What could have changed Bucs history the most?

The “what if” game is always a fun one, especially when there is not a ton going on in the football world right now so let’s play it.

As with every team, the Bucs have a lot of things that if they went a certain way, history would have been changed and some thins could have a ripple effect. Let’s get into what some of the biggest “what ifs” are for Tampa Bay.

What if Bo Jackson never refused to play for the Bucs?

This is one that many old school Bucs fans will remember with a lot of anger and disappointment. In the 1986 draft, the Buccaneers held the number one overall pick and there was no doubt who the best player in the class was. Running back Bo Jackson was a star at Auburn, recording 1,786 rushing yards along with 17 rushing touchdowns in his final season and the Bucs who were coming off of a miserable 2-14 season could have really used a game breaking talent like that.

However, Jackson refused to sign with Tampa Bay if they drafted him and he made that clear to the team. A struggling franchise starved for a star at the time, Tampa Bay called Jackson’s bluff and drafted him anyway. He stayed true to his word and never signed with Tampa Bay and went on to pursue baseball. He would be a 7th round pick the following year by the Los Angeles Raiders. In his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson never achieved a thousand rushing yards in a season as injuries derailed his career.

So, what would have happened had Jackson decided to play for Tampa Bay? There is no way to predict an injury to any player, but it would have given the Bucs a marketable player and save the franchise from a lot more embarrassment than what was already on the field at that time.

What if Jon Gruden returned to the Bucs in 2018?

A lot of people talk about what would have happened if Gruden had never been fired after the 2008 season, but I’m going take a different approach. What if instead of returning to the Raiders, Gruden returned to the team he won the Super Bowl with?

Taking a look at what Gruden did shortly after taking the Raiders job, I don’t think Bucs fans would be too happy. Gruden traded players like Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper while signing aging vets like Jason Witten in free agency. Would the nostalgia of having Gruden as the coach again be worth potentially saying goodbye to a player like Mike Evans? If he traded away Cooper, have to imagine Evans could have had the same fate.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Instead, the Bucs kept Dirk Koetter for another season before firing him after the 2018 season and hired Bruce Arians to replace him and well, the rest is history. Gruden had a very controversial exit from Vegas as well. Safe to say the Bucs dodged a huge bullet when they passed on bringing Gruden back in January of 2018.

What if the Bucs kept Jameis Winston after 2019?

This one will surely bring a lot of different opinions on it. Jameis Winston was a very polarizing player during his time in Tampa Bay and for good reason. There would be 10 plays that Winston would make that would have fans wowing and then three or four plays that gave fans headaches. He was the ultimate boom or bust player and that is what made the decision on whether to keep him or not in the 2020 offseason even more difficult.

We all know the story. The Bucs decided to move on and signed Tom Brady and that resulted in a Super Bowl win. But what if the team decide to retain Jameis Winston? Let me get this out of the way, for all of Jameis Winston’s faults and turnovers, there was still tremendous upside in Arians’ offense. Winston threw 30 interceptions in 2019 and that simply was not likely to happen again. Does Winston cut down the turnovers while still being productive enough to lead the Bucs to a championship? Probably not in 2020, but the team may not have been in such a terrible spot at the quarterback position.

There are many, many more what ifs, but these ones are pretty big both for the past and the present. Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

A conversation with the Buccaneers defensive tackle

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Deadrin Senat. Senat signed with the Tampa Bay buccaneers in April 2022, and has been a rotational defensive lineman for the Buccaneers since last season and Senat showcased good ability both as a run defender, and as a pass rusher, and in our conversation, we spoke about many topics, including his opportunities last year with the Buccaneers and the chance to earn more, being from Florida and the impact it has playing for his local team, and what fans can expect from him this upcoming season. Watch the full interview below to get all the thoughts and opinions from the Buccaneers defense of lineman.

Full interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safety

Kedrick Whitehead, Jr. is a rising star in the NFL and a standout safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I recently had the opportunity to interview him and gain insight into his journey from college football to the pros.

Whitehead grew up in Delaware and played football for the University of Delaware, where he was a team captain and earned All American honors. After going undrafted in 2023, he signed with the Buccaneers as a free agent. He also have a very strong relationship with current Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin.

In our interview, Whitehead spoke about the challenges of making the transition from college to the NFL, the importance of mental preparation, and his aspirations for the upcoming season. He also shared his thoughts on the team’s goals for the future.

Throughout the interview, Whitehead’s passion for the game and dedication to his craft were evident. It’s clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in the NFL and will continue to be a key player for the Buccaneers.

Watch the full interview here:

The early offseason free agency hoopla is long gone but there are still valuable pieces available on the open market.

The Buccaneers have adjusted expectations for the 2023 season, comparable to the last few seasons of Tampa Bay football. Even though the season is not projected to end with a Super Bowl championship, that doesn’t mean the organization isn’t trying to do everything it can to win games. That means putting the best product possible on the field each week. Here’s a list of a few free agents who could help the Buccaneers do that this season.

Justin Houston- He might have little use for the Buccaneers, (Houston may want to play out the rest of his NFL days on a championship contender) but Tampa Bay could certainly use him. The 34-year-old has had a phenomenal career, 12 years and over 100 sacks on his resumé. Last year for the Baltimore Ravens, Houston registered 9.5 quarterback takedowns. He’s been ageless, more importantly, Tampa Bay has a hearty dose of young pass rushers across their lineup this year. A vet like Houston can provide some solid production while also taking on a mentorship role, similar to what Tampa used to have in J.P.P.

Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

John Johnson III- Mike Edwards anyone? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a very talented safety this offseason in Mike Edwards. Edwards’ impact for Todd Bowles’ defense was very tangible— seven interceptions over the past three seasons. Tampa Bay’s done little to replace his ball production so far. John Johnson III has snatched 12 interceptions off of opposing quarterbacks, during his six-year career. Perennial stud Antoine Winfield Jr. stands as the team’s best deep defender, beyond him the Buccaneers did sign Ryan Neal away from the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year, however he has just three career interceptions. Neal may be a good pickup, but he also doesn’t directly address the absence of Mike Edwards. Past their two anticipated starters, Tampa’s safety depth is uninspiring. The team did add to its defensive backfield through the draft with sixth round pick Josh Hayes, but for a defensive strategist who has shown a propensity for three safety sets, adding a more proven playmaker like Johnson III may be an intriguing option for Todd Bowles.

William Gholston- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Will Gholston in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. 10 NFL seasons later, he’s racked up over 400 career tackles and just two years ago during his 2021 campaign he reached a new career high in single-season sacks. Gholston has never been a superstar for Tampa Bay, but on multiple occasions he has openly stated his desire to retire as a Buccaneer. He has always done the red and pewter proud and can likely be brought back on a very team friendly deal for his 11th season.

For a more extended list of available free agents check out Greg Rosenthal’s top 101 on NFL.com

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Fans also voted bring in some defensive help.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been quiet during the post-draft free agency period. It’s not shocking considering they didn’t have much cap room to work with in the beginning. But that hasn’t stopped rumors from swirling.

One of those rumors is how they are constantly tied to Cowboys free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott. Well the fans voted on whether or not Tampa Bay should sign him. There weren’t many that were in favor of such a move.

Defensively we all know the Bucs struggled with their pass rush last year. So in a second poll fans were asked about bringing in help that can bolster their pass rush.

Of the options posted for selection, 40% of Buccaneers fans would like it if the team signed free agent Yannick Ngakoue.

We shouldn’t expect to do much of anything, if at all. They seem content with this current team that will take the field in 2023. They just have to convince many they can win games, by actually playing them of course.

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The new vibe has Godwin sharing some insight.

It feels as though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t had wide receiver Chris Godwin at 100-percent for quite some time. After suffering a significant knee injury against the Saints during a December game in 2021, Godwin returned to the field last season — albeit nowhere near full health.

But having some kind of Godwin on the field is better than having no Godwin.

This season, the 27-year-old feels his health is much better than where it was last season as he feels he is closer to where he was prior to when he suffered the knee injury.

“I think I’m very close to it,” Godwin said. “I feel like a lot of my explosion is coming back. I feel very comfortable with the things that I’m working on. It feels really good to be able to have the opportunity to work on my skill development this offseason, as opposed to just working to rehab an injury.”

Despite not being at 100-percent, Godwin still hauled in 104 receptions for 1,023 yards and three touchdowns. He had future Hall of Famer Tom Brady throwing him the ball then so he’ll face another challenge outside of returning to full health. And that is getting used to another quarterback throwing him the football.

The veteran receiver talked about what it’s like to now be working with Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield.

“Honestly, it’s just different. Any time you have a new quarterback, it’s different. Obviously, we don’t know who that guy is going to be yet but it doesn’t feel weird – it just feels like you’re getting reps with a bunch of guys. I get to work on my own skill development, get to work with the receivers and then for us, we have to handle our business regardless of who’s throwing the ball. We kind of discuss those things – let’s make the play when the ball comes our way, let’s make the play. I think Kyle and Baker have both done a great job so far – it’s a friendly competition, there’s no animosity. You see them helping each other – they talk through a bunch of things. I think we have a really good environment on our team right now. We’re all really just trying to pull the rope in the same direction.”

The Bucs wrap up this current set of OTAs Thursday before returning to the practice fields on May 30.

A predictable choice headlines at least one prominent news outlet for the Bucs.

With the first formal offseason workout taking place Tuesday for the full team, the Buccaneers have plenty to prove as a collective this year.

A past darling of championship bets the past three years is now seeing just as much popularity as the No. 1 or 2 overall pick in way-too-early mock drafts. The Bucs have no shortage of skeptics, as they’ll face an uphill battle to dispel the notion they’re a bottom-5 team without Tom Brady at the helm.

So, naturally, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that most look to that vacant signal caller seat, and those who look to claim it, as the team’s biggest question marks. The Athletic’s Mike Jones split no hairs, as he named Baker Mayfield as his Bucs player with the most to prove.

Not to say Jones is wrong. It’s a blunt truth that if you don’t have a quarterback, you’re not going anywhere in this league — it could be argued Tampa and its fans know that fact better than anyone.

However, if we’re talking strictly in the sense of OTAs and having questions to answer, I don’t think Mayfield, or Kyle Trask for that matter, is going to assuage any concerns or make any notable impacts in shorts. Quarterback is a position proven in full scrimmages and true game action, so we won’t get any true resolution until training camp kicks into gear in two months or so.

Instead, I posit some other names who can actually turn some heads at this point:

Luke Goedeke, Right Tackle

It’s officially confirmed that Tristan Wirfs will kick over to the blind side. While there shouldn’t be too much concern about the All-Pro’s ability to handle that transition, the magnifying glass will only focus harder on second-year Luke Goedeke. He will need to display some NFL muscle over the offseason, as well as the technical chops to make it as the opposite bookend. The team has put a lot of faith in him, as it passed on signing proven veterans and drafting any real competition. Goedeke needs to start off on the right foot.

