The Current State Of The Bucs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a season full of accomplishment and disappointment under the first year of head coach Todd Bowles. The Bucs swept the Saints, beat the Rams and won the NFC South for a second straight year. But Bowles’ team finished the season with an 8-9 record – even with Tom Brady at quarterback – and lost a home playoff game to Dallas.

Now, Brady has retired at age 45 after three seasons in Tampa Bay, and the Bucs are at a turning point. The team isn’t doing a fire sale rebuild. Instead, it’s attempting to reload while remaining competitive in a wide-open NFC South division.

General manager Jason Licht has decided to pay off the Super Bowl credit card, which consists of absorbing all $35 million of Brady’s dead cap money this year. The Bucs were $56 million over the salary cap just days before the start of free agency and have begun to make some cap cuts.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Left tackle Donovan Smith was released and saves the team just under $10 million. Running back Leonard Fournette was also cut and saves the team nearly $3.5 million. Tight end Cam Brate was also released and saved Tampa Bay just over $2 million. Then the Bucs restructured and reworked some deals for players already on the roster and some further contract restructures or  extensions could still come next by vice president of football administration Mike Greenberg, who is the team’s capologist.

Tampa Bay has 22 unrestricted free agents, including several starters like linebacker Lavonte David, cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting, safeties Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal, in addition to defensive linemen like Akiem Hicks, Will Gholston and others. Tampa Bay can’t afford to bring them all back.

The biggest question will be at quarterback, where the team is resigned to the fact that it can’t land a big name via trade or in free agency. Unproven third-year QB Kyle Trask is the only one under contract, but the Bucs will sign at least one veteran to provide competition.

Bowles made some changes on the coaching staff this offseason, firing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and several offensive assistants. Dave Canales, Seattle’s former QBs coach and passing game coordinator, takes over for Leftwich as the play-caller. Brad Idzik is the new receivers coach and Skip Peete is the new running backs coach. Thad Lewis was promoted to QBs coach, while George Edwards joins the staff to coach outside linebackers.

Explaining The Bucs Battle Plans For 2023

PewterReport.com writers Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Josh Queipo, Bailey Adams, JC Allen and Adam Slivon have devised their own Bucs Plans For the 2023 offseason. These come complete with free agent signings, trades, roster moves and draft picks to hopefully help Tampa Bay three-peat as NFC South champions and make another playoff run.

Bucs VP of player personnel John Spytek and VP of football administration Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Remember, these Bucs Battle Plans are how the PewterReport.com staff members would reshape the team this offseason – not necessarily what we think Tampa Bay will do in free agency and the draft, although there could be some overlap with certain players the team may be targeting.

Licht and Greenberg created a lot more salary cap space by restructuring the contracts of several players and lowering their 2023 cap values. The free agents that Tampa Bay signs and re-signs will all have one or two years worth of guaranteed money. That’s a Greenberg staple when it comes to contracts. But the first-year salaries will also be lower than the average yearly cap value of the contract to help the Bucs’ cap in 2023. The cap is expected to rise in 2024 and Tampa Bay can defer some money into later years.

Matera’s Bucs Battle Plan For The 2023 Offseason

I tried to aim for a battle plan that brings a little something different from others that you saw from Pewter Report this week. This was an attempt to have a little fun and stretch the boundaries a bit for what’s possible this offseason for Tampa Bay. I did also try to be show a little reality to the structure of the roster.

Bucs Restructures

Before I could even put pen to paper, or in this case, type letters on a document, the Bucs made a series of contract restructures. This included Chris Godwin, Ryan Jensen, Vita Vea, Carlton Davis and Russell Gage. After those moves, I made a couple more.

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

OLB – Shaq Barrett

There’s a lot on the table for Barrett this season. His first priority has to be getting healthy. The second is to regain his pass rushing form that saw him reach double digit sacks twice in three seasons with the Bucs. Restructuring Barrett’s deal saves Tampa Bay $9.8 million.

RG – Shaq Mason

Mason enters his second year in Tampa Bay. He is going into the last year of his contract and will look to cash in on one more pay day at 30-years old with a good season. While the Bucs struggled in the run game, Mason wasn’t the reason because of it. His restructure helps the Bucs out by opening up $4.7 million from the cap.

Bucs Extensions

WR Mike Evans – 3 Years, $60 million ($55 million guaranteed)

Evans is the greatest offensive player in the Bucs history. They should hold onto him as long as they can. Though he’s about to turn 30, there’s still plenty of gas left in the tank for the future Hall of Famer. Evans may have had a “down year” in 2022, but he still got over 1,000 receiving yards. Look for him to be even more motivated with a new quarterback and offensive system. Tampa Bay gets $10.6 million in room to maneuver with their cap thanks to this extension.

