As more and more rumors about Evans’ departure come out, the plot continues to thicken surrounding how the Buccaneers will go about replacing him. With Chris Godwin now the No. 1 option surrounded by young, developing talent, the question not becomes about whether or not the Bucs can truly replace Mike Evans, but with who. According to several reports, it could come in the form of one of college football’s most underrated wide receivers.
Elijah Sarratt may be a bit rawer than some of the other receiver talent on this roster, but he has proven that he is highly capable of achieving big things in the NFL. A key contributor to Indiana‘s national championship run, Sarratt could end up being the X receiver that Baker Mayfield so desperately needs in this offense.
A Potential Successor with a Different Skill Set
The man they call “Waffle House” because he’s always open has elite separation skills on the outside. While he does not have the size that Evans has, he is still someone who can win 50/50 balls, a specialty of Baker Mayfield’s. In fact, he maintained a 50 percent contested catch ration throughout his entire collegiate career.
He also rivals Evans’ own college producrtion, as he averaged around 15 yards per reception in his career. He also has 44 receiving touchdowns to his name at the collegiate level, including this impressive catch to give Indiana the lead in the Big Ten title game.
Draft Strategy vs. Immediate Impact: Is Sarratt Worth the Pick?
One important thing of note for the Bucs is that Sarratt could fall to the second or third round, where competition for him may not be as stiff. Still, they may have to take into consideration their already loaded receiver room as well as all the young prospects they already have. The question then becomes whether or not Sarratt would be a luxury pick in a draft where the Bucs must focus on developing talent that can contribute immediately.
There is an interesting connection however, that could sway the Bucs into using one of their seven picks on Sarratt. Sarratt does have a connection with new QBs coach Chandler Whitmer, who worked at Indiana and got to witness Sarratt’s exploits as the co-offensive coordinator. Together, combined with Baker Mayfield’s let it rip mentality, Sarratt could excel in this offense.
Should Sarratt be drafted by the Bucs, it could raise a question about where all the pieces could fit. Sarratt will mostly likely fit in as the X receiver, split outside. That would potentially force one of either Godwin or Egbuka outside as well, spots they may not be very comfortable in.
Whether or not it’s worth the risk for the Bucs could ultimately be determined by the flow of the draft. If the Bucs feel as if they can address the wide receiver position without giving up on other positions of need, Sarratt becomes an elite option that can fit seamlessly into this offense. If so, the Buccaneers could be looking at the next edition of Mike Evans in the making.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Buccaneers Could Target Indiana WR To Replace Evans in Draft appeared first on Heavy Sports.