Logan Hall, Defensive Lineman

Similar story for Hall as Goedeke. He looked massively under-prepared for NFL size and strength, but initial reports of his conditioning this offseason hopefully point toward a more promising sophomore season. He’ll need to demonstrate that improved bulk while maintaining the quickness that made him a pseudo-first rounder last year. A huge jump in snaps is in the cards, so hopefully he can handle it well.

Devin White, Linebacker

The Buccaneers invested a top 5 pick in Devin White during the 2019 NFL Draft, and they’ve hardly received the return on investment they likely hoped for. The supernova-like flashes have always existed, but there’s been little to no improvement when it comes to consistency for the 25-year-old.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

On top of it all, he’s demanding a new contract in the ballpark of $100 million total, and he’s resorted to trade requests and cryptic social media posting as ill-conceived bargaining chips. He needs to show he’s truly worth the C on his chest — and the money in his bank account — for this year and beyond.

Appearing this offseason with renewed determination and concentration would help in reinforcing the team’s faith and convincing it to hand out the long-term security he desires. With Lavonte David potentially playing his final year, White’s long-awaited ascension would be a true relief.

Of course, that’s all operating under the assumption he actually shows up at some point before training camp, which is no guarantee. A holdout is very possible.

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Let’s look at the players who hold an awful lot of Buccaneer eggs. 

There’s an old saying, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.’ Despite most of humanity having knowledge of the proverb, plenty of people (and NFL teams) are still guilty of exactly that. The 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have 46 active players on gameday, but which of those players are carrying the most Buccaneer eggs with them?

Tristan Wirfs- Tampa Bay’s offensive line is coming off its worst season in some time. 2022 was a season full of fans identifying the problem and a few months later, after the season had reached its conclusion, the team identified the same problem. That problem is now employed by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Donovan Smith was the starting left tackle for the Buccaneers through the Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Tom Brady eras for Tampa Bay. In 2022, he underperformed and the drop-off in his play opened the door for Jason Licht to ready up his replacement. The left tackle position was a noted position of need for the Buccaneers all offseason, but the team chose to let it go unaddressed. Rather, they put their faith in All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs. Wirfs will be moving to the left side of the offensive line in 2023, a big change, even for a talented player. Tampa is banking heavily on Wirfs’ skillset translating to the blindside of their next franchise quarterback.

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Jamel Dean- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprised a lot of fans and pundits alike, when they came to a long-term agreement with their 2019 third-round pick. Jamel Dean was touted as one of the top free agents on the market at a premium position in 2023 and the Buccaneers were the league’s poster child for being cap-strapped. In a long list of Buccaneer free agents, the team’s starting cornerback seemed among the most likely to be cashing checks elsewhere, come the new league year.

The organization showed a tremendous amount of faith in the growth of their third-round pick, when the two sides came to a long-term agreement. Tampa Bay managed to creatively find the money to keep their former rotational starter, turned quasi-star in Buccaneer red. Dean, for the first time in his pro career, will enter training camp, the preseason, and regular season play with the expectations of high-level performance.

Rachaad White- In the 2022 NFL draft the Bucs spent a third-round pick on a running back out of Arizona State. Rachaad White rewarded them with a rookie campaign worthy of promotion. The former Sun Devil’s first season in the pros was good for just over 1,000 total yards accounted for. Rachaad White had plenty of budding-star moments like his breakout game in Germany against the Seattle Seahawks or his game-winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints when White proved ‘he-dat.’

Tampa Bay’s 2023 offseason started white hot with the team releasing veterans all across their lineup. One of the veterans to be shown the door was Super Bowl hero Leonard Fournette. Rachaad White, in combination with his own diminished performance, made ‘Lombardi Lenny’ disposable and empowered Jason Licht to hand his second-year runner the reins. Speculation during draft season was very consistent that there was a good probability Tampa would be selecting a running back with a high round pick to share the load with White. The draft started and ended with no running back taken. The Buccaneers have made it very apparent they have the utmost confidence in Rachaad White heading into the 2023 season. No back on Tampa’s roster has had more than 600 yards rushing during any one NFL season. The Buccaneers are clearly expecting Rachaad White to emerge.

Tampa Bay’s 2023 season will have an outcome heavily determined by these three players. Wirfs, Dean, and White will also have a lot to do with what decisions the Buccaneers make moving forward. Good seasons by the three will show Jason Licht and co. were correct to place such responsibility in the hands of their young talent. Seasons that come in under expectations will force the team to reevaluate going into 2024.

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What has been said just gets retold.

We may not know anytime soon who the Buccaneers quarterback will be. In fact, head coach Todd Bowles won’t either. But that’s because they are creating an environment where the competition between Kyle Trask and veteran Baker Mayfield should tell the story.

That’s essentially what Bowles said recently when appearing on The Rich Eisen Show as he was asked about Mayfield, Trask and the competition for the starting quarterback spot.

“Yes, it is a competition. We don’t have a starter right now,” said Bowles. “We know Baker has played in games and Trask has not, but we’ve watched Trask over the years and we like some of the things he does, and we’re going to give him the chance to play and compete and see who comes out. We told Baker this coming in. It’s not anything new that he doesn’t know. [Mayfield’s] up for the challenge.”

You can check out the clip of the Bowles’ spot with Eisen below.

This was similar to what was shared last week when offense coordinator Dave Canales spoke to the media, saying that the quarterback competition will truly show who wants it more.

