If a team wants to succeed in today's NFL, it better have a dynamic passing game.

To have a dynamic passing game, you need more than just one top wide receiver.

The NFL is now full of teams with elite duos at the top of their WR depth chart. Even with receiver salaries skyrocketing over the last few years, teams have been prioritizing the position more than ever.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering the 2026 season without WR Mike Evans for the first time in 13 years. After 12 seasons in Tampa, Evans left to join the San Francisco 49ers. 

Now the Bucs are left with second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka and veteran Chris Godwin Jr. as their top two WRs. Egbuka, coming off a promising rookie year, looks like a future star. Godwin, when healthy, is one of the most reliable and sharpest route-running receivers in the league.

Unfortunately, the "when healthy" part has become a major issue lately, as Godwin has missed 18 games over the past two seasons and is under enormous pressure to stay on the field in 2026.

So, where do Egbuka and Godwin rank among receiving duos in the NFL?

Jared Dubin of CBS Sports recently ranked the NFL's top-eight "dynamic duos" of WRs in the NFL.

Did Tampa's top pairing make the cut?

They did not.

Dubin believes there are at least eight NFL teams with a better pair at the top of their receiver depth chart. Let's look at his top eight.

8. Seattle Seahawks (Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheen)

7. New England Patriots (A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs)

6. Denver Broncos (Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton)

5. Minnesota Vikings (Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison)

4. Detroit Lions (Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams)

3. Los Angeles Rams (Puka Nacua and Davante Adams)

2. Dallas Cowboys (CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens)

1. Cincinnati Bengals (Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins)

While Egbuka and Godwin didn't make the top-8, they were one of several tandems included in Dubin's "Honorable Mention-(ish)" group.

It's impossible to argue that Egbuka and Godwin should be ranked higher than any of the eight pairings Dubin listed.

Egbuka, while a potential WR1 in the making, is still very young and has to prove that his late-season slump as a rookie was a fluke. If the former Ohio State Buckeye can stay consistently productive over the course of an entire season, he has Pro Bowl potential this year. 

Godwin, on the other hand, must prove he can remain on the field for a full season, something he has not accomplished since 2023. If he stays healthy, the Bucs' passing offense could be fantastic. If Godwin again misses a significant portion of the season, there may be too much of a burden placed on youngsters like Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and rookie Ted Hurst.

If both Egbuka and Godwin can play to their full potential, they may indeed prove to be a top-8 WR duo. Until that happens, there are too many questions surrounding both of them to be ranked that high.

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