Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ 2023 season: 9-8, received NFC South, misplaced in divisional around
Evaluate: Tampa Bay‘s 2023 season gamble on Baker Mayfield labored out, because the journeyman quarterback threw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns with simply 10 interceptions and led the Bucs to an NFC South identify and the divisional around.
The Bucs had paintings to do to book this team in combination. Getting into this offseason, Mayfield and All-Professional protection Antoine Winfield Jr., to not point out alternative ageing however impactful members to their fresh good fortune, had been poised to develop into loose brokers. The Bucs made important steps in maintaining a part of the workforce’s a hit core by way of re-signing star receiver Mike Evans on a two-year, $52 million deal. That used to be adopted by way of the reported re-signing of Mayfield on Sunday and the franchise tagging of Winfield last week.
The ceiling with Mayfield beneath heart is probably not throughout the roof nevertheless it used to be crispy to look higher choices for the Bucs than operating it again, capitalizing on what nonetheless seems to be a vulnerable NFC South and vision the place that shakes out.
They’ll be doing so with out offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who used to be rented because the pristine head teacher of the section rival Carolina Panthers. Another way, issues glance related in 2024 in Tampa, which isn’t a malicious factor.
Key loose brokers
LB Lavonte David
LB Devin White
G Aaron Stinnie
DT Greg Gaines
G Matt Feiler
Who’s in/out: Mayfield is reportedly returning on a three-year, $100 million trade in together with $50 million assured. Evans is again on a two-year, $52 million trade in, and the Bucs positioned the franchise tag on big name Winfield. The ceiling for this workforce might fairly now not be Tremendous Bowl champion anymore, however Tampa Bay prioritized preserving a excellent factor in combination.
Key free-agent wishes
Inner offensive fold
Edge rusher
Why the holes? Middle Ryan Jensen retired, so the Bucs want backup alongside the inner in their o-line. And discovering a move rusher to pair with 2023 first-round draft select Calijah Kancey, who used to be named Rookie of the Week in November and had a standout debut marketing campaign, would spice up the entrance seven.
Do they have got the cash?
Tampa Bay is $22.4 million beneath the wage cap, consistent with Spotrac, making it imaginable to store maximum in their key loose brokers.
Possible impressive cuts
WR Russell Gage
LB Anthony Nelson
Why they may well be long past: The workforce reportedly plans to release linebacker Shaq Barrett, which is able to lead to a kind of $5 million cap financial savings later he turns into a post-June 1 decrease. Gage neglected endmost season with a torn patellar tendon and is due $13.35 million towards the cap in 2024. Nelson, in the meantime, is scheduled to build $5.4 million nearest fall and is much less impactful than alternative defenders the Bucs would possibly need in order again.
2023 NFLPA file card
Draft alternatives
1st around: Negative. 26
second around: Negative. 57
third around: Negative. 89
4th around: Negative. 124
sixth around: Negative. 200
sixth around: Negative. 220 (compensatory)
seventh around: Negative. 246
Excellent draft are compatible
Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida Order
Why him? Verse’s sport is all about energy, and he can be a “high-end secondary pass rusher,” consistent with Yahoo Sports activities draft professional Nate Tice. That will are compatible a necessity for the Bucs, who’re choosing twenty sixth total, because of their good fortune this date season. Washington’s Troy Fautanu is sensible for the Bucs too, although he’s extra of a defend/take on anticipation than a middle.
What can travel the untruth soccer needle this offseason?
The hope is that the Buccaneers can convey again maximum of what labored endmost 12 months; Mayfield and Evans are each loose brokers. And the workforce goes to leave out OC Dave Canales, although we must additionally point out Tampa Bay ranked a minute twentieth in issues scored and twenty third in yards endmost 12 months. The offense must get Chris Godwin extra invested across the purpose fold (he scored simply two times endmost 12 months), and a 3rd extensive receiver of word would build this workforce a lot more tricky to cover. It’s most probably Tampa Bay takes a swing at a field-stretching receiver within the draft. — Scott Pianowski
