It’s that time of year when, after the initial waves of free agency have passed, a flood of mock drafts appear across the NFL landscape in the weeks preceding the 2024 NFL Draft. Aside from these mock drafts, people are beginning to speculate on what some of the major moves made thus far will imply for next season.
As one might anticipate, things does not look good for the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay, which is known for being counted out, is anticipated to be eliminated from the playoffs once more. Last season, it was because the Saints signed quarterback Derek Carr. This year, Kirk Cousins joins the Falcons, and they are immediately regarded as the division favorites.
It appears that Bucs general manager Jason Licht may need to create more room in his filing cabinet to accommodate some new receipts.
CBS Sports Projects Bucs To Miss Playoff Cut In 2024
CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin recently reviewed six NFL clubs that he believes will miss the playoffs next season. Given the unclear quarterback situation and other considerations, some of Benjamin’s decisions make sense.
Deshaun Watson’s failure to return to his Texans form has left the Browns with a significant question mark at quarterback.
The Rams are again counting on 36-year-old Matthew Stafford to lead the attack. Oh, and Aaron Donald has retired.
Putting aside the additions of quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the Steelers have a lot of questions on both sides of the ball.
All of these reasons are understandable, yet in order to complete his list, he chose the Buccaneers. After making the playoffs for the past four seasons and bringing back all of the major pieces from a team that advanced to the divisional round, he was dubious about the club “running it back.”
“It’s surprising that they have the longest postseason streak of any team on this list. However, this primarily reflects the NFC South’s terrible lack of competition. They did well in retaining key players this summer, but are we giving them too much credit for “running it back” rather than improving a borderline wild-card lineup?”
Interestingly, Tampa Bay’s remark is the only one that does not directly mention any players or positions, instead referring to a lack of competitiveness in the division. If the worst thing the Bucs did to their playoff hopes was bring back their top free agents, it speaks to how successful their offseason has been thus far.
The team did not make any splashy changes in free agency, instead focusing on depth deals who raise the floor in some areas of need.
While none of the teams listed have added a rookie class to the mix, given what Jason Licht has accomplished in his previous two draft classes, one can expect him to locate another crop of rookies to play major roles. With this and their recent success, the Bucs are an unexpected choice.
For the premise of Benjamin’s story, there are only so many teams to choose from, but one has to wonder whether the Bills would have made more sense given how their offseason has gone thus far and the fact that their division will be much more competitive next year.
Tampa Bay will face a more formidable opponent in their division, but they will stay the top dog until they aren’t.
Bucs Still In The Driver’s Seat In The NFC South
When assessing the teams within the NFC South, the Buccaneers currently boast the most star power across their roster.
Offensively, the Buccaneers secured Baker Mayfield’s return after an impressive bounce-back season. With Mayfield entering his second year under center, and the transition from Dave Canales to Liam Coen appearing seamless due to their prior collaboration with the Rams, the offense holds substantial potential for improvement.
The presence of prolific receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, along with the demonstrated playmaking abilities of Rachaad White in the backfield, further solidify their offensive prowess. While the run game and offensive line require enhancement from the previous season’s performance, the Buccaneers managed to reach the final eight teams despite possessing the 32nd-ranked rushing offense, indicating room for growth.
Defensively, the team remains anchored by Vita Vea, Lavonte David, and Antoine Winfield Jr. While there are concerns regarding the supporting cast, young talents such as Calijah Kancey, YaYa Diaby, and Zyon McCollum offer significant potential. Strengthening the secondary by adding Jordan Whitehead, Bryce Hall, and Tavierre Thomas addresses deficiencies in the passing defense, which ranked 29th last season.
In contrast, the Panthers and Saints face challenges. The Panthers are undergoing an organizational overhaul with the appointments of Canales and Dan Morgan as head coach and general manager, respectively. While they’ve made some free-agent signings to stay competitive, they are in the early stages of a rebuild, which may delay their emergence as contenders in the division.
Meanwhile, the Saints’ aging core and salary cap limitations raise doubts about their ability to improve significantly. Despite boasting four playoff appearances between 2017 and 2020, their aging roster and financial constraints hinder their ability to retain young talent and rejuvenate the team.
This leaves the Falcons, who have posted three consecutive 7-10 seasons, as the primary threat to the Buccaneers. The Falcons have enhanced their offense with additions like Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore, complementing existing talents like Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. Coaching staff reinforcements in Raheem Morris, Zac Robinson, and Jimmy Lake have been positively received, although their integration with the team remains uncertain.
Overall, the Buccaneers enter the upcoming season as frontrunners in the NFC South, having clinched three straight division titles. With a core of key contributors from their 2020 Super Bowl victory and a promising young talent pool, they remain formidable despite the Falcons’ potential. Tampa Bay has demonstrated resilience and the ability to exceed expectations in recent seasons, suggesting they can maintain their dominance within the division.
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