The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into the 2024 NFL offseason with some critical needs on both sides of the ball, and some big questions that will need to be answered in free agency before they head into the 2024 NFL draft.
Re-signing wide receiver Mike Evans and placing the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. obviously checked off two big items on Tampa Bay’s to-do list for this offseason, but there’s still plenty more work to be done if the Bucs want to win a fourth straight NFC South title.
As the start of free agency approaches, here’s how we rank Tampa Bay’s biggest positions of need for the 2024 offseason:
If the Bucs maintain their status quo, they look pretty strong on paper at the corner spot. Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis III are one of the better outside tandems in the league when healthy, Christian Izien has been a valuable UDFA find as a slot/nickel defender, and Zyon McCollum made huge strides in his second season while lining up just about everywhere.
The problem is, Davis and Dean are rarely healthy at the same time for long stretches of time. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Bucs traded Davis at some point this offseason to save some salary cap space and hopefully find a replacement who can make more splash plays and stay on the field more often. If Davis is moved, corner will make a sizable leap up the needs list.
Re-signing Mike Evans was obviously a huge boost to this group, but he’ll still be 31 this season, and only staying on a two-year deal. Chris Godwin is still a stud, but he’s going into the final year of his current contract without a new deal in place.
Trey Palmer showed flashes of potential as a rookie, but there’s not much else in terms of proven depth behind Evans and Godwin. Even with one of the best veteran tandems in the league, the Bucs need more long-term reinforcements here.
Cade Otton is a solid player who has come up with some big catches in clutch moments, and he’s still got room to grow after two seasons of steady improvement. Ko Kieft has been a reliable presence with the versatility to line up in the backfield or on the line, while rookie Payne Durham showed flashes of playmaking ability last year.
This group is still young, and gives the Bucs a fairly decent floor across the board. They don’t have a true mismatch player at the position, though, and could look for a pass-catching specialist who could threaten defenses with more athleticism than anyone Tampa Bay currently has here.
Rachaad White fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing in his second NFL season, but he topped 1,500 total yards, and has established himself as one of the more versatile three-down backs in the league. That said, there’s nothing behind him on the depth chart in terms of quality depth.
White is more of a finesse runner, and the Bucs desperately need a change-of-pace back who can bring some power to their ground game, particularly between the tackles and in short-yardage situations.
If not for Baker Mayfield, Chase McLaughlin would have easily taken the title for “Best Free Agent Signing” for the Bucs from last offseason. On a cheap one-year deal, McLaughlin delivered one of the best kicking seasons in Bucs history.
The downside to that cheap one-year deal is that now, McLaughlin is set to hit free agency again, and he’ll be more expensive to retain. After the season he had in 2023, the Bucs should make it a priority to bring him back.
As expected, the Bucs are moving on from veteran Shaq Barrett this offseason, saving them some valuable salary cap space. YaYa Diaby was one of the best rookie edge rushers in the NFL last year, but 2021 first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is playing on the final year of his rookie deal after the Bucs declined to pick up his fifth-year option.
Anthony Nelson is a solid depth piece, but aside from Diaby, the Bucs don’t have a high-quality starter they can rely on after Barrett’s departure. If they can’t afford a top free agent, don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay spends an early draft pick here.
Devin White is not expected back after five seasons of inconsistent play, and longtime captain Lavonte David is set to be a free agent again. Even if David returns on another one-year deal, as many expect, the Bucs don’t have any proven replacements for White.
K.J. Britt took White’s starting job late last season, and while he was decent enough, Tampa Bay should look to upgrade. SirVocea Dennis has some promise, but he’ll need to make a big leap in his second season if he wants to be that upgrade.
The Bucs have arguably the best safety in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr., who put up ridiculous numbers last season on his way to earning first-team All-Pro honors. He got the franchise tag earlier this week, and Tampa Bay is still working on a long-term contract extension that could make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety.
It’s a barren wasteland at the other safety spot, though. Ryan Neal struggled mightily last season, and Dee Delaney is more role player than starter, and he’s a free agent. Zyon McCollum gave the Bucs their best safety snaps opposite Winfield last year, and he’s a corner. They need to find a high-quality starter to pair with Winfield.
Ryan Jensen’s knee injury finally forced him to retire after playing just one game in the past two seasons, and the Bucs have sorely missed his presence. Robert Hainsey has performed admirably in his stead, but he just hasn’t been able to replicate Jensen’s impact.
Tampa Bay should look to upgrade the center spot, either with a quality veteran, or a top draft pick who can bring a similar blend of athleticism, physicality, intelligence and nastiness to what Jensen always gave the Bucs.
The retirement of Ali Marpet two years ago left a gaping void here, and the Bucs haven’t been able to find anything even remotely close ever since. They signed veteran Matt Feiler last year in free agency, but neither he nor Aaron Stinnie gave the Bucs anything close to what Marpet always did.
Finding a high-quality starter to line up next to Tristan Wirfs should be a top priority, even if the Bucs have to double-dip with interior lineman early in this year’s draft to address both left guard and center. They need two new starters there in 2024.
Until Baker Mayfield is re-signed, this will remain the biggest need by far on Tampa Bay’s offseason priority list. Mayfield had the best season of his career last year, and the Bucs got a bargain on a cheap one-year deal. Mayfield has rightfully earned a massive raise, but the Bucs might get outbid.
If that happens, the Bucs will be left with Kyle Trask and John Wolford on the current roster, and would have to look at other veterans in free agency, or possibly pursue a trade for Justin Fields. If not, they would have to try to find one early in the 2024 NFL draft, but there could easily be five or six quarterbacks off the board by the time they pick in the first round.