The 2022 season didn’t play out the way the Bucs wanted it to. They won the NFC South for the second straight year and made their third consecutive playoff appearance, but they did so with an 8-9 regular season record. Then, their playoff run came to an end with a thud as the Cowboys came into Raymond James Stadium and demolished them.

So ended the Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay. The greatest quarterback of all time retired in February, ending a 23-year run in the NFL and a three-year tenure with the Bucs. It was a frustrating final year to be sure, but over his three years in red, white and pewter, he and the team won a Super Bowl and two division titles.

Now, the Bucs head into a new era without the seven-time Super Bowl champion. As many new contributors as there are bound to be in 2023, there are also some members of the team’s core who are going to be looking to bounce back after disappointing in 2022.

Let’s take a look at Tampa Bay’s biggest bounce-back candidates heading into next season.

OLB Shaq Barrett

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There are plenty of questions being asked about Barrett right now, many of which have to do with his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered in a Week 8 loss to Baltimore last year. As much of an uphill battle as he might face due to the nature of that injury and the fact that he’s now 30, the Bucs’ top pass rusher is looking to return to form in 2023.

Limited to just eight games in 2022, Barrett totaled 31 tackles (20 solo), three sacks, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble. So, even before the injury, he wasn’t having his best year. That made the timing of his injury even more unfortunate, as he was having his best game of the season in that Thursday night matchup with the Ravens before exiting.

Tampa Bay’s defensive success this fall may hinge heavily on the play of Barrett. If he — even after an Achilles injury — puts together a strong season and leads the pass rush the way he did from 2019-2021, it’ll be a big-time help for the Bucs.

WR Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

It may feel harsh to include Evans on this list, as he definitely didn’t have a *bad* season in 2022. He still topped 1,000 yards — making it nine straight seasons to start his career — but his touchdown total dropped to six. Three of those came in one game. It was just the third time in his nine-year career that he didn’t reach at least eight receiving scores.

Again, it’s not as if Evans had an overall bad season last year. But he’d be the first to admit he didn’t live up to his own expectations for himself. He had some big drops and surpassed 100 yards in just three games on the year. There were only three games in which he reached the end zone, too. It wasn’t a banner year for the 2014 first-round pick, and he’ll be looking to rebound in his age-30 season.

Evans will be looking to reach his previous touchdown totals again in 2023. He set a new franchise record with 13 in 2020 before beating that the following year with 14 in 2021. Getting back to that 8-10 touchdown range would be massive for a Tampa Bay offense that will be under the direction of a new offensive coordinator and quarterback. Speaking of that quarterback — whether it’s Kyle Trask or Baker Mayfield — their job becomes much easier if Evans is at his best.

WR Russell Gage

Bucs WR Russell Gage – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gage was one of the bigger disappointments of 2022 for the Bucs on an individual level. He did finish the year with five receiving touchdowns, which was the second-most on the team. But his yards per catch average dipped all the way down to 8.4, which was the lowest of his career — and down from 11.7 with the Falcons in 2021.

Gage’s first year as a Buc just never really got going. After signing a three-year, $30 million deal to join forces with Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa, he looked great in the early days of training camp. But a hamstring injury soon hampered him, and it cost him his explosiveness all year.

He didn’t get the separation he needed, and it damaged his effectiveness. The fact that Julio Jones offered little as the No. 4 receiver made matters worse, but Gage was paid handsomely as a free agent and didn’t live up to the price tag.

This offseason, however, Gage took a pay cut to remain with the Bucs. As the new-look offense takes shape with a new quarterback, having a healthy, more explosive Gage would be a major boost. As part of his restructured contract, he has some incentives to hit so that he earns some money back. And there’s no doubt Tampa Bay would happily pay out those incentives if he contributes at a higher level this season.

ILB Devin White

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Just as it might be harsh to place Evans on this list, perhaps it’s a little tough on White to include him as well. He put up some strong numbers in 2022 and after some serious struggles around the middle of the season, he played with a little more consistency down the stretch. He still wasn’t the Devin White who starred for the Super Bowl champion Bucs in 2020, though.

White’s inconsistent play is a problem for Tampa Bay. It’s why there could be some hesitancy to pay him the money he wants for his next contract. As he plays on his fifth-year option, the former LSU standout needs to come back and play strong, level-headed football while still racking up the splash plays that make him who he is.

The Bucs re-signing Lavonte David this offseason should help White, as the two make up a formidable linebacker duo — one of the league’s best. If he wants to cash in next offseason, he needs a big year in 2023. What constitutes a big year for him, though? He does need to come through with sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. But playing mistake-free football is just as important.

OL Luke Goedeke

Bucs LG Luke Goedeke – Photo by: USA Today

Goedeke, a second-round pick in 2022, was thrown head first into the fire as a rookie. He was tasked with adjusting from the MAC to the NFL while also working through a position change, going from tackle to guard. Not to mention, he had to get used to playing on the left side of the line rather than the right. Oh, and in his first seven NFL games, he faced a murderer’s row of some of the game’s best interior defensive linemen.

The results weren’t great for Goedeke. He suffered a foot injury during a Week 7 loss to the Panthers. He had been platooning with Nick Leverett at left guard in that game and by the time he returned from his injury, Leverett had firmly established himself as the better starting option. For the year, Goedeke allowed two sacks, 19 hurries and 24 pressures while committing five penalties. That’s hardly a sparkling debut year for the Bucs’ second-rounder.

Goedeke will get his chance to have a significant bounce-back in 2023. Which position he’ll be playing when he gets that chance remains to be seen. If Tristan Wirfs moves to left tackle following the release of Donovan Smith, Goedeke could get a shot at right tackle, where he played at Central Michigan. But if the Bucs answer their tackle questions through the draft, he’ll be involved in the battle for one of the open guard spots. Perhaps a shift to the right side will help, as that’s the side he’s most used to playing on.

C Ryan Jensen

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jensen’s absence was sorely felt by the Bucs throughout the 2022 season. After he signed a new three-year deal in the offseason, he suffered a knee injury on the second day of training camp. He missed the entire regular season before managing to miraculously make it back for the Wild Card loss to Dallas. Tampa Bay’s offensive line wasn’t the same without him, no matter how serviceable Robert Hainsey was in his stead.

The veteran savvy Jensen brings to the field is unmatched, as is the fire he plays with. He gives Tampa Bay’s offensive line a completely different attitude, and not having him in there to mix it up with opposing defensive linemen last season was tough for the Bucs. And at age 32, he’ll need to bring that all back into the fold to protect his new signal-caller.

Jensen will be leading a new-look offensive front for the Bucs in 2023. He’ll anchor the line, and perennial All-Pro talent Tristan Wirfs will figure in at one of the tackle spots. But there’s a chance the team has as many as three new starters on its line with Donovan Smith released and Shaq Mason traded. Jensen returning to his previous level after an injury-plagued 2022 season would be a big help as the Bucs look to stabilize the O-line in front of their new quarterback.