The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended 2023 as one of the NFL’s top eight squads. But will they continue that momentum heading into next year?
The Bucs have a few question marks going into the offseason, and ESPN took notice when making their early 2024 power rankings. Tampa Bay came in at 16th in their rankings, exactly in the middle of the NFL pack, and the need for consistency and their pending free agents were listed as a big cause.
Here is what Bucs ESPN writer Jenna Laine said about the Bucs heading into the offseason:
Offensive coordinator Dave Canales took the Panthers’ head-coaching job, and WR Mike Evans and QB Baker Mayfield are set to become unrestricted free agents, so it was imperative that the Bucs found a new offensive coordinator who could build off what Canales installed in Tampa and do so without too much change. Liam Coen brings not only that but also a previous working relationship with Mayfield from when the two were with the Rams. Both are very high on each other, and with Evans, Canales’ system is one he liked.
So now it’s really about dollars and cents in re-signing two of the Bucs’ key offensive players, in addition to safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (their top defensive player last season) and inside linebacker Lavonte David.
Tampa Bay’s free agency will be a big factor in whether or not they’ll be competitive next year. Retain players like Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield, and the team could be successful. Let them go (or perhaps Antoine Winfield Jr.), and there will be some struggle. While it’s a little early for these sorts of things, it the offseason will be important to nail to see if that momentum carries on.
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