It’s that point of 12 months when after the primary waves of free company go, a flood of mock drafts pop up throughout the NFL panorama within the weeks main as much as the 2024 NFL Draft. Moreover these mock drafts, some begin to look forward at what a number of the large strikes which have already been made imply for subsequent season.
As one may count on, it doesn’t bode effectively for the Bucs.
Recognized for being counted out, Tampa Bay is as soon as once more anticipated to drop from the playoff image. Final 12 months, it was as a result of the Saints signed quarterback Derek Carr. This 12 months, Kirk Cousins joined the Falcons, and they’re already being pegged because the division favourite.
It seems like Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht might want to make extra room in his submitting cupboard to maintain some new receipts.
CBS Sports activities Initiatives Bucs To Miss Playoff Reduce In 2024
CBS Sports activities author Cody Benjamin lately went over six NFL groups that he initiatives will miss the playoffs subsequent season. With murky quarterback conditions and different components, a few of Benjamin’s decisions make sense.
The Browns have an enormous query mark at quarterback with Deshaun Watson failing to return to his Texans’ type.
The Rams once more are counting on a 36-year-old Matthew Stafford to level guard the offense. Oh, and Aaron Donald retired.
Placing the additions of quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields apart, the Steelers are a crew with loads of query marks on either side of the ball.
Bucs WR Mike Evans and GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Scott Reynolds/PR
All of those factors are comprehensible, however in rounding out his listing he picked the Bucs. After making the playoffs for the previous 4 seasons and bringing again the entire key items of a crew that made it to the divisional spherical, his outlook was pessimistic on the crew “working it again.”
“Surprisingly, they’ve the longest playoff streak of any crew on this listing. And but that speaks largely to the painful lack of competitors within the NFC South. They did excel at retaining key gamers this offseason, however are we giving them an excessive amount of credit score for “working it again” versus upgrading a borderline wild-card lineup?”
Curiously sufficient, Tampa Bay’s point out is the one one that doesn’t focus on any gamers or positions particularly however as a substitute factors to a scarcity of competitors throughout the division. If the worst factor the Bucs did to their playoff probabilities was deliver again their greatest free brokers, that speaks to the general nice offseason they’ve had up so far. The crew didn’t make any flashy strikes in free company, as a substitute choosing depth signings that improve the ground at some positions of want.
Whereas every of the groups listed additionally has not added a rookie class to the combo, one can foresee Jason Licht discovering one other crop of rookies to have outstanding roles after seeing what he has achieved over his previous two draft lessons. With this and up to date success to level to, it makes the Bucs a stunning decide.
For the premise of Benjamin’s story, there are solely so many groups to select from, however one can surprise if the Payments would have made extra sense with how their offseason has gone to date and the truth that their division will likely be much more aggressive subsequent 12 months.
Tampa Bay can have a extra formidable foe of their division as effectively, however they continue to be the highest canine till they’re not.
Bucs Nonetheless In The Driver’s Seat In The NFC South
When taking a look at the entire groups throughout the NFC South, the Bucs presently have probably the most star energy throughout their roster.
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
On offense, Baker Mayfield was re-signed after placing collectively a formidable bounce-back season. The offense has loads of potential to enhance in his second 12 months beneath middle, and the transition of Dave Canales to Liam Coen seems to be a easy one with the 2 having beforehand labored along with the Rams.
Having a pair of 1,000-yard receivers to throw to in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to throw to doesn’t harm, and Rachaad White showcased that he has loads of playmaking capability out of the backfield.
Whereas the run recreation and offensive line do want to indicate enchancment from final season, they have been capable of be one of many remaining eight groups standing with a Thirty second-ranked speeding offense. It will probably solely go up from there.
Defensively, it’s a unit nonetheless led by Vita Vea, Lavonte David, and Antoine Winfield Jr. at every stage. There are questions concerning the supporting solid round them, however there may be additionally loads of potential in younger guys resembling Calijah Kancey, YaYa Diaby, and Zyon McCollum, amongst others.
The secondary successfully swapped out Ryan Neal and Carlton Davis III for Jordan Whitehead, Bryce Corridor, and Tavierre Thomas, shoring up a passing protection that completed the season ranked twenty ninth. With the roster coming into focus, it’s clear that the Bucs have labored on bettering their weaknesses whereas nonetheless having loads of room to construct on their strengths.
The identical can’t be stated for the Panthers and Saints. To be truthful, the Panthers are within the midst of an organizational overhaul with Canales and Dan Morgan employed on to be the crew’s head coach and common supervisor, respectively. They’ve made some free-agent signings to stay aggressive, however by being within the early levels of a rebuild, it could take a few years earlier than they turn out to be a risk within the division.
For the Saints, it stays to be seen how a lot better the crew can get. A core that when had 4 playoff appearances of their very own from 2017-2020 is simply getting older, whereas they’ve been mired in wage cap constraints for years which has solely made it tougher to retain younger expertise and hit the reset button.
That leaves the Falcons, who’re coming off three consecutive 7-10 seasons, as the largest risk standing within the Bucs’ approach.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins – Picture by: USA Right this moment
There isn’t any query they’ve improved their offense, with Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore becoming a member of a gaggle that already boasts latest prime picks Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. Including Raheem Morris, Zac Robinson, and Jimmy Lake to guide the teaching workers have every been thought to be optimistic strikes, nevertheless it stays to be seen how all of those shifting elements gel collectively.
Placing all of this collectively, the Bucs head into subsequent season within the driver’s seat of the NFC South. Coming off three straight division titles, they nonetheless have loads of key contributors from their 2020 Tremendous Bowl crew with a promising younger core surrounding them.
The Falcons are the crew many are enthusiastic about, however latest seasons have proven that Tampa Bay can maintain their very own and exceed expectations.
