Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2023 season: 9-8, won NFC South, lost in divisional round
Overview: Tampa Bay’s gamble on Baker Mayfield worked out, as the journeyman quarterback threw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions and led the Bucs to an NFC South title and the divisional round.
Now, the Bucs have some work to do to keep this group together. Mayfield is a free agent, as is star receiver Mike Evans and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., not to mention other aging but impactful contributors to their recent success. The ceiling with Mayfield under center may not be through the roof, but it’s hard to see better options at this point for the Bucs than running it back, capitalizing on what still appears to be a weak NFC South and seeing where that shakes out.
They’ll be doing so without offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who was hired as the new head coach of the division rival Carolina Panthers. But otherwise, things might look pretty similar in 2024 in Tampa, which isn’t a bad thing.
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
Key free agents
QB Baker Mayfield
WR Mike Evans
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
LB Lavonte David
LB Devin White
G Aaron Stinnie
DT Greg Gaines
G Matt Feiler
Who’s in/out: Mayfield and Evans appear to be in the Bucs’ plans going forward. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield “most definitely has” earned the right to return in 2024, while general manager Jason Licht said Evans spending his whole career in Tampa Bay “would mean everything for the franchise, ownership, all of us.” Evans had 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns receiving last season, extending his own record of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career, and even with a hometown discount, the Bucs would have to pay up to retain him. Winfield, meanwhile, is reportedly a likely candidate for the franchise tag should Tampa Bay opt to use it. He’s blossomed into one of the NFL’s premier defensive backs, and the Bucs figure to prioritize getting a longer deal done to keep him.
Will Baker Mayfield and…
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Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-02-23 01:44:08
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