“For me, it’s a win-win when you create a competition. Here’s why: if you name a starter today, the backup guy starts thinking like a backup. But if you say, this is a competition, we’re going to allow us to go into the preseason and let them show us that they can manage to get us into the right play, they can take care of the ball – that’s going to be the determining factor, really, who takes care of the ball.”

Tampa Bay has placed themselves in the best position possible for seeing who can truly come out as the Bucs starter. The question then becomes if the options on the roster are the right ones.

The team also waived two others.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed wide receiver David Moore, outside linebacker Markees Watts, and safety Kedrick Whitehead.

Moore (6-0, 219) originally entered the league as a seventh-round selection (No. 226 overall) of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2017 NFL Draft. In 50 career games (14 starts) between the Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, Moore totaled 78 receptions for 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Gainesville, Texas, native played collegiately at East Central University (2013-16), amassing 157 career receptions for 2,775 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Watts (6-1, 240) played collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2018-22). In five seasons, Watt finished with 177 total tackles (31.5 for loss) and 21.5 career sacks. He ranks first in program history in games played (54) and sacks. The Lancaster, S.C., native was named All-Conference USA Honorable Mention three times (2019, 2021-22) during his time at UNCC.

Whitehead (5-11, 195) played collegiately at the University of Delaware (2018-22), finishing with 295 total tackles, 25 passes defensed, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered in 55 career games. His 295 tackles rank sixth in program history among defensive backs. The Middletown, Delaware, native was an All-CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) selection in four straight seasons, earning first team honors from 2020-22 and third team honors in 2019.

In addition, the Buccaneers waived tackle Dylan Cook and outside linebacker Nelson Mbanasor.

(Parts of this report comes courtesy of the Buccaneers Communications Department.)

For Tampa Bay, this season will be all about new faces in new places. Which old face will the Bucs miss the most?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 starting lineup and overall roster will be looking substantially different than 2022’s. Tom Brady, the great Tom Brady, is now gone. His time in Tampa, now ended. His roster spot, no longer. The seismic shift his retirement has created trickled through the coaching staff, organizational philosophy, and the players on the team’s roster. To name a few, here are some noteworthy mentionables from 2022 who are no longer wearing pewter helmets on Sundays. Cameron Brate, Leonard Fournette, Scott(y) Miller, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Donovan Smith, Mike Edwards, Shaq Mason, Julio Jones, Will Gholston, Ryan Succop, and of course Tom Brady. Even Legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback extraordinaire, Ryan Griffin is no longer on the team’s payroll.

These wide-scale changes in staff would cause any business outfit to look different. By chance, some changes may turn out positive, others will likely not. Let’s take a look at which members of 2022’s NFC South champion Bucs, the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will miss the most.

1. Mike Edwards— Edwards just became a full-time starter for the first time in his career last season. A rotational player throughout his first few seasons in the NFL, Edwards always had an ability to find his way to the ball. During the Buccaneers Super Bowl season, Edwards finished with a pedestrian 11 total tackles, but he accounted for three turnovers and then a fourth in the postseason. Edwards’ role is as a ball hawk. He may not have ever been the best safety on Tampa Bay’s roster during his tenure with the Bucs but he was always a playmaker. In 2021 Edwards returned to his rotational role as Super Bowl champion. The 2019 prospect out of Kentucky got himself another three turnovers during the regular season and again added a fourth in postseason play. 2021 also featured Edwards putting two touchdowns on his stat sheet. Last season, Mike Edwards finished with a career high 82 tackles and provided Tampa with another two interceptions. A defensive back who has a knack for getting the ball in his hands and giving your team’s offense extra possessions is invaluable. Todd Bowles has always done a good job with his safeties since joining the Buccaneers staff, even still, replacing Edwards’ playmaking may prove to be a challenge.

2. Ryan Succop— Kickers matter. Special teams and field goal kicking can win and lose games. In Tampa Bay, they lose games, more often than not. Ryan Succop’s three-year run in Tampa Bay was part of the under-the-radar glue. The Buccaneers had spent years cycling through kickers like they were teaching a spin class, when 2009’s Mr. Irrelevant first joined the team. He was coming off a shortened and horrific season with the Tennessee Titans in 2019. In Tampa Bay, he was the prescription to the pain of so many Bucs fans. His first season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were Super Bowl champions, with Ryan Succop hitting all nine of his postseason field goal attempts. After championship glory, he came back in 2021 with another accurate performance, missing just five kicks on the season. In 2022, Succop struggled. While the former Super Bowl champion had still remained hyper accurate on his short-range kicks, he was exposed from distance.

Last season, Ryan Succop only missed two kicks inside of 50 yards, he was typical steady-Eddie. His downfall came when he was asked to attempt more 50+ yard kicks than in his entire Bucs career prior. Succop went just 2-7 on field goals over 50 yards. Certainly not sensational, but perhaps indicative of Tampa’s sad downtrodden offense. While Ryan Succop was still a reliable kicker within his range, 2022 ultimately cost Succop his job and ended his Buccaneers career. A kicker with a big leg doesn’t necessarily mean a better leg. The Bucs have had ‘big leg’ kickers in the past yet, it was Ryan Succop who stabilized a very shaky position in Tampa Bay.

