Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Scott Reynolds/PR General manager Jason Licht made key moves in re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield after a resurgent 2023 season, and inking franchise legends Mike Evans and Lavonte David to new contracts. They also locked 2023 All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. into a new four-year deal while bringing back safety Jordan Whitehead, who teamed up with Winfield back in Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning season as well as the team’s 13-4 2021 season. The core also still includes a four-time 1,000-yard receiver in Chris Godwin, three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs, former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea and a host of young up-and-comers like running back Rachaad White, right tackle Luke Goedeke, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and cornerback Zyon McCollum. The Bucs’ 2024 rookie class looks to be full of immediate contributors, too, with center Graham Barton, outside linebacker Chris Braswell, defensive back Tykee Smith and wide receiver Jalen McMillan all looking likely to factor in this season. Are The Bucs In A Vulnerable Position Atop The NFC South? 
Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today The Bucs are ultimately the top dogs in the NFC South until they’re not. But could their time atop the division soon be up? A recent NFL.com article from Judy Battista ranking the “most vulnerable reigning division champions” lists Tampa Bay at 1A, with the Dallas Cowboys close behind at 1B. Every defending champion is, by definition, vulnerable. After all, the other three teams in any division will place a target firmly on the backs of the previous year’s winner. That’s a position Tampa Bay has survived in both 2022 and 2023, but can Todd Bowles’ team do so again in 2024? Here’s what Battista had to say about the position the Bucs are in heading into 2024: “This ranking should not be read as concern about the Bucs’ offseason, during which they locked up quarterback Baker Mayfield (who led a surprisingly smooth and successful first season of the post-Tom Brady era), receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. 
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – Photo by Atlanta Falcons “Rather, it’s a reflection of the NFC South, which the Bucs won in 2023 with a 9-8 record, edging out the Saints, who had the same record. The biggest difference from the offseason should come in Atlanta, where the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins, then drafted Michael Penix. The Falcons finished just two games behind the Bucs and Saints last season, and you have to assume that Cousins is good for at least two wins more than Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke were.” This isn’t an uncommon take this offseason, the addition of Kirk Cousins has analysts and oddsmakers crowning the Falcons as favorites to win the NFC South in 2024. But just because the take isn’t uncommon doesn’t mean it’s not valid, as Atlanta was very much in the mix deep into the 2023 season. As Battista said, even with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback, they were right with the Bucs and Saints into December of last season. So it certainly makes sense to consider the Falcons a significant threat to win the division. Where there’s room for debate is whether Tampa Bay is the most vulnerable defending division champion. Dallas was next on the list and given its inactivity this offseason and Philadelphia being a proven (and potentially even improved) team, the NFC East title changing hands could be even more likely than a changing of the guard in the NFC South. Even the next two teams on the list could be in more danger than the Bucs, as the Bills are another team that barely won their division last year. The Dolphins led the AFC East for much of the season only to collapse and hand the division over to Buffalo. The Bills had to do a bit of retooling this offseason and should face stiff competition from Miami once again, as well as a resurgent Jets team with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The Ravens, though they were 13-4 last year and won the AFC North by two games, could be in a vulnerable spot simply due to the nature of the strength of their division. The Browns will look to threaten, the Steelers are always in the mix and the Bengals have a healthy Joe Burrow returning to the field this fall. For reference, the rest of the list saw the Texans at No. 5, Lions at No. 6, 49ers at No. 7 and Chiefs at No. 8. So, what say you, Pewter People? Are the Bucs the most vulnerable defending division champ, or is it another team? The post Are Bucs The “Most Vulnerable” Defending Division Champion? appeared first on Pewter Report. https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-vulne ... -champion/