LB Devin White — 5 years, $102 million ($49 million guaranteed)

Looking for the big second contract, White may have his ups and downs as an inside linebacker, but he’s brought value as a leader and team captain on the defense. On top of that, he’s a huge favorite of head coach Todd Bowles, who will ultimately side with signing him. White certainly needs to step up it up if he wants to earn a deal worth over $100 million. Signing him to an extension gets the Bucs $7.6 million in savings.

Bucs Cuts

K Ryan Succop

The Bucs just need a kicker who can hit from long range. They have a new system and a lot of questions to be answered on offense, so they need all the points they can get. Succop was great inside the 50, but struggled heavily from outside of it. In today’s NFL, almost every kicker can hit consistently from there and Tampa Bay could use it this season. Releasing Succop saves $3.5 million.

Unrestricted Free Agents Re-Signed

Bucs S Logan Ryan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

OLB Carl Nassib – 1 year, $2.5 million

Nassib gives it his all every time he’s in for a snap and provides relentless energy going after the quarterback. He’s the ideal third- or fourth-string edge rusher to play a couple of series each game.

S Logan Ryan – 1 year, $2 million

Early in the season, Ryan was making clutch plays to help the Bucs’ defense turn the ball over. When he broke his foot and was out for over a month, the turnovers vanished and he was sorely missed. He’s a key part to Tampa Bay’s defense.

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches – 1 year, $2 million

Nacho always bring the energy among his teammates as a spark in his role. He’s always been a good run stuffer and even added two sacks last season.

DL Pat O’Connor – 1 year, $1.08 million

O’Connor has carved out a nice role as an important special teams player who will give solid reps on the D-line as well. He blocked a field goal last season and is one of the favorites among teammates. He’s an important “glue guy” that every team needs.

OG Aaron Stinnie – 1 year, $1.08 million 

Many are ready to move on from Stinnie after a season-ending injury during the preseason. Have we forgot he was the starting guard during their Super Bowl run? He’ll provide great depth along the offensive line.

OLB Cam Gill – 1 year, $1.01 million 

Another player who got injured before the regular season began. Gill has shown flashes of pass rushing ability.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents Re-Signed

OL Nick Leverett – 1 year, $940,000

For the amount of money it costs for a starter who was solid in his role last season, Leverett should be brought back. He’s a competitor who deserves to return and vie for the starting left guard spot.
 
CB Dee Delaney – 1 year, $940,000

Delaney has plenty of experience in Todd Bowles’ system and can play outside cornerback, slot cornerback and safety in a pinch.

Unrestricted Free Agents Not Re-Signed

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ILB Lavonte David

I want Lavonte back, I really do. But if he’s expected to get $10 million-$11 million next season, the Bucs just can’t afford it at the moment. It’s best to rip the band-aid off and turn the page at inside linebacker. He’ll be back at Ray Jay for the Ring of Honor ceremony.

CB Jamel Dean

Dean played himself out of Tampa with a great season in a contract year. He could be the highest-paid corner on the market and way over Tampa Bay’s budget.

DT Will Gholston 

It was a great ride for Gholston in Tampa. With that said, the Bucs want to get younger and faster, so they let Gholston test free agency if he wants to continue playing.

DT Akiem Hicks

He wasn’t a bad signing, but missing six games, recording one sack and the overall run defense taking a dip makes it easy for the Bucs to move on from him.

WR Julio Jones

Jones just can’t stay healthy consistently enough to be a key piece to the offense.

RB Giovani Bernard

Bernard is getting long in the tooth and is oft-injured. They didn’t even use him offensively for the most part.

OLB Anthony Nelson

Nelson is another player who probably played his way out of Tampa. He was the best outside linebacker last season and will look for an elevated role as the first or second edge rusher on another team.

Bucs S Mike Edwards – Photo by: USA Today

S Mike Edwards

He was okay in his first year as a starting safety. What was missing, though, was the ballhawking ability that had everyone raving about Edwards. His market will be interesting in free agency.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

The Bucs know what they’re getting with SMB, who’s more suited to be a backup corner. They move in another direction.

OLB Genard Avery

Avery got brought in for special teams and situational pass rushing. He can be replaced.

TE Kyle Rudolph

He doesn’t have much in the tank anymore and was mostly a game day inactive for the majority of the season.

S Keanu Neal 

The Bucs had to choose between safeties Neal and Ryan, electing for Ryan.

