If your team isn’t in the playoffs, it’s time to start thinking about next season. Sadly, even the most hopeful of sports writers knew that the season was over for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in December.
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For everyone else scattered across the fruited plain, let’s try and enjoy the fact that the Saints had to march home this season knowing that Teddy Bridgewater is likely headed for greener pastures in free agency as Drew Brees contemplates his future in New Orleans.
So, what’s next for the Bucs?
The Bucs have a solid defensive front, but that is subject to change. Tampa Bay’s defensive front seven was led by Pro Bowl outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett and his league-leading 19.5 sacks. ESPN’s Jenna Laine summed it up perfectly in the Bucs’ first win of the year at Carolina – a game in which Barrett had three sacks:
“If this doesn’t epitomize ‘bend but don’t break,’ I don’t know what does…
The Panthers ran 30 plays inside Bucs’ territory and totaled 65 yards and no TDs on those plays. Of those 30 plays, 19 went for zero or negative yards (63 percent).”
But free agency just became a four letter word for Buccaneers management. A mind-boggling 19 players, including Barrett, outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul, who had 8.5 sacks, and quarterback Jameis Winston, are eligible to enter free agency as their contracts expire. This means that if Tampa Bay wants to improve in 2020, it all comes down to the ability of head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht to hang onto the team’s existing talent and recruit a couple more impactful free agents.
Memorable 2019 season stats
Tampa Bay turned in some impressive numbers this season. Tampa Bay put up a franchise-record 458 points and ranked third in the NFL with an average of 397.9 yards per game. They topped the NFL season charts with 302.8 passing yards.
A season plagued by injuries
Injuries plagued the offense, dating back to the preseason when backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Winston suffered a hairline fracture on his right thumb – his throwing hand – in Week 14. Hamstring injuries to three starters – wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and strong safety Jordan Whitehead – caused their seasons to end prematurely in December and robbed the Bucs of a chance to finish with a winning record.
Looking ahead to 2020
The Bucs will attempt to re-sign a majority of their own free agents, and will have to decide what to do at the quarterback position with Winston. Tampa Bay has some intriguing options in free agency at the QB position as Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is available, and New England’s Tom Brady could become a free agent, too.
The offensive line is going to hold steady, with four of the starters under contract in 2020, except for right tackle Demar Dotson, who wants to return for one more year. Dotson might be re-signed to help groom a right tackle of the future that the Bucs could select in the first or second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
