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Julio Jones, Tom Brady Buccaneers Offensive Depth Chart After Reported Contract

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJuly 26, 2022

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 09: Julio Jones #2 of the Tennessee Titans gets set against the Houston Texans during an NFL game at NRG Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing veteran wideout Julio Jones to a one-year deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, giving quarterback Tom Brady yet another weapon in the passing game.

Here's a look at the team's updated offensive depth chart with the potential addition of Jones:


QB: Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask

RB: Leonard Fournette, Rachaad White, Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Giovani Bernard

WR1: Mike Evans

WR2: Chris Godwin

SWR: Russell Gage

WR4: Jones, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson

TE: Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph

LT: Donovan Smith, Fred Johnson

LG: Aaron Stinnie, Luke Goedeke, Sadarius Hutcherson

C: Ryan Jensen, Robert Hainsey

RG: Shaq Mason, Nick Leverett

RT: Tristan Wirfs, Josh Wells


Per Schefter, the Bucs beat out interest from the Green Bay Packers to sign Jones. The question for the Bucs, of course, is what Jones' role will be going forward.

Evans and Godwin are locked into place as the team's top two options at receiver, with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reporting on Tuesday that Godwin was cleared for training camp after having surgery for a torn ACL in January.

Plus, the team signed Gage this offseason, ostensibly to handle slot-receiver duties.

"I think he is the perfect slot for our system, being at that receiver position," Bucs defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. told reporters in May. "Playing against him, he's tough in there, so I think we're going to utilize him just fine in that area. He's smart, he has good routes, he is shifty—I like his game a lot."

So while Jones—a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro—is a flashy signing for Tampa, there's a very good chance he's the team's fourth wideout.

Greg Auman @gregauman

Bucs adding Julio Jones feels a lot like adding Antonio Brown two years ago -- not nearly the drama, but a player with a prolific career. He's missed seven games in each of the last two seasons, but if you get anything close to 2019 Julio, it's the best WR corps in the NFL.

Outside of the team's current options at the position, Jones is 33 years old and has missed 14 total games the past two years due to injuries. He didn't make a major mark with the Tennessee Titans last year, catching 31 passes for 434 yards and a score.

Across 10 games, that averaged out to about 3.1 catches for 43.4 yards and 0.1 touchdowns per contest. Not great, especially considering his career averages per game are six catches, 91.9 receiving yards and 0.4 scores.

But Jones doesn't need to be the top option in Tampa. He won't be close to that. As third or fourth receivers go, he's a very nice addition.