Bucs don’t have to look far for a sleeper OL in the 2024 NFL draft

The Bucs know how to find gems along the offensive line in the later rounds, and this local prospect fits the bill

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht knows how to find diamonds in the rough along the offensive line every year in the NFL draft, and it, and this time around, he won’t have to look far.

One of the most underrated blockers in the 2024 class is USF’s Donovan Jennings, who played his college ball at Raymond James Stadium for the Bulls.

Jennings brings a fantastic combination of experience and athleticism to the table, two things the Bucs value highly in all of their potential draft picks. He backed up his solid film with a strong week at the East-West Shrine Game, as then put on a show at USF’s pro day workout:

Tampa Bay needs as much help as they can get along the interior of the offense line, and spending a Day 3 pick on Jennings would give them a high-upside player who could quickly develop into a potential starter.

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Are the Bucs still the favorites to win the NFC South?

Despite riding a three-year streak of division titles, oddsmakers don’t see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers doing it again in 2024

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the NFC South in each of the past three seasons, and most of last year’s division-champion team is back for the 2024 campaign.

But that hasn’t stopped oddsmakers from dropping them out of pole position for this year’s NFC South crown.

Projected win totals are now hitting the books for the 2024 season, and the Atlanta Falcons have made a massive jump, with their current total win number coming in at 10.5.

The Dirty Birds haven’t won the division since 2016, but the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins and the hiring of new head coach Raheem Morris clearly has them trending in the right direction (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman):

Even with those additions, though, it’s hard to imagine the Falcons make such a dramatic leap in the division standings, especially while the Bucs are currently riding a three-year streak of NFC South title, with the core of their playoff roster back on both sides of the ball.

But hey, that’s why they play the games.

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Check out the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft hat

Grab your Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Hat:

The NFL has unveiled their annual line of hats that your new favorite player is set to wear on the stage at the 2024 NFL draft.

Check out the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Hat:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft hat
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft hat (Fanatics)

SHOP: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Hat

Each year, the league releases a new customized lid for each team that is given to prospects who are selected at the event. Notably, the first-round picks are handed a jersey, that year’s draft hat, and go over and give a hug to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

There are four versions for each team’s hat that come in stretch fit, snapback and fitted varieties, with prices varying on each. On Monday, every team’s version was released… except the Houston Texans and New York Jets.

Sorry Texans and Jets fans, with those clubs releasing new uniforms soon there’s still a bit of waiting to do.

We’ll bring you those updates, but for the other 30 teams, check out your favorite team’s newest headgear and be the first fan in your friend group to own a 2024 NFL Draft hat by checking them all out at Fanatics.

[afflinkbutton text=”Buy Tampa Bay Bucs 2024 NFL Draft Hat” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/PyQxgN”]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Touchdown Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Check out the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft hat

Grab your Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Hat:

The NFL has unveiled their annual line of hats that your new favorite player is set to wear on the stage at the 2024 NFL draft.

Check out the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Hat:

SHOP: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft Hat

Each year, the league releases a new customized lid for each team that is given to prospects who are selected at the event. Notably, the first-round picks are handed a jersey, that year’s draft hat, and go over and give a hug to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

There are four versions for each team’s hat that come in stretch fit, snapback and fitted varieties, with prices varying on each. On Monday, every team’s version was released… except the Houston Texans and New York Jets.

Sorry Texans and Jets fans, with those clubs releasing new uniforms soon there’s still a bit of waiting to do.

We’ll bring you those updates, but for the other 30 teams, check out your favorite team’s newest headgear and be the first fan in your friend group to own a 2024 NFL Draft hat by checking them all out at Fanatics.

[afflinkbutton text=”Buy Tampa Bay Bucs 2024 NFL Draft Hat” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/PyQxgN”]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Touchdown Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Projecting the Bucs’ 2024 starting lineup

Who will be in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting lineup for the 2024 NFL season? Here’s our early projection.

NFL free agency has slowed to a crawl, which means most of the big-impact signings have already happened, and focus is now turning to the 2024 NFL draft.

Now that teams have filled some of their biggest needs with veteran signings, it’s starting to create a clearer picture of who we’ll see on the field when the season rolls around.

While many teams are still looking for fill slots in their starting lineups with highly drafted rookies, the majority of the depth chart should be in place at this point in the offseason, barring a handful of late additions.

So, what could the Bucs’ starting lineup look like on both sides of the ball this season?

Here’s our current projection:

Lavonte David is thrilled with Jordan Whitehead’s return to Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David heartily welcomes the return of no-longer-former teammate Jordan Whitehead

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed all of their big free agents this offseason, but they also brought back another familiar face who spent the past two seasons elsewhere.

