The Bucs didn’t have to do it, but they did anyway. According to a post from Greg Auman of Fox Sports, Tampa Bay has paid wide receiver Sterling Shepard his bonus money even though he didn’t fully reach his numbers. Its a move that says a lot about how the organization treats its players.
Shepard was paid out $500,000 in a generous act from the Bucs. He had an incentives that payed out $125,000 each if he reached 40 catches, 50 catches, 400 receiving yards and 500 receiving yards. Shepard finished the year just short of these goals at 39 catches and 371 yards, but he was inactive for the last four games of the season as receivers such as Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan returned to the lineup. Tampa Bay paid all four bonuses for Shepard, who likely would have at least reached the 40 catches and 400 yards level if were active down the stretch.
Cool move by the Bucs — receiver Sterling Shepard was inactive the last four games as other WRs got healthy, and finished one catch and 29 yards short of $125,000 incentives as a result. Team paid out both, and an additional $250k for $500k as a separate bonus.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) February 21, 2026
In a league often defined by cold financial decisions and strict cap calculations, this was a gesture rooted in respect.
Sterling Shepard’s Important Presence For Bucs
Shepard, who joined the Bucs two seasons ago as a veteran depth receiver that brought in to the locker room due to his experience in the league and friendship with Baker Mayfield as they were teammates at Oklahoma. While his on-field role may not have been headline-grabbing, his presence carried weight — especially in a wide receiver room that has seen both transition and youth infusion. He became a great mentor to Jalen McMillan and rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson this season.
Bucs WR Sterling Shepard – Photo by: IMAGN Images
Shepard saw his role increase more this latest year as injuries to the receiver room piled up. He proved to be very crucial in the Bucs’ home opening win over the Jets, putting up a four-catch and 80 yard performance. Shepard’s only touchdown of the season proved to be extremely important as well as he scored the game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game up 35-35 on the road against the Seahawks. The Bucs went on to win the game 38-35 in a shootout of a matchup.
The Bucs weren’t obligated to make a goodwill payment beyond the strict letter of the contract if they chose to move on. Instead, they opted to follow through — reinforcing a reputation that Tampa Bay has quietly built over the years as an organization that values relationships. That matters around the league. Players talk and agents remember.
Will Sterling Shepard Be With The Bucs In 2026?
The Bucs continue to evaluate their roster heading into the 2026 season, balancing cap management with continuity. Their wide receiver room is loaded with talent that includes Chris Godwin Jr, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson. The big question, though, is whether Mike Evans is returning to Tampa Bay this year.
Bucs WRs Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
Once that is decided, the Bucs will have a bigger picture of what that position group is like. Either way if Evans is back or not, it wouldn’t hurt the Bucs to have extra depth with Shepard on the team. Shepard is an expensive addition and he’s been on the record that he only wants to keep playing with his friend Mayfield. Tampa Bay could elect to keep him on the practice squad and call him up if necessary if injuries happen to other players.
During his two seasons, Shepard has had a positive impact for the Bucs in his role. It appears that it would only be Tampa Bay that he returns to if he would even like to continue playing. Surely it would be a return that the Bucs would welcome, too.