WR Breshad Perriman

Perriman has provided two things for the Bucs over the last two seasons. The walk-off catch and run for a touchdown in overtime to beat the Bills in 2021 and the go-ahead touchdown in Week 2 against the Saints in 2022. Two great moments, but outside of those, he didn’t offer much.

OT Josh Wells

An unfortunate knee injury during the Christmas game will keep Wells out for a majority of next season. The Bucs will look for a new swing tackle, but maybe they bring him back a season later as he recovers.

WR Scotty Miller

Scotty will always have a place in Bucs history with his historic touchdown catch at halftime of the NFC Championship Game. He’s been relegated to special teams roles in more recent seasons.

QB Blaine Gabbert

Good night, sweet prince. Local hero Blaine Gabbert doesn’t look to be part of the Bucs’ future plans. He’s set free to explore what he wants to do next.

DT Deadrin Senat

A solid run stuffer, the Bucs just go a different route.

New Unrestricted Free Agents Signed

Rams QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

QB Baker Mayfield – 1 year, $6 million

Tampa Bay is reportedly interested in the polarizing quarterback. He’ll play with a chip on his shoulder and gets a fresh start in a quarterback-friendly offense with coordinator Dave Canales. Mayfield has helped lead a team to the playoffs before, he just needs to cut down on the turnovers. The opportunity of throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin can’t be passed up as it’s some of the best talent he’s ever worked with. Also, it’s one of Mayfield’s best opportunities to be a starter again.

QB Drew Lock – 1 year, $1.2 million

It makes all the sense in the world considering that Lock worked with Canales in Seattle. He’s the only one with experience in this system.

DT Sheldon Rankins – 2 years, $14 million

Rankins played in a great Jets defense last season and showed balance as a run stopper and pass rusher. He recorded an overall PFF grade of 73.1. Rankins had a career-best in combined tackles last season with 43 in 15 games and also tacked on three sacks. He goes from working with one talented defensive tackle with Quinnen Williams to another with Vita Vea.

K Matt Prater – 1 year, 1.5 $million

The Bucs need a kicker who can kick from 50-plus yards, and Prater has a boot. He was 5-of-6 from that range last season and had an accuracy of 88% on field goals for the whole season.

ILB Leighton Vander Esch – 2 years, $12 million

The Bucs go a less expensive route to replace Lavonte David with Vander Esch. He’s a tackling machine with a high football IQ. He just needs to stay healthy.

WR Marquise Goodwin – 1 year, $1.2 million

Goodwin has great speed and was even mentioned by Canales in his introductory press conference with the Tampa media. With the Bucs looking for value, he fits the model.

49ers CB Emmanuel Moseley – Photo By: USA Today

CB Emmanuel Moseley – 1 year, $4 million

Moseley has experience as a starter, having started in 33 games over the last four seasons with one interception each year. That includes a pick-six off of Mayfield last year. His problem is just staying healthy. Moseley graded out to 70.9 overall and 73.5 in coverage on PFF. He hasn’t allowed a touchdown in two seasons, which bodes well.

Matera’s 2023 Bucs Draft Picks

I am not making a trade before this mock draft, so I’m sticking to the script with what Tampa Bay was allotted.

Round 1: Pick 19, 19th Overall
Round 2: Pick 19, 50th Overall
Round 3: Pick 19, 82nd Overall
Round 5: Pick 19, 153rd Overall
Round 5: Pick 41, 175th Overall (compensatory pick)
Round 6: Pick 4, 181st Overall (from Colts)
Round 6: Pick 19, 196th Overall
Round 7: Pick 13, 230th Overall (from NY Jets)
Round 7: Pick 35, 252nd Overall (compensatory pick)

Matera’s 2023 Bucs Draft Picks

Round 1 – Tennessee OT Darnell Wright • 6-5, 333 • Senior 

Wright has enormous size as an offensive tackle and brings a lot of power with it. He’s able to use his strength to defeat any opponent in front of him, which has helped him to be stout in the run game. Wright also performed very well as a pass blocker his senior year, as he didn’t allow a sack on the season and gave up one pressure. Once Wright gets ahold of you, the battle is finished.

He went up against the best of the best during his senior year at Tennessee and more than held his own. That included facing nation champion Georgia’s defensive line and getting the better of Alabama’s edge rusher Will Anderson. He was great at the Senior Bowl in one-one-one pass blocking drills, mirroring pass rushers step for step. Wright, who met formally with the Bucs at the NFL Combine, mainly played at right tackle but also spent a season on the left side. He’s more suited on the right side, but it gives them options on what to do with Tristan Wirfs next season.

