Thompson trying to catch on with Bucs

Cody Thompson is trying to make a name for himself with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After spending the past four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the Huron graduate signed a one-year deal with the Bucs in early June. He participated in the team's final organized team activity session one day after signing, then was part of a three-day minicamp a week later. He quickly discovered that Florida is much different than the Pacific Northwest. "It's pretty hot down there — definitely different than Seattle," Thompson said. "It was good to get to be able to make plays and learn how they operate. It's like the first day of school, really." Thompson, 28, is entering his sixth season in the NFL and jokes that he's "getting old." He's now fully vested, which means he's eligible for full benefits and a retirement pension. That was one of his goals when he signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent from Toledo in 2019. But there's more to accomplish. "I always said I wanted to play until I'm 30," Thompson said. "As long as I love it it would be hard for me to call it myself. It's all I know: go, go, go." Thompson parted ways with the Seahawks after last season and waited for another chance. "They kind of cleaned house with coaches and said they'd allow me to explore free agency, but the door wasn't shut," he said. "It's a business and a lot of things go on that put stress on you. But I'm living a dream. It's something I wanted to do since I was little." Thompson is represented by Equity Sports agents Dan Saffron and Samantha Sankovich. Equity has many NFL clients, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Thompson got a call on June 3 about working out for the Bucs. He flew to Florida the next day and worked out on June 5. He said he and three other receivers ran about 10 pass routes in front of coaches and front office staff. "It was probably only 20 minutes," Thompson said. "We did some catching drills and ran routes. I think a lot of it is them wanting to see if you're healthy and how you move." After the workout, he waited. "We sat around for a couple hours in the cafeteria as they were working through things," he said. "It was a long day. I called my agent and she said, 'sit tight.' "They knew me from Seattle. Coaches talk, obviously. Honestly, they saw I'm healthy and moving well. I'm versatile. I've played inside and outside (receiver)." Thompson's versatility and experience on special teams will be a plus as a he tries to make the Bucs' 53-man roster. The defending NFC South champions will open training camp with 13 wide receivers, including the team's top two all-time pass catchers: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Bucs also signed veteran receiver Sterling Shepard, who played with quarterback Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma. Trey Palmer, who had 39 receptions in a strong rookie year, is another top option. But Tampa Bay returns only four receivers who caught passes for the Bucs last year. "I feel good. It's another opportunity," Thompson said. "I'm used to it, having to make the most of every rep and learning a new offense." Thompson played 12 games and 167 snaps (140 on special teams) with the Seahawks and also spent time on the practice squad. He missed the entire 2022 season with a shoulder injury. He was active for seven games last year and caught his first NFL pass, which went for 10 yards against the Giants on Monday Night Football. "It was a cool experience. Monday night in New York — it doesn't get much bigger than that," he said. After the season, Thompson took a vacation in Hawaii and spent two months in Nashville. He worked out with former Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside. Now he's spending time at home in Huron before he leaves for training camp on July 21. Thompson is enjoying time with friends and family while working on his golf game. "One day I'll go out and shoot 81, 82, the next day it's 89, 90," he said. "It's a humbling game, but I love it. I could see myself getting up and playing every day in retirement." But soon, he'll be catching passes and taking hits on a new team — one that won a playoff game last season (32-9 at Philadelphia) before losing at Detroit. "The more plays you make the more your name gets thrown around and the more reps you get," Thompson said. "I just have to prove myself each day. I know it sounds cliché, but I have to control what I can control. "Consistency is big in every walk of life. If they can rely on you, it's big — especially in this profession."