Steelers Now
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are waiving wide receiver Trey Palmer, according to a report by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, and Palmer could be a fit for the wide receiver-hungry Steelers.
Palmer, 24, was a sixth-round pick of the Buccaneers in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. He played in all 17 games as a rookie, showing promise by catching 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns.
But Palmer took a step backward last year, getting passed in the Tampa pecking order at wide receiver by both rookie Jalen McMillan and veteran Sterling Shepard. Even with Palmer serving as the team’s punt return in 2024, McMillan out for the start of the 2025 season with a neck injury, and Chris Godwin not back from a gruesome 2025 ankle injury, Palmer was unable to hang on to a roster spot, losing out to 2025 seventh-round pick Tez Johnson.
The 6-foot, 192-pound receiver has average size, but in pre-draft testing, Palmer showed elite straight-line speed, running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash. His agility and explosiveness were less impressive, with a downright poor 29.5-inch vertical jump and a pedestrian 4.26-second short shuttle. He posted a total Relative Athletic Score of 6.15 out of 10.
Palmer was also not highly productive throughout his college career. The Kentwood, Louisiana native spent his first three seasons at LSU, but totaled just 41 catches while struggling to find playing time in a loaded wide receiver room that won the College Football Playoff in 2019.
He transferred to Nebraska in 2022, where he broke out as the Cornhuskers’ top receiving threat. Palmer caught 71 passes for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns, setting the school’s single-season receiving record.
The Steelers have been looking for another outside receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. Palmer has played both inside and outside in his NFL career, with 52% of his career reps coming on the outside, per Pro Football Focus. Of course, those came on a team with Godwin and Mike Evans playing outside, forcing a player like Palmer to the middle. On Pittsburgh, he’d have more outside pedigree than Roman Wilson or Calvin Austin III, who have thrived in slot roles.
Palmer was injured during the joint practice with the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Aug. 14 and did not play in the final two preseason games for the Buccaneers. It’s unclear if the hamstring injury played a role in his release.
Palmer will be on waivers until Wednesday at noon. If he clears, he is free to sign with any team’s practice squad or active roster.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Buccaneers Put Potential Steelers WR Target on Waivers