Round 2 – Illinois S Sydney Brown • 5-10, 211 • Senior 

Brown is an explosive player who can bring a little bit of everything to the Bucs’ secondary. He played a lot in the box at Illinois, but was really moved around everywhere, including playing in the slot and covering tight ends. Brown can play back deep or also line up at the line of scrimmage and be involved in a play. He’s got a good amount of speed that helps him stay with receivers. His 4.47 40-yard dash was fourth-best at the Combine.

Brown brings a sense of physicality that the Bucs were missing with the departure of Jordan Whitehead and it allows Antoine Winfield Jr. to get back to his traditional free safety role. What Tampa Bay will really love is his nose for the football. Brown had six interceptions during his senior year along with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two defensive touchdowns. He also made 60 tackles, one sack, 3.5 tackles for loss and seven pass breakups. Todd Bowles is going to have fun implementing this safety in different ways.

Round 3 – Oregon State CB Alex Austin • 6-1, 195 • Redshirt Junior 

I double up on defensive backs in consecutive rounds by taking Alex Austin as a potential replacement for Jamel Dean to play corner opposite Carlton Davis III. Austin has ideal speed and overall fluidity to his game. He excels playing in press-man coverage, which can come in handy when Bowles’ decides to send the blitz.

Austin fits the Bucs’ prototype with a lanky size and solid footwork. He’s able to read the moves of receivers and force them to the boundary. He recorded four interceptions over the last two seasons, including a pick-six, so he has some ability to take the ball away. Austin broke up 17 passes in that time as well, showing he has the frame to get his hand on the football.

Round 5 – Alabama DT Byron Young • 6-3, 294 • Senior  

The Bucs have to get back to their roots in a Todd Bowles-led defense if they want to succeed. That’s taking the football away and stopping the run. While drafting defensive backs earlier helps with the turnovers, selecting Alabama’s Byron Young, not to be confused with Tennessee’s Byron Young, takes care of limiting the opponent’s ground game.

Young can take on double teams and fill up a lot of space. He has a quick burst off the ball and solid pad level to go with good hand placement. He doesn’t provide much as a pass rusher, though, so you’ll get the most out of him on first and second down. Young accumulated 20 tackles for loss during his career at Alabama, having a nose for the backfield.

Round 5 – South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft • 6-5, 254 • Redshirt Junior

Kraft isn’t as well known as the other tight ends in the draft, partially because he played at FCS school South Dakota State. With that said, there’s a reason he’s on the Bucs’ radar and met with them formally, including speaking to Bucs position coach John Van Dam, at the Combine. He’s a capable receiver who is athletic and can bounce off of tackles due to a strong upper body. He’s a solid blocker who can fit in the tight end room with Cade Otton as a 1-2 combo.

Kraft’s best season came in 2021 when he posted 65 receptions for 773 yards and six touchdowns. His 2022 season wasn’t a down year per se, but an ankle injury at the beginning of the season forced him to get surgery on it and miss six games. Kraft recorded 27 catches for 348 yards and three touchdowns, but his average of 12.9 yards per catch was exactly one yard more than the year before.

Round 6 (From Colts) – Kansas OLB Lonnie Phelps Jr. • 6-2, 244 • Senior 

A bit undersized, Phelps has a ton of speed and is the right fit for a 3-4 defensive scheme that the Bucs implement. All Phelps knows how to do is attack the passer and provide a physical nature to the game. The technique needs work, but he makes up for it with his effort, agility and ability to bend around the edge. Phelps helped out his draft stock with a good performance at the Senior Bowl. He’s also proven that he can step up on the big stage, transferring from Miami (Ohio) after an 8.5-sack season and recording seven sacks in his first and only season at Kansas against better competition. Phelps would be a good addition on special teams and can round out the edge rusher room.

Round 6 – ECU RB Keaton Mitchell • 5-8, 179 • Redshirt Sophomore

Tampa Bay needs is exorbitant amount of speed on offense, and East Carolina’s Keaton Mitchell can bring it. His eye-opening 4.37 in the 40-yard dash was the third-fastest time in Indy at the running back position. While Rachaad White is more of a smooth runner, Mitchell can be the home run hitter that every opponent has to account for. Mitchell scored 14 touchdowns as a runner last season. The Bucs are looking to expand their production in the ground game, and going to Mitchell at specific times is a good start.

Round 7 (From Jets) – Sacramento State ILB Marte Mapu • 6-3, 210 • Senior 

He might be another undersized defensive player, but Mapu is going to outwork everybody on the roster. A versatile player who was moved all over, Mapu stood out during the Senior Bowl as a playmaker while intercepting the ball and forcing fumbles. He made a name for himself that week in a group of well-known prospects. Mapu is relentless while playing and can fit in right away.

