Heading into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 preseason slate, second-year wide receiver Ryan Miller was listed pretty far down the team's depth chart. Despite that, it wouldn't be entirely accurate to call Miller a long shot to make the roster, particularly since most coaches consider preseason depth charts worthy of little more than making paper airplanes.
In reality, Miller had a lot of things going for him in the quest to be among the 53 still standing at the end of next week's roster cuts. That included impressive work last season when the Bucs' injury corps was hit hard by injuries, knowledge of the offensive system, decent chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield and, oh by the way, the fact that he was already on the active roster for the last 11 weeks of the 2024 season, playoffs included.
The main impediment to Miller's attempt to remain on the active roster was the Bucs' offseason additions of Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson in the draft, which made an already strong receiving corps one of the deepest in the NFL, if not the deepest. It was possible that a numbers game could end up with Miller starting the season on the practice squad, as he did in each of his first two seasons.
However, that depth is already being tested, with Chris Godwin possibly starting the season on the PUP list and second-year man Jalen McMillan headed to injured reserve after a scary neck injury suffered last Saturday in Pittsburgh. Head Coach Todd Bowles has seen no reason to run Evans out on the field for any preseason game action and, since he has been working with the starters in the absence of Evans and Godwin, Egbuka's playing time has been relatively brief, too.
Through it all, Miller has simply taken his opportunities and produced. He was on the field early in the first quarter against Tennessee in Preseason Week One and played 34 snaps, catching a team-high six passes for 66 yards. Against Pittsburgh, he was on the field for another 30 offensive snaps, and while the ball didn't find him as often (two catches for 11 yards), he also had two tackles on 11 special teams plays.
Miller knows things have gone well for him so far this summer, and that he's got a shot to once again be the one who steps up in the absence of some other playmakers.
"Obviously, the first game I felt like I had a really good game offensively, then the second game I know I contributed on special teams with a couple of tackles," he said. "Being able to show both sides of that, [I am] trying to help my case to make this 53-man roster.
View pictures from Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice on 08/20/2025
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Guard Ben Scott #66 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Guard Ben Bredeson #68 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Guard Sua Opeta #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Guard Mike Jordan #60 and Tackle Luke Haggard #72 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Guard Cody Mauch #69 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #16 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Inside Linebacker SirVocea Dennis #8 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Eric Banks #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Defensive Lineman C.J. Brewer #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Logan Hall #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Dennis Houston #89 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Tight End Cade Otton #88 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Running Back Sean Tucker #44 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Safety Kaevon Merriweather #26 and Tight End Ko Kieft #41 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - Nadine Nurasyid, Defensive Assistant Coach for the Stuttgart Surge, during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 20, 2025 - General Manager Jason Licht during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"Obviously we've had some injuries and you never want to see that. And obviously, prayers to those guys who are injured. We want them to get healthy and get back to us quickly. But, yeah, we've got a lot of depth in this room. Like Mike Evans said, we've got the best group in the NFL. We've got to live by that, abide by that and guys have to step up. We've just got to put the next-guy-up mentality."
Miller, who was primarily an undersized tight end at Furman, knew any future he had in the NFL would be at receiver and he started working with his college coach over his last two seasons to prepare for the transition. While he showed enough in his rookie camp to gain a coveted spot on the practice squad, he knew he had work to do to before he was truly ready to play in the NFL. Two years later, things have changed.
"I will say my rookie year, I don't think I was entirely ready to play in the NFL," said Miller. "I was still developing – because obviously, I played tight end in college so transitioning to NFL wide receiver, I guess was a little bit different for me, having to work against outside cornerbacks and stuff like that. But being consistent, working on my craft, I had a good offseason this past offseason, just working out. I would throw with Baker [Mayfield] about once or twice a week, so I was here prepping for the season."
Bowles has seen the growth in Miller as well and now considers him a well-rounded receiver who can help an offense in a lot of ways and make an impact on special teams, too. During the stretch last season when both Godwin and Evans were out, Miller contributed 12 catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He also had six tackles on special teams om 11 total games to rank third on the team behind two players who have since departed, Tavierre Thomas and J.J. Russell.
"Ryan is smart, he's reliable, he's tough, he has great hands, he's going to block when you need him to block, he's going to get open when you need him to get open, he's a very good special teams player," said the coach. "His confidence has grown from year one until now. Coming out of college as a free agent tight end and playing wide receiver, you see the toughness, but his work ethic has changed. I kind of knew he arrived when he cut his hair because he had been walking around a little crazy before, but now he's kind of settled in and become a little mini vet right now. So that's a good thing."
There's still plenty of competition, of course, and more than two weeks before the first regular season game for players to make their case. Evans still leads the unit and rookie draftees Egbuka and Tez Johnson feel like near locks for the roster. But with Godwin and McMillan not ready for the start of the regular season, the third through (potentially) sixth spot on the receiver depth chart could still go to the likes of Miller, Trey Palmer, Sterling Shepard, Rakim Jarrett, Kameron Johnson and Garrett Greene. Among that group, all but the rookie Greene have already played for the Bucs in the regular season in recent years, and Greene has looked intriguing as he makes his own conversion from college quarterback to receiver.
"[I'm] just taking it one day at a time," said Miller. "Trying to string a couple good practices together this week. And then just go put my best foot forward Saturday and try to make plays for this team. Ultimately, it's up to the coaches and the staff to decide who's going to make this team and that's out of my control, but I can just control what I can control and do my best."
