Several offseason NFL power rankings have come out and predictably, Todd Bowles’ Bucs are picked last in the NFC South in most of them. Tampa Bay no longer has Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, under center, so it’s understandable that some media outlets are suddenly skeptical of the Bucs.

But the NFC South doesn’t have a clear front runner. So why not the Bucs, who have won a Super Bowl and have been back-to-back division champions?

While Brady departs and either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask replaces him, the Bucs still have nine players who have been to at least one Pro Bowl. And most of the roster still has some championship DNA.

“I feel very energized,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said about life in Tampa Bay post-Brady. “I feel very energized because it’s the unknown and we do have very good players on our team. I look forward to those guys stepping up and making a difference.”

Bucs ILBs coach Larry Foote, HC Todd Bowles and LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Even though the Bucs won the NFC South with an 8-9 record last year, all three division foes were right behind them with 7-10 records.

“The South is always tough,” Bowles said. “Anytime you play division games, there is not much separation because they know you and you know them. I think the South is going to be tough again this year.”

But Bowles is not ready to concede the division, even to New Orleans, who signed the most experienced quarterback in the league in former Raiders signal caller Derek Carr.

“He’s a good quarterback. He was a good quarterback with the Raiders,” Bowles said. “In this league, you don’t worry about good quarterbacks. If they are in the NFL, there are going to be great quarterbacks.

“You worry about yourself and you worry about getting better and then when you play them that week, you prepare for them. That’s all you can do. It’s great for the Saints, but I don’t work for the Saints. I don’t have too much to say.”

Todd Bowles’ Bucs Have Had Just As Good Of An Offseason As NFC South Foes

Because of Derek Carr, the Saints are now considered to be the favorites to win the division. Yet, the Bucs are the only team in the NFC South that has a quarterback with a postseason win.

Mayfield went 1-1 in Cleveland in the playoffs in 2020. Carr is 0-1 in the postseason, Carolina’s Andy Dalton is 0-4 and Atlanta’s Taylor Heinicke is 0-1 in the playoffs.

The Falcons have been big spenders in free agency, adding the likes of defensive linemen Calais Campbell and David Onyemata, free safety Jessie Bates, linebacker Kaden Elliss and Heinicke among other moves. The team also re-signed guard Chris Lindstrom and tackle Kaleb McGary to big deals.

Bucs DC Todd Bowles and CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today

The Panthers have a new coach in Frank Reich and will undoubtedly spend the first overall pick on a talented quarterback – either Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young. Carolina added tight end Hayden Hurst, running back Miles Sanders and wide receivers Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, in addition to signing Dalton among other moves.

For now, the pundits can place the Bucs in last place in the NFC South. Nothing really matters until the teams take the field in December and decide the division on the grass or turf.

But the Bucs have actually had a very good offseason despite limited cap resources due to $75 million in dead cap money – with $35 million of it coming from Brady. Tampa Bay re-signed legendary linebacker Lavonte David, top cornerback Jamel Dean and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, in addition to adding Mayfield, running back Chase Edmonds, defensive tackle Greg Gaines, kicker Chase McLaughlin and new strong safety Ryan Neal among other moves.

“It’s too early to tell what’s going to be done [in the NFC South],” Todd Bowles said. “Everybody is making changes to get better. We worry about ourselves right now trying to get better. We’re in the middle of still making changes and doing things to help us get better. We’ll see what our team looks like come September. But we’ll be ready to compete.”