Are The Bucs Already Being Counted Out In The NFC South?

It’s been the offseason of re-signings for the Bucs which have put the staff in place to compete for the NFC South title once more and make a playoff run. Yearly the aim for the group is to win the Tremendous Bowl, so whereas profitable a fourth straight division championship – and the automated dwelling playoff sport that comes with it – is a aim, what additionally issues is how Tampa Bay compares to the remainder of the league.

Stepping into the postseason is one factor. Advancing within the playoffs is one other.

For a fast refresher of this offseason, Tampa Bay re-signed Professional Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield, Professional Bowl extensive receiver Mike Evans, inside linebacker Lavonte David, kicker Chase McLaughlin and positioned the franchise tag on All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. They’ve additionally made different essential new signings as effectively with the most important one being the return of Jordan Whitehead at robust security.

The Bucs additionally signed inside offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta to supply a brand new competitors at middle and left guard, respectively, and added Bryce Corridor and Tavierre Thomas at cornerback to spherical out the depth behind Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum and nickel cornerback Christian Izien.

Bucs’ Rating Is Shocking

With the principle focus re-signing Tampa Bay’s personal gamers to a staff that made it to the divisional spherical of the postseason final yr, was that sufficient to make the Bucs a contender? In a post-free company energy rankings by Jarrett Bailey on the Landing Wire, Bailey has Tampa Bay ranked at 21 total out of 32 groups. That’s the worst rating out of any staff that made the playoffs the yr earlier than.

That is what was mentioned concerning the Bucs’ outlook in 2024:

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield Photograph by: USA At present

‘Tip of the cap to Baker Mayfield for getting paid after the most effective yr of his profession and his second profession playoff win. I do query if the Bucs can repeat that success, although, particularly with out Dave Canales. On the very least, they’ll be aggressive week in and week out. At most, they’ll be a playoff staff as soon as once more.”

It’s actually truthful to marvel if Mayfield can preserve his degree of play for one more season. We’ve seen different quarterbacks have nice seasons in “prove-it” years, trying to get a brand new contract the place the outcomes had been much less favored after a deal was signed. Take the Giants’ Daniel Jones, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and the Seahawks’ Geno Smith for instance.

In 2022, Jones threw for over 3,000 yards with 15 touchdowns because the Giants went 9-7-1, incomes a Wild Card spot and defeating the Vikings within the first spherical. Jones was signed to a four-year, $160 million contract that offseason. However the subsequent yr he went 1-5 as a starter, throwing six interceptions, which was yet one more than he had all season. Jones additionally tore his ACL and was out for the season after these six video games.

Hurts and Smith aren’t as harrowing tales as Jones was. However after a Tremendous Bowl look in 2022, Hurts was rewarded with a five-year, $255 million contract from Philadelphia. His first yr below that deal began out nice as Philadelphia raced out to a 10-1 document, however Hurts began enjoying by harm and the Eagles went 1-6 down the stretch of the common season earlier than the Bucs dismantled them, 32-9, within the Wild Card playoffs.

Mayfield and Smith have been in contrast again and again since they every wanted to revive their careers in a brand new location – and each labored with Canales. After his resurgence with over 4,000 yards, 30 touchdowns and 9-8 document to make the postseason, Smith was given a three-year, $75 million deal by the Seahawks. It wasn’t a drastic fall off, however his numbers declined a bit final season as he threw for 3,624 and 20 touchdowns as Seattle went 8-9 and didn’t attain the postseason.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

The place I disagree with Bailey’s assertion concerning the Bucs is the reference to how a lot of an influence shedding Canales could possibly be for Tampa bay. There’s actually going to be changes with Liam Coen because the staff’s new offensive coordinator, however his system isn’t wildly completely different than what Canales ran. Plus, he’s already labored with Mayfield earlier than in Los Angeles.

Coen can also be a extra polished play-caller having expertise in that function with the College of Kentucky and briefly for the Rams.

One other facet that may’t be ignored is that this would be the second yr along with Mayfield throwing to Mike Evans. His 1,255 receiving yards had been Evans’ most since 2018, and his 13 touchdowns had been tied for the league lead and the second highest in his profession. One can solely think about what Mayfield and Evans can do in a second season after they’ve constructed up a lot continuity.

Are The Falcons Runaway Favorites?

Though ranked twenty first within the Landing Wire rankings, Tampa Bay was the second greatest amongst all NFC South groups. In first place was Atlanta, coming in at No. 7. These had been Bailey Jarrett’s feedback on the Falcons:

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson and Vikings QB Kirk Cousins – Photograph courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“The Falcons noticed the roster they’d at hand, and went out to get their quarterback to carry all of it collectively. Including Kirk Cousins to an offense that already had a talent group of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson, plus a protection that was fifth in success price, makes Atlanta a staff that may contend for a Tremendous Bowl.”

The Falcons signing Cousins was arguably the most important transfer by any staff this offseason. On paper, it’s cheap to see why the Falcons could possibly be the NFC South favourite. With that mentioned, it does really feel odd that the Bucs would as soon as once more be thought of an underdog in their very own division given their latest historical past of profitable the NFC South three years in a row.

Most doubted the Bucs final yr and so they got here out on prime. All of the stress goes to be on Cousins and the Falcons this yr, and Cousins hasn’t been the man to excel in excessive profile conditions.

The 35-year previous quarterback has a horrible document in primetime video games, and only one profession playoff win in 4 begins. Now abruptly he’s simply going to buck that pattern? How a lot better is that this Atlanta staff than among the groups he was on in Minnesota?

There’s little question the Falcons improved. They actually wanted a quarterback.

Since Mayfield arrived in Tampa, the Bucs have been at their greatest once they’ve been counted out. Tampa Bay might need everybody proper the place the staff desires them as a result of it looks as if the doubters are beginning to come out in full power once more.