3 Buccaneers Players Who Deserve WAY More Love

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Sunday, and while the obvious stars like Bucky Irving, Yaya Diaby, Zion McCollum and Baker Mayfield deserved plenty of attention, there were three Buccaneers players who deserve a lot more love for what they did in the win. Evan Winter breaks down three Bucs players who are flying under the radar after Tampa Bay's dominant Week 7 performance. First is wide receiver Tez Johnson. Johnson finished with two receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown, added a roughly 15-yard jet sweep and had a huge 22-yard punt return in the third quarter. Evan explains why Johnson's versatility, efficiency and ability to make plays in space have earned him more opportunities in Tampa Bay's offense. Johnson has also emerged as the Buccaneers' best deep threat, and Evan argues that Tampa Bay should design more plays specifically to take advantage of his speed and elusiveness. Next is Cade Otton. Otton didn't record a reception against Carolina, but his impact in the run game was significant. He finished with one of the highest run-blocking grades among tight ends who played Sunday and was also excellent in his limited pass-blocking opportunities. Evan explains why Otton's blocking was a major reason Bucky Irving, Kenneth Walker and Sean Tucker were able to find success on the ground. Finally, there's Benjamin Chukwuma. The young offensive tackle stepped into the starting lineup and delivered an impressive performance despite replacing Luke Goedeke. Chukwuma allowed just one hurry on 14 pass-blocking snaps and made several important blocks in the running game. Evan explains why Chukwuma's development could give the Buccaneers an important young swing tackle for the rest of this season - and potentially a future starter down the road. Which Buccaneers player do YOU think is getting overlooked the most? Let us know in the comments! The Buccaneers have another huge NFC South matchup coming up against the Atlanta Falcons. If Tampa Bay wins that game, the entire conversation surrounding the season could change heading into the Week 9 matchup with the Chicago Bears. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Bucs for more Tampa Bay Buccaneers news, analysis, reactions and coverage throughout the 2026 NFL season.