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

3. Tom Brady— This one’s obvious. In a ‘down year’ Tom Brady did something no other Bucs quarterback other than Tom Brady in previous editions had been able to do since 2007. He took Tampa Bay to the playoffs, with a division title. The Buccaneers 2022 season wasn’t a Hollywood script. Their offense was ugly at times. The year was full of bleak questions with grim answers. That ugliness and those bleak questions were so much uglier and more bleak because of the team's expectations. Tom Brady is your quarterback, you’re supposed to win. It’s playoffs and Super Bowl or what did you do wrong? Tom Brady is a winner through and through, and one his ‘worst’ seasons put that on full display. Tampa’s quarterback helped drag a team that screamed ‘I’m exhausted!’ with its performances each week, to the postseason. Brady threw for over 4,600 yards and his fewest interception total during his Tampa Bay tenure, keeping his tally in the single digits. Plenty of Bucs fans had decided that they had seen enough of Tom Brady and felt like it was time for him to go home, well now he is home. Be careful what you wish for.

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With the schedule now being released, lets predict each game along the way

The Buccaneers 2023 schedule has now been released and with that, people can start to predict wins and losses. The 2023 Bucs will look a bit different than years past and with that, a new era of Buccaneers football can begin.

Let's just get this out of the way though, these are simply predictions based on what the teams look like today. Injuries can and will happen during a season and they are impossible to predict. Let's dive right into this.

Week 1 @ Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM EST

The Bucs travel to Minnesota to open their season with a matchup against the 2022 NFC North champs. Tampa’s secondary will certainly be tested with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson on the Minnesota offense. However, the Vikings defense was vulnerable at times last season so the Bucs new look offense could find some success regardless of who is under center.

Regardless though, the Vikings are a solid football team and the Bucs could be a group still looking to find its way and identity. I will give this one to the home team.

Loss (Record 0-1)

Week 2 Vs Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM EST

The Bucs home opener is against Justin Fields and the Bears. Chicago had the number one pick in this year’s draft but traded it to the Panthers in a deal that landed them an immediate impact player in D.J. Moore. With more weapons and an improved offensive line, the Bears are hoping Fields can take that next step.

Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Fortunately for the Bucs though, I think they catch the Bears at the right time and Fields is not yet in sync with his new offensive pieces resulting in Tampa sending the fans home happy.

Win (Record 1-1)

Week 3 Vs Philadelphia Eagles, 7:15 PM EST, Monday Night Football

The defending NFC champs come to town for a matchup on Monday Night Football. There is no doubt that this is the toughest test yet for the Buccaneers as the Eagles have made more additions on both sides of the ball since last season. The last time Tampa Bay saw this Eagles team, it was much different than what they will see on September 25th. The Bucs just simply don’t have enough to steal this one.

Loss (Record 1-2)

Week 4 @ New Orleans Saints, 1:00 PM EST

After two straight home games the Bucs head to New Orleans for their first division matchup of the year. The Saints made a splash this offseason adding Derek Carr to the mix in hopes that they can regain the NFC south crown. Even though Tampa Bay swept the Saints in 2022, both games were very difficult and could have gone either way. Carr is an upgrade at QB for New Orleans and I think that makes a difference in this one in Nola.

Loss (Record 1-3)

Week 5 BYE

Way too early for a bye week, by the way.

Week 6 Vs Detroit Lions, 1:00 PM EST

The Lions come to town after the Bucs bye week and at 1-3, the Bucs need to get a win here sooner rather than later. Detroit is an ascending team that almost made the playoffs last season, so they are no joke. However, Jared Goff is still their quarterback and it is impossible to tell what you may get from him week to week. While the Lions have a chance to go to the playoffs, these young teams can be vulnerable at times and the rested Bucs take advantage.

Side note: This has to be the creamsicle game, right? I mean c’mon, it's too perfect.

Win (Record 2-3)

Week 7 Vs Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM EST

After a win against Detroit, the Bucs are home again, this time against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons made a lot of splashes in the offseason, maybe none bigger than drafting running Bijan Robinson with the 8th overall pick. They are ready to compete in the division and Atlanta is no longer a push over. Division games are always tough but I think the Bucs squeak out a W here to win two in a row for the first time this season and get back to .500.

Win (Record 3-3)

Week 8 @ Buffalo Bills, 8:15 PM EST, Thursday Night Football

The Bucs play their second and final primetime game of the season when they head to Buffalo. The Bills are a team that still has Super Bowl aspirations and the Bucs simply don’t at this point. A short week, on the road, against one of the best teams in the NFL? The schedule makers did not do the Bucs many favors with this one.

Loss (Record 3-4)

Week 9 @ Houston Texans, 1:00 PM EST

Tampa Bay remains on the road and faces C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. While things are finally starting to look up for this Texans team, they still are a ways off from competing for a playoff spot. Facing rookie QBs is always dangerous because it is the unknown factor, but the Bucs handle business on the road and close out a still rebuilding Houston team.

Win (Record 4-4)

Week 10 Vs Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM EST

The Bucs return to Raymond James Stadium for a date with the Titans. At this point in the season, it could very well be Will Levis starting this game depending on how Tennessee’s season goes. The Titans are always well coached, but their roster also has a lot of flaws and the Bucs could exploit some of them. By this time of year, injuries will almost surely play a factor one way or another and while I can’t predict those, I do think the Bucs come out on top in this one to get over .500 for the first time all season.

Win (Record 5-4)

Week 11 @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 PM EST

Heading over to the west coast, the Bucs face the 49ers who rally handled them last season. There is some uncertainty over who the Niners QB may be at this point, but one thing that is for certain is the San Francisco defense still will be one of the best.

Traveling to the west coast is always tough and it is even tougher when it is against a team of the 49ers caliber. The Bucs are outmatched in this one.

Loss (Record 5-5)

Week 12 @ Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 PM EST

The Bucs could face another rookie QB in Anthony Richardson when they travel to Indy. The Colts are in a weird phase right now where their roster is not quite good enough to be a Super Bowl contender, but they also still have some serious talent on both sides of the ball. Richardson could give the Bucs defense some trouble and I think this could be a game that the Bucs let slip away. Richardson makes a splash play that breaks the backs of the Bucs defenders and the team can’t overcome it.

Loss (Record 5-6)

Week 13 Vs Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM EST

A division rival comes to a town and this is the first taste the Bucs will get of the new look Panthers with Bryce Young as their quarterback. Like Atlanta, Carolina is a team that is looking to compete in the NFC South now and hope that they finally found their answer at QB. After losing two straight, the Bucs come up with a way to take this one and rebound to potentially save their season as well.

Win (Record 6-6)

Week 14 @ Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM EST

Another division game and this time the Bucs wrap up their season series with the Falcons on the road. These division games are always important, but divisional games late in the season could make or break a season. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the Bucs will be able to keep their success against Atlanta going as they fall on the road in a game that might come back to haunt them.

Loss (Record 6-7)

Week 15 @ Green Bay Packers, 1:00 PM EST

Tampa heads up north to play the Packers in a game that has a chance to have some not so great weather conditions for the Bucs. Going to Green Bay in mid December is not ideal for a team like the Bucs. I think that plays a factor in this one as Jordan Love is fully settled into is starting role and the Bucs drop a critical game.

Loss (Record 6-8)

Week 16 Vs Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:05 PM EST

The Bucs have a Christmas Eve matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars and this will be their first look at Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars had an incredible turnaround in 2022 and hope to take the next step in contention this season. This game will be a tough one for Tampa as the Jags have one of the better rosters in the entire league and Lawrence has proven that he is here to stay. Jacksonville gives the Bucs a lump of coal and their third straight loss for Christmas.

Loss (Record 6-9)

Week 17 Vs New Orleans Saints, 1:00 PM EST

The Bucs home finale is against the New Orleans Saints and by this point with a record of 6-9, the playoffs are likely out of the picture but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t feel good to knock off the rival Saints to close out Raymond James Stadium for the year. The Bucs get the job done and snap their three game losing streak to send the fans home happy one last time.

Win (Record 7-9)

Week 18 Vs Carolina Panthers, Time TBD

Tampa Bay closes out their season with the Carolina Panthers who may need this game if they are still competing for the division or a wild card spot. The Panthers played the Bucs tough in 2022 and I expect that to continue. Tampa got them in Tampa, now I think it is Carolina’s time to return the favor and end the Bucs season on a sour note.

Loss (Record 7-10)

With the Bucs missing the playoffs and having another losing record, there will be a lot of debate about whether to retain Todd Bowles or not. Change could be coming to Tampa Bay if they miss the playoffs, but at the same time the team remained competitive in most games. Winning seven games honestly may be the worst case scenario for Tampa. Not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get a top draft pick.

This exercise was solely for fun, so don’t take it too seriously. What do you think the Bucs record will be in 2023? Sound off in the comment section!

What are the biggest takeaways from Tampa’s upcoming slate?

The NFL released the 2023 game schedule Thursday, and the Buccaneers will see some significant changes compared to recent years. You can see their full schedule below.

Let’s dive into some prominent themes from the Buccaneers schedule release.

Back to 1 p.m.

The Bucs, now sans major-draw Tom Brady and coming off the heels of a disappointing 8-9 record, will play in just two primetime games this season — and they’ll both happen within the first eight weeks. They’ll host the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football during Week 3 (Sept. 25), and then they’ll travel north to play the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football during Week 8 (Oct. 26).

Outside of those, the Bucs will go back to 11 games that begin at 1 p.m. Compare that to just seven in 2022, six in 2021, and seven in 2020. As it turns out, not nearly as many people consider the Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield show to be must-watch television like literally the greatest quarterback of all time.

Starting Heavy at Home

The Bucs will play four of their first six games at home, which is the most since 2012. Given it will still be peak Florida heat, that might impart a slight advantage for the team. It does also create significantly less travel strain since the team’s only two trips are relatively short ones — to Minnesota in Week 1 and New Orleans in Week 4.

Bundling Up for the Road

The flip side will be a couple chilly sojourns for the fair-weather Buccaneers. Buffalo at the end of October will likely be a nippy night in an especially hostile environment. The team could really be frosty in Week 15 against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau. The Bucs largely avoided games like that over the last three years, with their coldest being 29 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff for the 2020 NFC Championship Game against the Packers.

An Early Bye

One major change from recent seasons will be the team’s bye week. This year will be Week 5, which is the earliest since 2018. Ironically, that year featured three of the same opponents as this year in the first four games — the Eagles, Saints, and Chicago Bears.

For comparison, the prior three seasons (from 2022-20) featured byes in weeks 11, 9, and 13, respectively. No late-season “get right” week, which proved pivotal during the 2020 Super Bowl. Plenty of rest in the season’s first half needs to translate into quicker gelling for the roster ahead of the long stretch to close out the year — a majority of the final 13 contests will be on the road, including a West Coast romp to San Francisco in Week 11.

New QB Nightmares

This isn’t referring to the Trask-Mayfield-John Wolford chimera. No no, this is talking about how the Bucs may be facing their greatest kryptonite several times this year — rookies and first-time starters.

Tampa will presumably face each of the top 3 QBs drafted in the top 10 this year, including the No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young twice (Carolina in weeks 13 and 18). No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud will get his shot in Week 9 when the Bucs play the Houston Texans, and Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts will follow in Week 12.

They may even face down a man who they passed on — Will Levis, the second-rounder for the Tennessee Titans. It will be Week 10, and the Titans may decide that Ryan Tannehill has seen enough of the reins. The likes of Brock Purdy, Daniel Jones, Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert, and even Zach Wilson have all recently given the Bucs fits, but there will be plenty of opportunities to quash that narrative this year.

Are there any other potential storylines that stick out to you with this schedule, Bucs Nation? Let us know by discussing in the comments below.

The oddsmakers are at work early.

The NFL schedule has been released. We now know where and when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be facing their opponents. And when it comes to opening week, oddsmakers waste no time applying lines to games across the league.

With that said, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Bucs listed as a 7-point underdogs as the visiting team.

Point spread: Bucs +7
Point total: 46.5
Moneyline: Bucs +250, Vikings -300

Going into last season, Tampa Bay was favored not only in the first week of the season in Dallas, but for all of the first quarter of their slate of games in 2022. Of course a lot of that had to do with the fact Tom Brady was under center. With that taken into consideration it is understandable that oddsmakers may no longer view the Buccaneers as favorites in many matchups in 2023.

That is unless they prove to the world that they still have the talent without Brady (which they do).

As of now, the national media doesn’t seem to be too fond of the Bucs this season. We’ll see if that changes once the season gets underway and games start being played — and won.

The matchups for this season are set with their respective date and times.

The 2023 Buccaneers regular season schedule has been officially announced and boy will there be some upset fans this season. We already knew games at home would feature the typical divisional matchups while adding the Bears, Eagles, Jaguars, Lions, and Titans. Away games had them traveling to play the 49ers, Bills, Colts, Packers, Texans, and Vikings along with the annual trips to Charlotte, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

But now we can attach dates and times to those games.

Take a look at the full 2023 schedule posted below.

With no Tom Brady, the Bucs are still somewhat appealing to the rest of the NFL as well as the rest of the world (apparently). So the release of the Buccaneers schedule for this upcoming 2023 season is a bit of a surprise that they still got in on primetime with key matchups against the Eagles and Bills. And you know what, football is football and this team could very well surprise many inside and outside of the organization.

Feel free to start planning your travels accordingly, Bucs fans.

The league will release the full schedule Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will find out Thursday when they will be playing their respective opponents this upcoming season. There will be plenty of leaks throughout the day but in typical NFL fashion nothing is “official” until they release the schedules — or until they start airing their NFL Network schedule release show because, well, that’s what they do.

We already know the Buccaneers will not be playing overseas this season. Obviously, the Bucs aren’t considered as marketable as they once were with Tom Brady on the roster.

Thanks, Tom.

It’ll be interesting to see if Tampa Bay will see it’s fair share of primetime games in 2023, albeit nowhere near as similar to the five games under the lights the previous two seasons. But the bigger question is, will they be awarded any?

Games at Raymond James Stadium feature the typical divisional matchups while adding the Bears, Eagles, Jaguars, Lions, and Titans and traveling to play the 49ers, Bills, Colts, Packers, Texans, and Vikings along with the annual trips to Charlotte, Atlanta, and New Orleans. We’ll find out soon enough when they’ll face these teams.

Get your calendars ready, Bucs fans.

The departure of Tom Brady apparently means this team has absolutely no talent

Perhaps this is the reverse of the “Brady Effect,” where we saw for three years players flooding to Tampa to play with the GOAT for heavily reduced contracts. Perhaps this is the result of an 8-9 season last year with Tom Brady. Or perhaps this is just another example of the disconnect between national media and local media.

Quite simply, the national pundits - who don’t have their finger on the pulse of every team across the league - despise who the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shaping up to be.

Power rankings can be silly, but they give a talking point of the perception of the league from those putting them together. It’s kind of like pre-season college football rankings - no one really knows, but this is the general expectation of the teams.

For the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the expectation is simply this - you’re going to stink.

Dan Hanzus put together his post-free agency edition of power rankings where he had the Buccaneers ranked 24th. Then, following the draft, he did another where the Bucs slid all the way to 29th. Hanzus said;

“The Buccaneers are serious about this Baker Mayfield thing, huh? Tampa Bay chose not to address the quarterback position with its eight picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, setting up a summertime camp battle between Mayfield — the No. 1 overall pick-turned-journeyman — and former second-round choice Kyle Trask. It’s not a situation that inspires an enormous amount of confidence, but it’s worth remembering that Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are still around to help things along as much as they can. First-round pick Calijah Kancey continues a trend in Tampa Bay, becoming the third defensive tackle in six years to be selected with the Bucs’ top choice. They have a type.”

Okay, then. More on Dan in a minute.

Peter King also dropped some power rankings where he had the Bucs thirty-first. Yes, out of a possible thirty-two teams he only had the Arizona Cardinals ranked behind the Bucs. His only explanation?

“Well, the Super Bowl was still worth it.”

So, just to recap; two national writers have the Bucs as the worst team in the NFC South and both have them towards the bottom of the NFL. While Brady certainly made an impact, he was not the only player on the team.