Safety Jordan Whitehead signed a two-year deal with the Bucs after playing for the New York Jets over the past two campaigns, returning to the team that drafted him in the fourth round out of Pitt back in 2018.

Now that Whitehead is back in the defense that he helped win a Super Bowl back in 2020, his no-longer-former teammates are thrilled, including linebacker Lavonte David.

“Man, that might be the biggest one back,” David said earlier this week. “Whitehead was a guy who, obviously, I built a personal relationship with. Just having him behind me on the field gave me a whole bunch of confidence, knowing that I could count on Whitehead to do his job. For whatever happened, he didn’t have a chance to come back, but still he was communicating with us about how much he missed us and stuff like that … He wanted to come back here – that was his first priority, so I’m glad [they] were able to get that done.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

David said Whitehead’s value to the team goes far beyond the field, too.

“Whitehead, he is a special guy, not only on the football field, but as a person,” David said. “For me, I’m all about energy and seeing the good in people and stuff like that. I’ve kind of got a sixth sense for that and Whitehead is one of those guys that is a joy to be around as a man and as a teammate. He just brings that type of passion to the game that you love. When you are playing with a guy like Whitehead, you can just look him in the eyes and know that he is ready to play, so you don’t even need to worry about him. Off the field, the way he carries himself and goes about things – he’s a pro’s pro and [those are] the [type] of guys we’ve got to have in this locker room.”

Tampa Bay had a huge need at the other safety spot opposite All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr., and Whitehead is the perfect fit, just as he was the last time he wore a Bucs uniform.

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WATCH: Bucs RB Rachaad White’s top plays from 2023

Check out all of the best plays from Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White during the 2023 NFL season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have struggled to run the ball consistently and effectively last season, but that didn’t stop running back Rachaad White from having a big impact on the offense.

White finished just shy of 1,000 yards rushing in 2023, but continued to be a valuable member of the passing game, racking up over 1,500 yards of total offense in his second NFL season.

Watch the video above to see all of White’s top plays from the 2023 campaign.

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WATCH: Bucs LB Lavonte David talks new contract, staying in Tampa Bay

Hear what Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David had to say about returning for a 13th NFL season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are keeping one of their most important players around for at least one more season, re-signing linebacker Lavonte David to another one-year deal earlier this week.

David has already established himself as one of the NFL’s best linebackers over his 12 seasons in the league, and has maintained a high standard of play even at 33 years old.

Watch the video above to see his press conference from earlier this week, where he discusses his return to the Bucs for yet another year.

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NFL power rankings: Where do the Bucs land after free agency?

See where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land in the latest NFL power rankings following the early waves of free agency

NFL free agency has slowed to a crawl, as most of the big-name signings have already taken place throughout the league.

Most of the Tampa Buccaneers’ marquee moves involved re-signing their own pending free agents, including wide receiver Mike Evans, linebacker Lavonte David, and quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Are those moves enough to have them back in the playoff hunt in 2024 after four straight trips to the postseason?

If the latest NFL power rankings from Jarrett Bailey at Touchdown Wire are any indication, perhaps not.

Bailey has the Bucs at No. 21 in his rankings, clearly unimpressed with what they’ve done in the offseason so far:

Tip of the cap to Baker Mayfield for getting paid after the best year of his career and his second career playoff win. I do question if the Bucs can repeat that success, though, especially without Dave Canales. At the very least, they’ll be competitive week in and week out. At most, they’ll be a playoff team once again.

It’s strange to see the Bucs so low on this list, considering they’re currently riding a three-year streak as NFC South champions, and a four-year streak of playoff appearances. Most of their key players are back on both sides of the ball, and last year’s impressive rookie class should make an even bigger impact this season.

The change in offensive coordinators is obviously notable, but the fact that Mayfield has already worked with Liam Coen before, as well as his experience under some of the coordinators that also had Canales on their staff, means the transition shouldn’t be too difficult.

To check out the full NFL power rankings at Touchdown Wire, click here.

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How much salary cap space are the Bucs spending on defense in 2024?

See how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rank among NFL teams when it comes to salary cap space invested in their defense for 2024

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have one of the cheapest offensive units in the league heading into the 2024 NFL season, but they make up for it with what they’re spending on the other side of the ball.

While the Bucs rank 26th in the league in salary cap spending on offense this year, they’re No. 9 on the list when it comes to cap space invested on defense, according to positional spending numbers from Over the Cap.

Even with that wide disparity in the rankings, the actual dollar-amount difference between what the Bucs are spending on offense and defense isn’t that big. Tampa Bay is set to spend a little more than $93 million in cap space on offense this year, compared with just over $107 million on defensive players.

Here’s hoping the Bucs are able to get their money’s worth on both sides of the ball this season as they look for a fourth straight NFC South title and a fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

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