Tag: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucs assistant coach rumored as candidate to join Saints staff

It is now rumored that another Bucs assistant coach may be rumored to be leaving the staff if he can secure a job with a division rival. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a busy offseason when it comes to addressing needs and changes within their coaching staff. It started with Liam Coen leaving to become the Jaguars head coach, and from there, they have lost several assistants.

It is now rumored that another Bucs assistant coach may be rumored to be leaving the staff if he can secure a job with a division rival.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported the potential hiring of George Edwards to the Saints during Super Bowl Week. The team is expected to hire Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their head coach following Super Bowl 59.

The NFL Insider writes, “Two names I’ve heard as possibilities at defensive coordinator are 49ers assistant coach Brandon Staley and Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards. Both have history with Moore — Staley hired Moore as his offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2023, and Moore overlapped with Edwards in Dallas.”

With the connection between the two, it makes sense that Edwards may find himself in a position for a promotion. If he does leave, Bowles has become well-versed in bringing on new, promising talent to his coaching staff over the years.

Former Bucs quarterbacks takes first NFL coaching job with Detroit Lions

Bruce Gradkowski, who was with the Bucs for two seasons after being drafted in the the 2006 NFL Draft, was hired by the Lions on Friday.

It is not uncommon for former NFL players to return to the league through the coaching ranks. This past week, the Detroit Lions hired a former Bucs quarterback as an offensive assistant.

Bruce Gradkowski, who was with the Bucs for two seasons after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, was hired by the Lions on Friday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN was the first to report the hire for the Lions. Detroit coach Dan Campbell is known for hiring former players to build on his staff, and the approach has proven to be beyond fruitful for him and his players. The team lost several coordinators and assistants this offseason, many of which were former players.

Gradkowski joins the NFL after coaching the St. Louis Battlehawks as their offensive coordinator for two seasons. Apart from playing for the Bucs, he also notably played quarterback for the Steelers, Bengals, Raiders, and Browns.

Ex-Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy takes swipe at Giants’ Joe Schoen

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy took unprovoked aim at New York Giants GM Joe Schoen when asked about the team’s next QB.

Who is going to start at quarterback for the New York Giants in 2025?

It’s a fair question and a rather mundane one at that, but it’s also one many struggle to answer. That’s why when NJ Advance Media asked 17 experts, they got roughly 10 different answers.

While most stayed on point, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy veered a bit off-topic. He took the opportunity to throw shade at Giants general manager Joe Schoen instead.

“Shoot, I don’t know, you’ve got to ask the Giants that. Though I don’t know if their GM makes the best decisions,” McCoy said.

It’s a warranted criticism but one that has become a bit tired. Schoen has clearly struggled when making some personnel decisions, especially at the quarterback decision, but that’s not what McCoy was referencing.

Like many others, including future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, McCoy was knocking Schoen over his decision to let running back Saquon Barkley walk via free agency (and maybe a little bit over the Daniel Jones contract).

These criticisms show no sign of slowing down and will likely persist until the Giants finally turn a corner and find success or Schoen is fired alongside head coach Brian Daboll.

What comes first is the next question that should be asked.

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Options emerge as DC for Kellen Moore if he becomes Saints head coach

ESPN reports there are two candidates emerging as options for defensive coordinator on Kellen Moore’s New Orleans Saints staff — assuming he takes the job:

The New Orleans Saints have cleared house on their coaching staff, as they now have vacancies at most of the major positions. One of the ones that most recently opened up was at defensive coordinator, as Joe Woods has left for the Las Vegas Raiders to join Pete Carroll’s staff.

The likely scenario here is that the Saints have chosen to let many of their coaches seek out other positions, laterally or otherwise, to allow whoever their new head coach may be to select their own staff altogether. Given Kellen Moore is the frontrunner for the position as of now, he has received much speculation when it comes to adding further staff behind him.

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there are two candidates who are seen as likely fits for the defensive coordinator spot: “Two names I’ve heard as possibilities at defensive coordinator are 49ers assistant coach Brandon Staley and Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards. Both have history with Moore — Staley hired Moore as his offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2023, and Moore overlapped with Edwards in Dallas.”

Fowler also notes Matt Eberflus and Klayton Adams as options that could have come to fruition if not already hired by the Cowboys. Staley has been one of the names thrown around for a little while now given the direct connection, however Edwards is somewhat of a new addition to the group. He has extensive experience in the league including three stints as a defensive coordinator previously, so he could very well be in the running here as well.

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33rd Team has the Bucs offseason needs down to 4 positions

This week, The 33rd Team shared their opinions on every team’s draft needs, including the Bucs. 

The NFL Draft and the weeks leading up to it are hectic for fans and teams alike for different reasons. Everyone has an idea of what teams like the Bucs should focus on, and they want to share it.

This week, The 33rd Team shared their opinions on every team’s draft needs, including the Bucs.

