Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Progress Report

Can the Buccaneers win an NFC South record five straight Division Titles? Or will another team look to pounce while they deal with key injuries?

Buccaneers Star Receiver Mike Evans

Overview

2024 Record: 10-7

General Manager: Jason Licht

Head Coach: Todd Bowles

Starting Quarterback: Baker Mayfield

Key Extensions:

—

Key Additions:

EDGE Haason Reddick, LB Anthony Walker Jr, WR Emeka Egbuka, CB Benjamin Morrison, CB Jacob Parrish

Key Departures:

iOL Robert Hainsey, S Mike Edwards

Offense

Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Grizzard

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 5th Success Rate: 3rd PPG: 4th (29.5ppg)

Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):

QB Baker Mayfield

RB Bucky Irving

WR Mike Evans

WR Chris Godwin

WR Emeka Egbuka

TE Cade Otton

LT Tristan Wirfs

LG Ben Bredeson

C Graham Barton

RG Cody Mauch

RT Luke Goedoke

Offense Notes:

After reviving his career, there were questions as to whether or not Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense could keep up after Dave Canales departed for the division rival Panthers. Those questions were emphatically answered this season, as Baker took his game to another level. Mayfield certainly played well, but the biggest spark for this offense was improvement in the run game, which was putrid in 2023 but one of the best in the league in 2024. All of this improvement culminated in winning the division in Week 18.

I’m not sure the questions will be as loud this go-round, but the Buccaneers are once again losing their star offensive coordinator to becoming a head coach (this time in Jacksonville). With Chris Godwin still coming back from injury, the Bucs have added star receiver Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State in the draft. Even once Godwin is back on the field, the Bucs will have one of the most talented and diverse receiving corps in the league. The big question for this group hinges on how much time star left tackle Tristan Wirfs will miss this season.

Defense

Defensive Coordinator: Larry Foote (Todd Bowles calls plays)

2024 Ranks:

EPA/play: 19th Success Rate: 22nd PPG: 16th (22.6pg allowed)

Projected Starting Defense (Base 3-4):

DE Logan Hall

DT Vita Vea

DE Calijah Cancey

OLB Haason Reddick

OLB Yaya Diaby

LB Lavonte David

LB SirVocea Dennis

CB Zyon McCollum

CB Jamel Dean

S Antione Winfield Jr.

S Tykee Smith

Defense Notes:

Despite some of the star power on the defensive front, this group actually struggled quite a bit in key moments last season. Naturally, a defensive line that employs Vita Vea will thrive against the run, but surprisingly, this group got steamrolled in pass defense last year. The Bucs were able to pressure the quarterback, but the coverage on the back end lacked tremendously.

To remedy this, Tampa Bay spent its 2nd and 3rd round draft picks on defensive backs. Adding youth should inject competition into a defensive backfield that needed it last season. Beyond these additions, the Bucs are running it back with the same core plus Haason Reddick, who hasn’t played a full season in quite some time. Most of the defensive growth will have to be internal for this unit to take a step in 2025.

Outlook

Overall, Tampa Bay is in a pretty good position as far as the division standings go. They haven’t been anywhere but the top since Tom Brady was still on the team, and have shown themselves to be able to weather the loss of talented coordinators. I have faith that they can do it again simply based on the talent on offense.

However, this year isn’t as cut and dried as last season. Other teams in the division have seemingly found their quarterbacks and are starting to ascend. Internally, the Buccaneers will start the season with key injuries and a new scheme to adapt to. With a first place schedule and these in-house issues, will the Bucs get out to a slow start?

Ultimately, the Buccaneers should be and are the favorites to win the division. I expect them to continue their streak and host another home playoff game. Whether or not they go beyond this point is the real question, and with some of the other powers in the NFC, I’m not sure they will.

Expectation/Goal for 2025: Win NFC South, Playoff Run

2025 Schedule

\(\begin{array}{c c} \textbf{GameWeek} & \textbf{Opponent} \\ \hline \text{Week 1} & \text{@ Atlanta, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 2} & \textbf{@ Houston, MNF, 7pm} \\ \text{Week 3} & \text{vs. New York Jets, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 4} & \text{vs. Philadelphia, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 5} & \text{@ Seattle, 4:05pm} \\ \text{Week 6} & \text{vs. San Francisco, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 7} & \textbf{@ Detroit, MNF, 7pm} \\ \text{Week 8} & \text{@ New Orleans, 4:05pm} \\ \text{Week 9} & \text{-- BYE WEEK --} \\ \text{Week 10} & \text{vs. New England, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 11} & \text{@ Buffalo, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 12} & \textbf{@ LA Rams, SNF, 8:20pm} \\ \text{Week 13} & \text{vs. Arizona, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 14} & \text{vs. New Orleans, 1pm} \\ \textbf{Week 15} & \textbf{vs. Atlanta, TNF, 8:15pm} \\ \text{Week 16} & \text{@ Carolina, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 17} & \text{@ Miami, 1pm} \\ \text{Week 18} & \text{vs. Carolina, TBD} \\ \end{array} \)

Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST