For simply the second time in franchise historical past, the Buccaneers have reached the playoffs in 4 consecutive seasons. The franchise has by no means made it 5 straight years, which it is going to search to do in 2024.
With three weeks to go till the NFL common season begins, listed here are Tampa Bay’s 5 most respected folks for 2024, ranked in inverse order:
5. Huge receiver Mike Evans
Evans is the very best receiver in franchise historical past and has an opportunity to affix an unique membership this season. Evans can match Jerry Rice’s report for many consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Starting with Rice’s second yr within the league, he had 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (1986-96).
Evans already holds the report for essentially the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin a profession (10) after gaining 1,255 yards in 2023.
Final season, he tied Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill for the league-lead in landing receptions (13), and in the course of the offseason, re-signed with the Bucs on a two-year, $52M contract.
Evans has picked up the place he left off with quarterback Baker Mayfield, as Tampa Bay Occasions’ Bucs reporter Rick Stroud famous the pair was in “prime kind” throughout its first 2024 coaching camp observe.
Per Sports activities Data Options’ information supplied by The thirty third Group, Evans acquired a 24.5 p.c goal share fee final yr, rating 18th within the league. He is poised to be simply as massive of a weapon once more this yr.
4. Linebacker Lavonte David
To the Bucs, David is not only a helpful defender. He is “that man.”
In March, Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht advised Bucs.com reporter Brianna Dix, “He’s the poster youngster actually for us. We have now an image of a silhouette in our draft room that claims, ‘I’m that man.'”
“And it doesn’t present his face, however it’s Lavonte,” Licht added. “He’s the one we search for yearly. He’s the usual.”
In an article for ESPN, Bucs reporter Jenna Laine shared a picture of the poster, which additionally contains 5 attributes the staff desires in a prospect: accountable, aggressive, assured, passionate and resilient.
These are all phrases that simply describe David, who’s been one of many league’s greatest and most underrated linebackers since being chosen within the second spherical (No. 58 total) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He is recorded at the very least 100 tackles in 10 of his 12 NFL seasons however has solely been named to the Professional Bowl and first-team All-Professional as soon as apiece, and never since 2015.
He led Tampa with 134 tackles in 15 video games final season and, at 34, has proven no indicators of slowing down on the staff’s coaching camp. Throughout one latest observe, he broke up three passes with near-interceptions.
3. Security Antoine Winfield Jr.
The four-year veteran was rewarded for his excellent 2023 with a four-year, $84.1M extension ($45M assured) this offseason.
Final yr, Winfield was named first-team All-Professional after ending the common season with 122 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions and a league-high six pressured fumbles.
Final month, Bucs.com senior author Scott Smith mentioned with safeties coach Nick Rapone how far more Winfield might enhance this season.
“Positive he can,” Rapone stated. “You may at all times enhance… Turn into a greater tackler, get the ball extra, get extra strips, talk higher. You may at all times enhance on this recreation,” he added. If his place coach is appropriate, Winfield is due for a monster season.
2. Middle Graham Barton
Regardless of rostering arguably the NFL’s greatest offensive sort out, Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay’s offensive line has been a large number for the previous few seasons. The Bucs are hoping rookie first-round choose (No. 26 total) Graham Barton stems the tide.
In 2023, Tampa Bay ranked final in speeding for the second consecutive season. In response to ESPN, the offensive line ranked thirty second in its run-block win-rate metic.
After taking part in left sort out final season at Duke, Barton moved to middle in Tampa, and he excelled within the staff’s preseason opener in opposition to the Bengals.
The Bucs had 32 carries for 136 yards (4.3 yards per carry) within the 17-14 win, and Barton acquired a superb 87.3 run-block grade from Professional Soccer Focus.
He was a part of a superb double-team with proper guard Cody Mauch on a five-yard landing run from Bucs rookie operating again Bucky Irving. After the snap, Barton crashed to his proper and drove Bengals rookie defensive sort out Kris Jenkins Jr. (No. 90) backward with Mauch till he obtained to the second stage, the place he blocked Bengals security Daijahn Anthony (No. 33) into the top zone.
