Bucs' HC Bowles Hints at What the Team Needs for Trade Deadline

The day before this year's NFL trade deadline, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' coach Todd Bowles was asked two questions about the NFL trade deadline.

The first one was about how he thought the team might handle the deadline, and the answer was nothing special: basically, the Bucs will do whatever makes sense, which might be buying and might be selling.

Later on, Bowles was asked specifically if the team might trade for a receiver, and the answer he gave was more compelling.

"Chemistry-wise, I would say yes, we have enough firepower," Bowles said. "Talent-wise. We're probably not production-wise; we're not doing what we've been doing in the past, so we can pick it up a feel a little bit in that position."

The numbers back up what Bowles said.

Tampa's top receiver, Emeka Egbuka, only has 278 yards and two touchdowns on 31 catches.

Egbuka, who eclipsed 100 yards three times in the first nine games of his rookie season last year, hasn't accomplished that feat in more than a year.

To be fair, Egbuka has missed two games this season due to injury, and played three games without his starting QB, Baker Mayfield, who hasn't helped his receivers the way the Bucs are paying him to. But the bottom line is that it feels like the Bucs are a long way from the days when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin made up one of the league's top duos, and it might make sense to get a reinforcement.

Some possible options that could be shipped at the deadline are Josh Downs, who has formally requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts, as well as Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans).

Of course, the Bucs could always sell, too. The team is frankly in a difficult position. On the one hand, it's hard to argue that the Bucs don't have a shot at the NFC South championship, being only a half game back of first and being a little more than two weeks removed from slaughtering the first-place Carolina Panthers by 30 on the road.

On the other hand, it's hard to argue that the Bucs are very good, being that they are 3-6 and tied for last in the South with the Atlanta Falcons, who just traded one of their best players, All-Pro safety Jessie Bates, to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We'll find out what happens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.