, catching 10 of his 12 touchdowns over the final nine games of the season. The seventh-overall pick out of Texas A&M went on a three-game tear that saw him catch 21 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns from Week 9 to Week 11.

As electrifying as Evans was in 2014, he could easily be even better this season. He's got an incredible combination of size and athleticism, with the ability to attack the ball in the air and leave smaller defensive backs grasping at straws. He's also been spending time this offseason working out with one of the best playmakers in the history of the NFL, Randy Moss, per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.

Evans is just barely scratching the surface of his potential, and even though opponents will be much more focused on stopping him in his second season, they're not likely to be successful too often. Look for another impressive season from Tampa Bay's most explosive offensive playmaker.

No. 2: Vincent Jackson

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He may not be the blazing field-stretcher he once was, but Vincent Jackson is still a dangerous weapon in the passing game, capable of using his size and physicality to out-muscle smaller defensive backs, move the chains consistently and create big plays in the red zone.

Jackson went over 1,000 yards receiving for the sixth time in seven seasons last year, starting all 16 games and hauling in 70 passes for 1,002 yards. His touchdown numbers took quite a dip, though, as his two scoring receptions were the lowest single-season total of his career outside of his rookie season, when he caught only three passes and no touchdowns for the Chargers.

The former second-round pick out of Northern Colorado has been a model of consistency since joining the Bucs, starting all 16 games in each of his three seasons with the team and providing much-needed leadership, both on the field and in the locker room.

He's not as explosive as he used to be, but he's still an incredibly effective target who uses his size well and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and block downfield. With even more focus likely to be paid to Mike Evans after the year he had in 2014, expect Jackson to have yet another productive year as the Bucs' secondary target.

No. 3 Battle: Louis Murphy vs. Kenny Bell

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It's not often a fifth-round pick is expected to challenge a productive veteran for significant playing time as a rookie, but that's just what Kenny Bell could end up doing to Louis Murphy for the Bucs in 2015.

After hauling in 31 passes for 380 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first season in Tampa Bay, the Bucs signed Murphy to a three-year extension this offseason, rewarding the veteran and local high school product for a solid performance as a reserve target.

But that didn't stop the Bucs from bringing in some serious competition to push Murphy for the third receiver spot. The spent their fifth-round pick on Nebraska's Kenny Bell, who has the size and skills to survive on the outside against big, physical corners, and could allow the Bucs to slide Mike Evans or Vincent Jackson into the slot to create matchup problems for opposing defenses.

The Bucs are high on both the veteran and the rookie, so both will be given ample opportunity to take control of the job during training camp. With a new quarterback at the helm in Jameis Winston, don't be surprised if Bell gets the upper hand after building a strong chemistry with his fellow rookie during the team's rookie minicamp back in May.

Special Teams Standouts

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Making big plays on offense might be the moneymaker for most receivers, but the Bucs have a pair of pass-catchers who should make the roster purely based on their ability to contribute on special teams.

Russell Shepard is heading into his third NFL season after entering the league as an undrafted free agent, appearing in 30 games for the Bucs over the past two years. He has registered just four catches for 63 yards in his career so far, but his true value has come on special teams, where he's been the team's most consistent performer on coverage teams.

There's no reason to believe Shepard won't lock up a roster spot again this year, even if he's not a heavy contributor on offense.

Tampa Bay also spent a sixth-round pick on Utah's Kaelin Clay, hoping to finally find the solution to their revolving door at the return specialist position. The rookie was a highly productive playmaker on both kick and punt returns throughout his college career, and he brings the game-breaking ability the Bucs have sorely lacked in that role for years.

Clay could end up contributing from the slot on offense as well, but he won't necessarily need to in order to make the team, considering the team's desperate need to find a reliable return man.

On the Bubble

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The Bucs have plenty of young talent at the receiver position but won't have room for all of them on the final roster.

Both returning for their second NFL season, Robert Herron and Tavarres King saw limited action for Tampa Bay last season. With the additions the Bucs made in the offseason at the position, either of them will need an outstanding training camp to have a shot at making the final roster.

Tampa Bay also added a trio of promising undrafted free agents this offseason—UCF's Rannell Hall, Clemson's Adam Humphries and Heidelberg's Donteea Dye—all of whom impressed at the team's rookie minicamp back in May.

Despite their solid performances, however, they face quite an uphill battle to make the roster. The Bucs spent two mid-round picks on receivers who are expected to make an immediate contribution, which should end up pushing these three rookies off the active roster. Look for at least one of them to land on Tampa Bay's practice squad.