Tag: Bucs

The NFC South Primer: Biggest free agency losses

In the newest edition of the NFC South Primer, the Wire editors choose the player they believe is their team’s biggest loss in free agency.

It’s very hard to predict what’s going to happen in the NFC South, but Bucs Wire, Panthers Wire, Saints Wire and Falcons Wire teamed up to try and do just that for the 2023 season. We’re introducing the NFC South Primer, where the four Wire sites team up to get you ready for the wildcard that is the NFC South in 2023.

Every iteration will tackle a different question, and for this installment, each editor picks a favorite free-agent addition that their team made in free agency so far in 2023.

In this iteration, the Wire editors pick the player they think is the biggest free agency loss for their team.

Previous entries in the series:

Team expectations

Draft grades

Potential breakout candidates

Favorite free agency additions

The NFC South Primer: Favorite free agency additions

Our next installment of the NFC South Primer sees each Wire editor pick a favorite addition in free agency.

It’s very hard to predict what’s going to happen in the NFC South, but Bucs Wire, Panthers Wire, Saints Wire and Falcons Wire teamed up to try and do just that for the 2023 season. We’re introducing the NFC South Primer, where the four Wire sites team up to get you ready for the wildcard that is the NFC South in 2023.

Every iteration will tackle a different question, and for this installment, each editor picks a favorite free-agent addition that their team made in free agency so far in 2023.

In this iteration, the Wire editors pick their favorite free agency addition from their team.

Previous entries in the series:

Team expectations

Draft grades

Potential breakout candidates

The NFC South Primer: Second-year breakout candidates

The NFC South Wire editors take a look at which players could have a breakout Year 2 for their teams.

It’s very hard to predict what’s going to happen in the NFC South, but Bucs Wire, Panthers Wire, Saints Wire and Falcons Wire teamed up to try and do just that for the 2023 season. We’re introducing the NFC South Primer, where the four Wire sites team up to get you ready for the wildcard that is the NFC South in 2023.

Every iteration will tackle a different question, and for this installment, each editor picks a favorite free-agent addition that their team made in free agency so far in 2023.

In this iteration, the Wire editors offer a prediction for their team’s second-year breakout player.

Previous entries in the series:

Team expectations

Draft grades

The NFC South Primer: Draft grades

The NFC South Wire editors grade their team’s draft for 2023.

It’s very hard to predict what’s going to happen in the NFC South, but Bucs Wire, Panthers Wire, Saints Wire and Falcons Wire teamed up to try and do just that for the 2023 season. We’re introducing the NFC South Primer, where the four Wire sites team up to get you ready for the wildcard that is the NFC South in 2023.

Every iteration will tackle a different question, and for this installment, each editor picks a favorite free-agent addition that their team made in free agency so far in 2023.

In this iteration, the Wire editors give their draft grades for their teams.

Previous entries in the series:

Team expectations

NFL Network predicts Tampa Bay’s 2023 season

Check out their game-by-game predictions here:

It’s only June, but predictions for the 2023 NFL season have been underway for quite some time.

We gave our predictions for Bucs Wire earlier in the offseason, and now, NFL Network’s Adam Rank has given his predictions for Tampa Bay’s 2023 NFL season – and for every other team, in fact. Interestingly enough, his final record didn’t look too much different from ours.

Check out his game-by-game predictions below:

The total rundown on new Bucs OL Cody Mauch

Did you know that new Bucs OL Cody Mauch initially joined North Dakota State as a tight end?

The Bucs were set to address their hole at offensive tackle before the draft, but they didn’t pick one — instead, the first lineman they picked up was a guard in the second round.

Here’s the rundown on second-round pick OL [autotag]Cody Mauch[/autotag]:

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 302 lbs

Age: 24

Hometown: Hankinson, North Dakota

Scouting Report (Dane Brugler, The Athletic): “A three-year starter at North Dakota State, Mauch manned the left tackle position in offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl’s run-heavy, gap-power scheme. A 220-pound walk-on tight end, he morphed into a 300-pound left tackle, which has been a smooth transition because of his natural athleticism and unrestrained intensity (had his two front teeth knocked out during a seventh-grade basketball game and doesn’t plan to have them replaced until he is done with football). Although he wasn’t often challenged on an island in pass protection, Mauch has the foot quickness and body control to comfortably operate in space and skillfully maneuver from block to block. His technical approach needs continued refinement, but he is a sticky blocker in the run game, using his hands to latch, create leverage and reset engagement. Overall, Mauch doesn’t have ideal length or sand in his lower body, but he has outstanding movement skills, fierce handwork and innate competitiveness to become a starter early in his NFL career. He should get a look at tackle first but also projects well inside, reminiscent of Mitch Morse.”

