It has reached the purpose of the offseason the place every workforce has carried out most of their heavy lifting to assemble subsequent season’s squad after free company and the NFL Draft. Whereas smaller strikes can nonetheless be made, there’s now a a lot better sense of how every workforce shapes up and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
That features the Bucs.
This was not solely the topic of debate on Wednesday’s Pewter Report Podcast, however ESPN’s Aaron Schatz additionally went over every workforce’s greatest roster gap as issues stand now. His place of alternative is one you could not anticipate at first look.
Bucs’ Greatest Roster Weak spot Is An Fascinating Alternative
Aaron Schatz listed the slot large receiver place because the Bucs’ greatest roster weak spot, which is an fascinating alternative after listening to what large receivers coach Bryan McClendon needed to say about who’s going to be enjoying the place throughout Monday’s offensive coach press conferences.
Right here was Schatz’s evaluation of the place being thought-about a weak spot:
Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Just like the Vikings, the Buccaneers have two stars on the outdoors large receiver positions and questions on their third spot. Trey Palmer ranked 79th in DVOA amongst qualifying wideouts final 12 months, with simply 385 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The spot would possibly as a substitute go to rookie third-round decide Jalen McMillan (Washington), who is aware of a factor or two about sharing the highlight with two different star receivers. Additional down on the depth chart, Deven Thompkins had a decrease receiving DVOA than Palmer final 12 months, and everybody else is an undrafted free agent in his second season.
He does record Chris Godwin as being the opposite star outdoors large receiver reverse Mike Evans, though McClendon all however confirmed that Godwin shall be getting probably the most run on the within to start out subsequent season. His case does maintain some validity although when contemplating that Tampa Bay has but to seek out a longtime third large receiver.
Bucs Nonetheless Want To Discover Out Which Younger WR Will Stand Out
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photograph courtesy of Washington
Trey Palmer confirmed flashes final season enjoying above his sixth-round draft place, however there have been additionally moments the place Palmer didn’t haul in deep passes to alter the momentum of video games and struggled to carry onto the ball at occasions. There may be nonetheless hope he can open issues up in offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense as a deep menace, however third-round rookie Jalen McMillan shall be getting the primary alternative at hauling in passes from Baker Mayfield and contributing on offense because the third goal.
As Schatz alluded to, he’s going from enjoying with Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk at Washington to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay. That ought to assist his adjustment interval becoming inside the offense wherever essential.
With Godwin taking up extra of a throwback function which is able to permit him to get his touches, the Bucs are absolutely hoping that McMillan or Palmer can step up and be an integral a part of the 11 personnel units that shall be a staple of the offense.
If not, that may be a place the workforce might battle to fill, because the room lacks one other veteran and has chosen to depend on youth to fill out the depth chart. Nonetheless, when wanting over the roster, ought to the third large receiver spot be thought-about the largest want?
Do The Bucs Have A Larger Roster Weak spot Than WR?
Each the inside offensive line and outdoors linebacker have been the largest wants for the Bucs going into the offseason.
The workforce did effectively in addressing every place, particularly by including 4 new inside offensive linemen, headlined by first-round decide Graham Barton. The left guard spot stays up for grabs, however the hope is that Ben Bredeson, Sua Opeta, or Elijah Klein can acquire a beginning foothold on it. The skin linebacker room additionally wanted starting-caliber reinforcements, and the Bucs added a mix of youth and expertise by including Chris Braswell within the second spherical and Randy Gregory in free company.
As issues stand proper now, it stays to be seen what the largest weaknesses are on the roster, however the Bucs tried their finest to plug up the holes to make sure their ship can float and make one other expedition towards successful the NFC South in 2024.
