The Bucs offense has been good for a while now. Relying primarily on a passing game that features two extremely good receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and a quarterback who has executed the system well for most of the season, Tampa Bay’s offense has steadily built to a crescendo. While that offense sputtered on Sunday in a 23-13 loss against New Orleans due to a myriad of factors, there was one bright spot that shined through quite well.

The Bucs definitely have their WR3 in Trey Palmer.

Bucs Have Lacked Consistent Third Option

The Bucs passing game runs through Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. This has been evident all season – even through separate cries that each receiver was not being targeted enough.

Bucs WRs Trey Palmer, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Of the 497 passes thrown by Bucs quarterbacks this season (496 by Baker Mayfield and one by Kyle Trask), Evans has amassed 121 targets. That is good for a 24.3% target share. Godwin has 116 targets for a 23.3% target share. The two of them combined comprise about half of the team’s targets and 56% of the team’s receiving yardage.

But behind those two, there has been anything but consistency from a third option. Running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton are neck and neck for the next most targets at 66 and 64 respectively. But White has more games with three or fewer targets (six) than he has with five or more (five). And Otton, while improving as a receiver in year two, is not dynamic enough to be a No. 3 target in an NFL offense.

Rewind to training camp and Tampa Bay was counting on veteran Russell Gage to be the team’s third option. Gage had proven earlier in his career he was up for the task. Over his final two years in Atlanta, he caught 138 passes for 1,556 yards and eight touchdowns. There were glimpses of that receiver during his first year with the Bucs in 2022.

While battling through hamstring issues he caught 53 passes and five touchdowns over 14 games including the postseason. But Gage suffered a torn patellar tendon before the season started and would be lost for all of 2023.

Several receivers were having good camps, but when preseason games started Trey Palmer began to separate himself from the rest. Palmer, a sixth-round pick out of Nebraska, had elite deep speed and a flair for big catches. Over three games he caught seven of eight targets for 91 yards and two touchdowns. This put him in the pole position for the now vacant WR3 spot. That status was bolstered even further when Tampa Bay opted to carry only five receivers on their 53-man active roster.

Trey Palmer Has Had An Up-And-Down Season

Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Things started well for the rookie receiver, as he caught a touchdown in his first game against the Vikings and added another in Week 4 against New Orleans. But things trended down over the next several weeks.

He was targeted six times in Week 6 against the Lions in a game he could have threatened 200 receiving yards. But Baker Mayfield was unable to connect with him on numerous occasions when he got open deep, and he wound up with just two catches for 47 yards. Then from Week 7 through Week 10 Palmer registered just nine catches for 99 yards.

The next two weeks saw his reception totals go up with four a piece, but he barely factored in yardage with just 39 total. The Bucs were using Palmer primarily as a bubble screen option and he wasn’t excelling at it. As a matter of fact, through Week 16 the Bucs had been targeting the fastest receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft at an average depth of just 10.2 including seven games with an ADOT of less than eight! This all added up to 55 targets, 33 receptions, 291 yards and two touchdowns.

Bucs Found Successful Formula With Trey Palmer vs. Saints

Against New Orleans Trey Palmer was fantastic. The stat line was solid: Five targets, four catches, 84 yards and a score. But it was so much more than just that line. It started on the second drive where Palmer used his elite speed to get open on a deep corner route. Baker Mayfield opted to not make the throw, but the route was a good one.

This one hurts. Palmer is open on the deep corner. Baker hesitates due to Jordan getting his hands up and then it’s a broken play.

I have a feeling this game would have been a coming out party of sorts for 10 but won’t get the due it deserves. pic.twitter.com/ERqP1KWQva

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) January 1, 2024

Following that Palmer gets open on a play-action concept that was a difficult ask of Mayfield having him roll left and try and hit him deep.

Difficult play as drawn up with a deep shot off o rollout left. If Durham blocks the crashing 2nd level defender maybe 6 can get his hips turned for a more on-platform throw. Regardless, Baker commits to the throw, so he has to get it to a place leading Palmer for the score. pic.twitter.com/5rU90an7FW

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) January 2, 2024

Palmer has a step-and-a-half on Alontae Taylor, but an underthrown ball leads to an interception. Palmer will need to learn as he develops the options available to him in a situation like this (like committing OPI to ensure the pick doesn’t happen), but again he is showing an ability to get open deep.

The positives don’t stop here. In the third quarter he shows up big on a scramble drill and makes a tough contested catch on third-and-9 to keep a drive alive. Then in the fourth quarter he shows up big on a slot post for a score.

Silver lining of the NO game? Trey Palmer. It WAS his coming out party. Arrow up on this guy. pic.twitter.com/PyXT1cXI4z

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) January 2, 2024

That catch put his best skills on display. Palmer eats up cushion and shows suddenness at the top of his stem to get open easily for six. And on the next drive he would make his final catch of the game.

Everyone remembers the awesome catch and the backbreaking fumble. But take a look at how Palmer beats the jam to create the initial separation. pic.twitter.com/sucapEmMwP

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) January 2, 2024

Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

Palmer shows several high-level skills on this rep. He gets off the jam quickly through a combination of good footwork and great hand usage. Then his blazing speed kicks in as he walks Isaac Yiadom easily. He shows good ball tracking to find the pass over his shoulder before holding on through the catch.

Yes, he did lose it when impacting with the ground, but going forward I believe that isn’t a likely outcome again. Put it altogether and it’s a really great game from a receiver who looks to be trending up within this offense and with his quarterback.

Over the past two weeks the Bucs quarterback has targeted his rookie receiver 11 times, which is tied for his highest number of targets over a two-game stretch in the season. To his credit, Trey Palmer has caught eight of those targets (73% catch rate) for 126 yards and a touchdown. If he can continue this into 2024 the Bucs just added another weapon to an offense that is on the rise.