Round 7 – Utah RB Tavion Thomas • 6-0, 237 • Senior 

Thomas has good size as a running back and excels in short-yardage situations. That was a big issue for the Bucs last season, so this year, they double up on running backs and end up taking one who gets some reps in those scenarios. Thomas has good enough vision and elusiveness to get the job done. His fumbling and pass catching and blocking ability are some issues, so look for him to primarily work in the run game.

Matera’s “Way Too Early” Bucs 53-Man Roster Projection

QUARTERBACKS – 3
Baker Mayfield
Kyle Trask
Drew Lock

Analysis: It’s truly an open competition between all three quarterbacks for the starting job. Mayfield has more of the gun slinger mentality looking to push the ball down the field in training camp, while Lock is a little more conservative. Trask finds himself somewhere in between, but Mayfield hits it off quicker learning the offense and has better chemistry with the receivers, so he wins the job.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

RUNNING BACKS – 4
Rachaad White
Keaton Mitchell
Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Tavion Thomas

Analysis: If there’s still a three-down back in the NFL, White is the closest thing to it. He finally gets a go as the full-time starter and makes the most of it. Mitchell comes in for a fun change-of-pace role utilizing his speed and Vaughn will get reps as well. Thomas gets some opportunities on short-yardage situations as Tampa Bay rights the wrongs of some of their biggest mishaps.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 5

Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Russell Gage
Marquise Goodwin
Deven Thompkins

Analysis: You still have one of the best wide receiver duos in the game with Evans and Godwin, especially with Godwin fully recovered from his torn ACL. Gage and Goodwin also try to bounce back from their own injuries. There’ll be a lot of eyes on Gage this season. Thompkins resumes duties as a returner.

TIGHT ENDS – 3

Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft
Ko Kieft

Analysis: There’s a possibility to see a lot of two tight end sets in the offense with both excelling in the pass game. Otton begins as the starter, but that could be Kraft’s role by the end of the season. Kieft continues as a blocker and fullback.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – 10

Tristan Wirfs
Nick Leverett
Ryan Jensen
Shaq Mason
Darnell Wright
Luke Goedeke
Brandon Walton
Robert Hainsey
Aaron Stinnie
John Molchon

Analysis: I really like the depth on the offensive line for the Bucs. The big difference obviously is Wirfs moving to left tackle and having a rookie start at right. There’s options at swing tackle and good backups at center and guard.

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN – 6

Vita Vea
Sheldon Rankins
Logan Hall
Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Byron Young
Pat O’Connor

Analysis: We’ll see how much Hall has developed in his second year. Vea and Rankins are the main guys who start while Nacho and Young join Hall in getting some reps each game.

EDGE RUSHERS – 5

Shaq Barrett
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Carl Nassib
Lonnie Phelps Jr.
Cam Gill

Analysis: An extra edge rusher is kept on due to Barrett’s Achilles injury. Phelps and Gill can play special teams as well. JTS might be the player on the Bucs’ roster in most need of having a great season. Is this the season he takes the next step?

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

Devin White
Leighton Vander Esch
K.J. Britt
Marte Mapu
J.J. Russell 

Analysis: Another linebacker is kept on for special teams purposes as well. Vander Esch brings some of the splash plays that the Bucs were missing last season. Meanwhile, fresh off a new contract, White plays free of mind and gets back to the type of player that everybody fell in love with.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: USA Today

CORNERBACKS – 5

Carlton Davis III
Emmanuel Moseley
Alex Austin
Zyon McCollum
Dee Delaney

Analysis: Moseley begins as CB2 and keeps it if he remains healthy. Austin is waiting in the wings for his opportunity if called upon. McCollum does well again on special teams and feels more comfortable playing cornerback at this level in year two.

SAFETIES – 4

Antoine Winfield Jr. 
Sydney Brown
Logan Ryan
Nolan Turner

Analysis: Brown said at the Combine that Winfield is a player that he watches. Getting to play next to him, they make each other better as Winfield moves back to free safety and Brown plays in the slot all over the place. This allows Ryan to be on the field as well to make plays.

SPECIALISTS – 3

Matt Prater
Jake Camarda
Zach Triner

Analysis: Camarda and Triner return. Prater gets a chance to show off the leg as Tampa Bay improves on kicking from further distances.

What Did You Think?

  Did you like my Bucs Battle Plan for the 2023 offseason? Does it adequately address Tampa Bay’s needs? Which additions did you like best? Let me know what you think in the article comments section below.

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