Right off the bat let’s acknowledge something that Bucs fans have been hoping for – and starting to doubt – for a long time. Graham Barton is ascending into the center the team thought he could be when they drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NFL
https://www.pewterreport.com/baker-mayfield-contract-bucs-queipo-cover-4/
the picture is "a tackle duo that has been good, but not great, and a guard duo that is struggling.
"In my opinion, there is truth to that picture. But the tackle picture is improving. After an uncharacteristically average open to the season, Tristan Wirfs was back to his Super Saiyan self."
MAUCH
"There was an over-zealousness to our collective assumption (and yes, I am 100% a part of this problem) that the line being healthy would just pick up where they left off at the end of 2024. Mauch missed all but two games last year due to a torn meniscus. He is still learning to trust that knee and the results have been extremely volatile."
"Mauch struggled picking up a stunt. That issue isn’t isolated to just Mauch. On the left side of the line Ben Bredeson and Wirfs have seen similar troubles with stunts."
This one will stir up some debate
"Ben Bredeson was a sneaky awesome signing in 2024, when the Bucs secured a solid starter for near league-minimum. The team rewarded Bredeson with a three-year contract at low-end starter money. He was fantastic to start last season and prior to a week 14 injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season he had perhaps his best season as a pro as a pass protector.
I profiled Bredeson in the offseason, hopeful for a strong 2026. But thus far he has looked like a disaster. He is losing to power, getting bullied back into Baker Mayfield’s lap. He is losing to speed, letting tackles cross his face and penetrate to his outside. He’s struggling on the stunts mentioned above. It’s been a tough two weeks for Bredeson. And the Bucs don’t have a great option behind him if he can’t figure it out."
Cody Mauch should improve with additional reps. The stunt issue should improve as they focus on it. Can Bredeson improve? He’s been better in Tampa Bay. The team needs to get him back to his previous level which will give the offense a higher ceiling."
