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

Wide receiver was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' best and most reliable unit last year. With a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, the entire unit, from top to bottom, should only improve in 2015.

Once again, the receiver group will be led by big men Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. They were the only bright spots on an offense that was lost in a sea of futility last year.

Despite putting forth one of the worst offenses in the league, the Bucs had their first-ever season with two 1,000-yard receivers. Evans and Jackson accounted for almost two-thirds of the Bucs' passing yardage in 2014.

Player	Receptions	Yards	Yards Per Reception	Touchdowns	Dropped Passes
Vincent Jackson	70	1,002	14.3	2	7
Mike Evans	68	1,051	15.5	12	4

Jackson's production and Evans' production were remarkably similar. The biggest difference was how often Evans found the end zone, which he often did on deep throws of over 30 yards, per Pro Football Focus.

Evans looks like he has already fulfilled predraft comparisons to Jackson. He should only get better with more seasoning.

Jackson is the old man on the Bucs offense, though he is also one of its most potent and reliable weapons. Age is a growing concern for Jackson (32), but he's never had game-breaking speed or agility. Instead, he uses his size, body control and hands to outmuscle defensive backs, who are almost always smaller than him.

It's unlikely that Evans or Jackson will regress in 2015. Either they will both carry the pass game again as well as new quarterback Jameis Winston, or they will benefit from a prodigious start by the rookie quarterback.

The addition of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter should be a great help as well. Koetter already has experience coaching a pair of big, physical receivers after coaching Julio Jones and Roddy White in Atlanta. While the Bucs offense is unlikely to be as potent as Atlanta's offense right off the bat, the foundation is there for Koetter to channel similar success in Tampa Bay.

The real problem at wide receiver is depth, an issue carried over from last year. The Bucs have three additional receivers returning from last year: Louis Murphy, Robert Herron and Russell Shepard.

There is a clear drop-off in talent from the starting duo to the rest of the experienced receivers. Murphy is the most seasoned of the bunch, but he's a journeyman with suspect hands. With just more than half as many receptions as Jackson had, Murphy dropped just one fewer pass than Jackson did.

Murphy's greatest asset is his speed, boasting a 4.43-second 40 time. Despite having some of the quickest legs on the team, the seven-year veteran's longest play was a 54-yard reception against Chicago in Week 12. He averaged a mere 12.3 yards per reception over the season, hardly indicative of a potent deep threat.

Last year's sixth-round pick Robert Herron hardly impressed in his rookie season. Like Murphy, Herron has impressive wheels, recording a 4.48-second 40 time.

As fast as he is, his hands are highly suspect. In just 11 targets, Herron dropped two passes. Unless he shows improved ability to catch the football, Herron won't see the field much—if he even makes the team.

Shepard saw limited action in 2014 and might not make the final cut this year. The team used him mainly as a returner and could replace him with this year's sixth-round pick, Kaelin Clay.

The keyword of this year's group of rookie receivers is speed:

"

Rookie WRs Kenny Bell, Kaelin Clay, Donteea Dye and Adam Humphries all had bright spots in today's #Bucs OTA. All are very fast & quick.

— PewterReport.com (@PewterReport) May 28, 2015"

Fifth-round pick Kenny Bell leads the class. Posting a 4.42-second 40 time, Bell may now be the fastest receiver on the team.

At 6'1" and 197 pounds, Bell doesn't have the size of Jackson or Evans, but he may be just as tough. Bell became a minor Internet sensation with this devastating block in the Big Ten Championship:

As sensational as that block was, a blindside blast is not necessarily indicative of blocking prowess. Instead, consider this block against Illinois last year:

Courtesy of Draft Breakdown

While not much of a highlight-reel play, this block by Bell displays excellent technique and awareness of the play around him. Bell's selflessness and appreciation of the play around him are qualities that could make him a great NFL player.

The Bucs drafted Clay for a more direct purpose: Kick returner and punt returner have long been positions of weakness for Tampa Bay. The Bucs averaged only 22.8 yards per kick return and 10.8 yards per punt return in 2014. Clay may be the answer.

Given his specialization, Clay is unlikely to make much of an impact as a receiver, at least in his rookie year. Down the line, Clay's 4.45-second 40 speed could make him a useful slot receiver, but the Bucs likely want him to focus on being the best return man he can be.

The Bucs also signed undrafted free agents Adam Humphries, Donteea Dye and Rannell Hall. Dye is the sleeper pick to make the Bucs' final roster.

A Division III prospect out of Heidelberg University, Dye made 57 catches for 1,022 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014. A speedster like the Bucs' other new receivers, Dye recorded a 4.45-second 40 time at Bowling Green's pro day, per Buccaneers.com's Scott Smith.

The Bucs are investing heavily in youth at wide receiver. With a great starting duo, the Bucs can afford to develop their young players and methodically build receiver depth.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.