Buccaneers: More Questions Than Answers

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were essentially playing with house money, nevertheless, many Buccaneer fans, like me, are highly competitive and confident, yet aware of reality. We needed some time to digest the loss and move past it as if we were still in the game. Coming into Week 17 against the division, the fan base had great confidence in our crew’s potential to, as they say, stand on business and clinch the division title. But truth be told, we came out flat. This consistent flat performance was a frustrating theme throughout the 2023 season. For most of the season, the defense remained very consistent in their play. Antoine Winfield Jr. led the charge with career-high numbers, earning him a well-deserved 1st-team All-Pro selection. In his contract year, he did exactly what every player in his position aims for force the organization to pay up or watch him go to another team. Now, the Buccaneers face a critical decision regarding their high-priority free agents: Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr., Baker Mayfield, Lavonte David, Aaron Stinnie, Devin White, Chase McLaughlin, Ryan Neal, and Devin Tompkins. Who to sign is the question that the team must get right! Balancing the financials with production and importance is key to making this decision. You put the franchise tag on Winfield, and then you sign Mike Evans to a well-deserved lucrative contract. Evans has taken more hometown deals than a hometown should be allowed, all in the effort of making the team better. With those two players out of the way, the Bucs turned their attention to Baker Mayfield. They offer him a 45-60 million dollar contract over a 2-3 year period, with mutually agreed guarantees and incentives. With Dave Canelas being hired by the Carolina Panthers as their next Head Coach, the Bucs need to swiftly assemble a search committee for their next offensive coordinator. Expected interviews include Thad Lewis, Ken Dorsey, Kellen Moore, Brian Johnson, and Zach Robinson, with hopes of hiring a new OC sooner rather than later. Shaq Barrett, a key part of our Super Bowl run alongside the legendary Tom Brady, was signed to a 4-year, $68 million deal. However, this season, he’s coming in at around $14 million in cap space due to a drop in production. Unfortunately, Barrett may not consistently perform at that high level for the remainder of his career. Additionally, with the drafting of Yaya Diaby, who has shown promise with 25 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries, it seems like a logical move to part ways with Barrett. Now, let’s turn our attention to another player with a large contract who isn’t necessarily filling the stat sheets: Carlton Davis III. He has had some injury issues but has been a source of many yards, touchdowns, and big plays against our opponents this season. He has allowed 82 targets, which ranks #74 in the league, with 48 receptions allowed, ranking #67. Additionally, he gives up a passer rating of 99.3%, ranking #63 in the league. This level of production is not ideal for a player with the size of his contract. These are two of the players the Buccaneers have to decide on this coming off-season. Jason Licht has proven with draft picks, including Vita Vea, Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr., and more recently, Yaya Diaby and Calijah Kancey, that he has an eye for talent. This raises an important question: if a valuable quarterback is available early in the draft, do you pull the trigger? Alternatively, do you focus on edge rushers or offensive line help? Along with secondary assistance, these positions are significant needs for the team. The next few months leading up to the draft will be intriguing. Should we draft based on need and priority, or should we go for the best player available? Perhaps a smart trade-back strategy to build draft capital and continue building for the future? These are all very difficult questions the front office must address.  We fought. We struggled. We dug deep, and we occasionally stumbled, but no matter what, we never jumped ship!  We always stay ready to raise the flags!   The post Buccaneers: More Questions Than Answers appeared first on Bucs Life.

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