They listed the positions of need for the Bucs as edge, guard, safety, and tight end. We have also focused on all of those positions here at Bucs Wire, including wide receiver.

The 33rd Team explained their reasoning for these positions as, “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are surprisingly solid, largely thanks to hitting on mid-round picks like Yaya Diaby, Zyon McCollum, and Tykee Smith. Chasing after high-upside players across the defense will be the key for a unit preparing to see some starters hit free agency. The 2025 offseason will be about improving an already good team.”

What shouldn’t be lost on people reading his is everyone recognizes how close this Bucs team is to being a Super Bown contender. The 33rd Team hammers it home, but not many people are.

With a strong 2025 class, this team could be making a playoff run a year from now.

Bucs could fix their secondary problems with one trade this offseason

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com shared some news this week that Bucs fans may want to hear. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have struggled with their pass coverage in recent years. The secondary has had investments made to it with an extension of Antoine Winfield Jr. and selections like Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith.

Despite that investment, they have still struggled to find success. However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com shared some news this week that Bucs fans may want to hear. 

The Browns drafted Denzel Ward in 2018 with the fourth pick in the draft. Since that time, Ward has been selected to four Pro Bowls and emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Mary Kay Cabot’s report, though, indicates that if the Browns trade Myles Garrett, Ward may also want to be gone.

If the Bucs cannot get Myles Garrett to come to Tampa Bay, they need to pursue Ward. Either player would immediately help the Bucs defense, specifically their pass defense.

They proved to be a liability all year and, in the end, cost them a decent playoff run.

New Bucs OC Josh Grizzard is ‘fired up’ for new role with the team

On Thursday, the Bucs new offensive coordinator, Josh Grizzard, met with the press when he was introduced, and fans should be excited.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become well-versed in replacing offensive coordinators over the last three years. This offseason marked the third time they have had to do so in as many years.

On Thursday, the Bucs new offensive coordinator, Josh Grizzard, met with the press when he was introduced, and fans should be excited.

Grizzard spoke with the media after Todd Bowles named him his new offensive coordinator. The Yale graduate made it clear to everyone that he has the same energy as his quarterback, Baker Mayfield.

“I’m fired up. You guys know the foundation that’s in place… We’re trying to take it to the next level [and] try to bring a championship back to Tampa. I’m fired up to be here and to try to lead this unit down the road.”

You can tell, even just by reading the words, that his energy is going to be great for this offense. It explains why players like Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Tristan Wirfs were excited when talking about him at the Pro Bowl.

Luckily for Grizzard, he will have most, if not all, of the offense back in 2025. The lone question surrounds Chris Godwin and his looming free agency.

Bucs seen as fit for a top-tier edge rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft

One of the players who emerged from the Senior Bowl practices is now seen as a perfect fit for the Bucs in the NFL Draft. 

The NFL Draft is closing in as we move past the all-star games in Texas and Alabama and onto the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. After the Shrine and Senior Bowl practices and games, some new players have emerged.

One of the players who emerged from the Senior Bowl practices is now seen as a perfect fit for the Bucs in the NFL Draft.

The Draft Network looked at potential fits for Marshall’s Mike Green. The edge rusher has been rising up draft boards all year long, and after the Senior Bowl, his stock is attached to a rocketship.

Justin Melo writes, “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recorded a sixth-best 46.0 sacks this past campaign. General manager Jason Licht believes in fielding a fierce pass rush, as does his head coach Todd Bowles. Together, Licht and Bowles also believe in keeping the cupboard full, reserving the right to rotate several defensive linemen up front.”

Melo kept things simple when describing how Green fits with head coach Todd Bowles’ defense, and it wasn’t a hard sell.

“Green would be an outstanding fit for Bowles’ scheme, one that would offer him an opportunity to attack opposing backfields with speed and relentlessness.”

The only problem with Green is whether he will be available at pick 19 or whether the team will have to trade up for him. Time will tell, but he is certainly a dream fit for the team.

Bucs promote coaches who the Jaguars attempted to bring with Liam Coen

The Bucs are doing their part, after blocking two of their assistants to interview with the Jaguars to be a part of Liam Coen’s new staff.

The drama between the Jaguars and Bucs has been non-stop. On a personal note, I have covered the NFL in some form or fashion since 2018 and cannot remember this much-attempted poaching between staffs during that time.

The Bucs are doing their part, though, after blocking two of their assistants to interview with the Jaguars to be a part of Liam Coen’s new staff.

Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times reported on Thursday that both Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci were being promoted after the team retained them.

 

 

Kevin Carberry joined the Bucs staff in 2024 as their offensive line coach, and the group as a whole took a major step forward. A promotion for him made sense, especially with the development he had with right tackle Luke Goedeke. Brian Picucci also joined the staff in 2024 and made his presence known with the play of his group.

New Jaguars head coach Liam Coen will continue to build out his staff, just not with Bucs coaches it appears.