Last year was a poor season from Brady, but a lot of that was beyond his control. Personal, off-field issues aside, Brady was dealing with an offensive coordinator who appeared in over his head without Bruce Arians watching over his shoulder, the loss of his center two days into training camp, the sudden retirement of his All-Pro caliber guard, the loss of another starting guard to an ACL tear in the final preseason game, an injury-riddled secondary, the loss of the best pass rusher on the team, the worst run game in the NFL thanks in large part to the regression of Leonard Fournette and the M*A*S*H* unit of an offensive line, the loss of Gronk, and a head coach that was thrust into a job just weeks before the NFL draft with no time to establish the staff he himself wanted.

Last time I checked, this team still had two incredible wide receivers and a third who never got to display the full arsenal of his talents due to multiple injuries. They still had one of the best linebacker duos in the league. They have a safety that was on the cusp of an All-Pro season before he was injured. They have the best nose tackle in the NFL.

This team is not void of talent. Not by a long shot. And the loss of Tom Brady does not equate to this being one of the worst teams in the league.

And that brings us back to Hanzus, who dropped the Bucs five spots because they’re “sticking with this Baker Mayfield” thing. Here’s the issue with that line of thinking;

Just because the Buccaneers didn’t do what Hanzus wanted them to at the quarterback position does not mean they did it wrong. People seem to forget that Mayfield was drafted to a Browns team that won zero games the year before. Within two seasons he had them above .500 and within three seasons he led them to their first playoff win in over two decades. Then, after playing through injury, he was made the sacrificial lamb for the front office to destroy the quarterback market in order to bring in Deshaun Watson - who has as many playoff wins as Mayfield does.

Mayfield was unceremoniously sent to a dumpster fire in Carolina as training camp was underway and had no chance under Matt Rhule to succeed. So they let him walk where he signed with the Rams on a Tuesday then led a comeback victory on national television 48 hours later - and he did so without the help of Aaron Donald or Cooper Kupp.

To put it mildly, Mayfield got absolutely hosed by the Browns and didn’t get a fair shake at anything in 2022. Now, he has a chance to play for an offensive coordinator that believes in him - remember, the Seahawks were interested in trading for Mayfield in the off-season - and can mold the offense around Mayfield’s strengths. He has a chance now to revitalize his career with legitimate talent around him in a division that is wide open.

Derek Carr may be the best quarterback in the division, but don’t kid yourself - Mayfield isn’t far behind and very easily could surpass Carr this season. Desmond Ridder is an unknown and let’s not crown rookie Bryce Young quite yet. While he certainly shows a lot of talent, the NFL is a different world.

At the end of the day, the Buccaneers still have a talented roster with minimal depth - so injuries could once again rear their ugly heads and derail a lot of things. But let’s not act like their starters can’t stand up to anyone in the division and most of the teams in a weak NFC. To discount the roster because Tom Brady walked away is a disservice to players like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Devin White, Lavonte David, Tristan Wirfs, Vita Vea, Carlton Davis, Antoine Winfield Jr., Shaq Barrett, and Ryan Jensen. It shows a lack of understanding as to why 2022 went down the way that it did and - to be frank - it shows laziness at not taking the time to understand the situation they’re in now.

I’m not one to say that things printed in May become bulletin board material in September - but a roster built around a lot of players just two years removed from hoisting a Lombardi Trophy should take some of this personally. Brady didn’t do it on his own and he sure didn’t take all the talent with him when he left.

For more on this and all things Tampa Bay Buccaneers, check out James Yarcho and David Harrison on the Locked On Bucs Podcast five days a week!

The team adds depth for the quarterback room.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed free agent quarterback John Wolford.

Wolford (6-1, 200) originally entered the league as a college free agent with the New York Jets in 2018 before signing with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. In his career, Wolford has appeared in seven games, making four starts, and completing 61-of-104 passes for 626 yards and one touchdown.

The Jacksonville, Florida, native was a four-year starter at Wake Forest, where he threw for 59 touchdowns and 8,794 yards – ranking third and fourth in program history, respectively. In 2014, he became the first player in program history to start all 12 games as a true freshman.

Recently, general manager Jason Licht stated the team was still looking for a quarterback to add to the roster.

“Right now, we like the competition that’s going on with Baker [Mayfield] and Kyle [Trask], [we] couldn’t be happier with the way it’s going right now… But we do have a plan. We probably would like to bring in a vet. Just somebody that has been there [and] done that.

“Not necessarily somebody that we think is going to take over the competition. But somebody that can just add to that room.”

They most certainly did add to the quarterback room. We just don’t know if Wolford “has been there and don’t that,” whatever that may truly mean.

(Parts of this report comes courtesy of the Buccaneers Communication Department.)

Tampa Bay rookie, YaYa Diaby, is already in a category all to himself.

Congrats to Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie YaYa Diaby. Drafted in the third round of the NFL draft, the former Louisville Cardinal is expected to come in and add some new life to Todd Bowles’ pass rush. Diaby is coming off a nine-sack season for the Cardinals and Tampa Bay is hoping that his 2022 season represents the type of production he will provide in the pros. While we are still months away from seeing what impact Diaby will have on the field, he has already etched his name into Buccaneers history. The team announced, via their official Twitter account, all of the jersey numbers for the rookie class of 2023. Their third rounder, Diaby, will be wearing the number zero.

YaYa Diaby will be the first player in team history to sport the number and no doubt will stand out on the field because of it. The NFL just altered their policy, allowing players to choose the number zero, if they so please. Diaby is the first Buc to do so, coining it, “Sub 0.”

Hopefully, YaYa Diaby’s performance in a Buccaneers uniform will be just as memorable as his jersey number.

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