What GM Jason Licht said: “His extracurricular activity when the whistle is still echoing, his pure passion for the game, his athleticism is really, really underrated – he’s a great athlete. Really quick, really flexible, has great bend.”

RAS card

Player highlights

5 things the Bucs shouldn’t do in the NFL draft

What is your doomsday scenario for Tampa Bay on draft night?

The NFL draft is less than a month away, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty of work to do to get their roster in competitive shape before the season begins.

There are quite a few holes on the offensive line and in the secondary, for example, that will need to be addressed by Jason Licht and company. On top of that, the Bucs still need to clear some cap space before the draft to be able to afford all their picks. There’s plenty the team should do once the draft begins, but there are also a few moves that would only serve as faux pas with the situation Tampa Bay is in.

With that in mind, here are five things the Bucs should not do once the draft rolls around:

A look back at the Bucs’ only other pick at No. 19: O.J. Howard

Tampa Bay will hope their second-ever pick at No. 19 will work out much better.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are picking No. 19 in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. And interestingly enough, that wasn’t the first time.

The Bucs also picked there in 2017 after going 9-7 in the 2016 season and narrowly missing the playoffs. With that pick, the team selected the only tight end it has ever picked in the first round — Alabama’s O.J. Howard.

Howard was universally regarded as the best tight end prospect in the draft despite only catching seven touchdowns in his entire career at Alabama. His stock particularly rose during the Senior Bowl in 2017 and he participated in every part of the NFL Combine. Howard was mocked in the top 10 in numerous mock drafts from 2017, and it didn’t look as if Tampa Bay would hope to be in the running.

But then draft night came, and suddenly, they were. Multiple trade-ups for quarterbacks shook up the draft order, and Howard fell right to the Bucs at No. 19 where Jason Licht took advantage. Many at the time were gleeful, but did Howard end up living up to his billing with the Buccaneers?

Not exactly, to say the least.

Howard had a very productive rookie year, catching 26 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns before heading to injured reserve. He scored five more touchdowns in 2018, but once again hit injured reserve toward the end of the year. While there were injury concerns, his 11 touchdowns in two years showed promise — promise that he wouldn’t live up to.

He caught one touchdown in 2019 while missing two games. When Tom Brady came to Tampa Bay in 2020, he caught a touchdown pass from the GOAT in a victory over the Chargers but tore his Achilles and once again went on injured reserve. He played in 2021, but caught just 14 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Howard became a free agent, and the Bucs weren’t interested in continuing their partnership. He signed a contract with the Bills, but got cut after preseason before signing with the Texans. He played with Houston for one year in 2022 and caught two touchdowns, all in the first game of the season, and recently signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders for 2023.

All in all, Howard is a pick Licht would likely want back, especially given that stars like Tre’Davious White and T.J. Watt were both drafted after him. He’ll get a chance to redeem the pick from 2017 with his second try from No. 19 in 2023, but it’s very unlikely that the Bucs will go tight end this time around.

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More details of LB Cam Gill’s contract emerge

The Bucs got one of their special teamers back for great value.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back one of their key special teamers in free agency, and now the details of his contract have gotten clearer.

Greg Auman of FOX Sports reported on Saturday that Gill’s contract is for the league minimum of $940,000 for a player with two years of playing time. The deal was initially reported as just a one-year deal.

GM Jason Licht and the Bucs have done a good job of securing players in the special teams space, as they’ve also brought back Pat O’Connor and Dee Delaney. The team is still strapped for cap, but the emphasis on bringing back some of the team’s key players may prove to be fruitful as Tampa Bay takes on a shakey NFC South division in 2023.

Quotes from Baker Mayfield’s first press conference as a Buc

Check out what the new Bucs quarterback said about Kyle Trask, his new weapons and more:

[autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] was officially introduced as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer on Monday, and he had plenty to say.

Mayfield spoke to media for the first time since his signing was confirmed by the team last week, and he stressed that while he didn’t foresee his journey taking him here, he’s looking forward to the challenge that a new team will bring and that he’s excited to play with the numerous weapons that Bucs will have for him like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and more.

Check out some quotes from his presser below: