It has been a torrid time for Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans in recent memory, with the franchise unable to reach the playoffs for the past 12 years. But, could the new NFL season bring with it an air of fresh hope?

The betting within companies, such as NoviBet, don’t appear to give them much chance of the success, with the Bucs priced at a massive 50/1. You can take that price and bet in-play here. However, stranger things have happened within the NFL.

The appointment of Bruce Arians on a four-year contract has invigorated hopes of a possible playoff spot, and that would be the bare minimum expected from his first year in charge. He had previously retired from coaching after a successful spell at the Arizona Cardinals.

Arians’ playoff record was one of the factors that drew the management to the experienced coach; with his loss in the 2015 NFC Championship game against the Carolina Panthers as the closest he has gotten to a Super Bowl.

Arians did a brilliant job at Arizona, and that will fill Bucs fans with hope; maybe more so than expectation. During his memorable season in 2015, the Cardinals went 13-3 and finished first in the NFC West. That standard did decline over the following two years, however, when he led the team to 16 defeats in total during that span, and second- and third-place finishes in the NFC West in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

The upcoming draft will have a massive say in what can be achieved in Arians’ first campaign in Tampa Bay. Another crucial bit of help this offseason was the resigning of left tackle Donovan Smith on a new three-year deal worth $41.5 million.

Kentucky OLB Josh Allen – Photo by: Getty Images

The best possible draft for the Bucs would consist of Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, Kentucky’s Josh Allen or LSU’s Devin White being selected with the No. 5 overall pick. This would reflect possibly the best outcome that is realistically possible for the team; filling needs on the defensive side of the ball.

The approach of general manager Jason Licht needs to be spot-on. He has been known to misevaluate talent throughout the years, especially in the second round, meaning that the team has missed out on the chance to sign a fantastic edition and instead drafted a player that has made little impact. The examples of this include the likes of tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in 2014, and defensive end Noah Spence in 2016, and who could forget the trading up to select kicker Roberto Aguayo in the second round right behind Spence in ’16.

Bucs fans will be far too aware that the 2019 season is huge for the Bucs, and Arians needs to be assisted by a good draft. This would ensure the best possible chance of success for the new coach and his team. Licht’s role is as crucial as that of the team behind coaching the players; if the recruitment of significant players isn’t up to scratch, then it could be a very long season for Tampa Bay – again.