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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Preview
It's no secret that the Bucs had an incredibly good season. Their first above .500 record since 2010 and their first trip to the playoffs since 2007 back when Jon Gruden was still the head coach. First year head coach Dirk Koetter had this team rolling all season long and even started the year off with 6 straight wins. The team finished the year with a 12-4 record and despite the division rival Falcons having the same record, it was good enough for a first round bye. Even though the Bucs' playoff run was stopped in the last seconds of the Super Bowl against the Patriots, people in Tampa should be very excited about this team for years to come.
Now on to the actual offseason part of this piece. Despite the success the Bucs there are a few holes that this team will need to fill. Cornerback Brent Grimes and linebacker Daryl Smith both retired. The team planned on letting Smith test free agency but they wanted Grimes to pair with Vernon Hargeaves at corner and his retirement shut down that plan. Grimes did tear his pectoral in week 1 against Atlanta and missed the entire season so the defense managed to allow the least points in the NFL without him on the field. Josh Robinson did a fine job stepping in as the number 2 corner when Grimes went down as he was 2nd on the team in interceptions with 5. With that being said, one of Tampa's main needs in the offseason will be defensive backs. Ideally they would like Robinson to be their nickel corner and want to target another quality player to pair with Hargreaves as their 1-2. Donte Whitner and Chris Conte, both strong safeties on the roster will not be returning for the next season so the Bucs will need to find some new safeties as well. Bradley McDougald has solidified his spot as the starting FS when he finished 2nd in the league in INTs with 7 and was the runner up in the NFC's best DB award. The hard hitting Major Wright could compete for the starting SS spot but look for Tampa to go after some depth at safety as well as corner in free agency and the draft.
Right now it's looking like Tampa will head into the offseason with 2 WRs on their roster. Possibly 3 if they decide to keep Kenny Bell as their returner. Mike Evans is a huge part to this team and Vincent Jackson was re-signed mid season so they'll be returning. Brian Hartline, Adam Humphries and Louis Murphy will not be though. Hartline did a solid job as the slot receiver but the Bucs want to re-tool their depth at the position. I would expect them to go after receivers in the mid rounds of the draft and possibly sign a player or two in free agency. They could seek help outside of those two options and make a trade as well. For what it's worth I think Washington's John Ross, Eastern Washington's Cooper Kupp, North Carolina's Ryan Switzer or Oregon's Devon Allen are all targets for the Bucs. Expect 1 of them to be rocking a Buccaneers jersey come next season.
The other two needs I would expect the Bucs to address would be their defensive and their offensive lines. Tampa runs a 4-3 defense and Clinton McDonald is not the long term solution as the 2nd starting DT beside Gerald McCoy. This could be a position they want to go after in the draft but I think it's more likely to see Tampa spend some money in free agency to solidify that defensive line. I would also expect them to pick up a speed rusher or two at defensive end as they would like to have some more speed on the ends this year. Noah Spence, last year's 2nd round pick, will contribute there as well. As far as the offensive line goes, Ali Marpet at RG and Donovan Smith at LT are the guys they want to build around on the line. Sweezy played well at LG as well as Smith at C but Tampa does want to get some more depth at OL. They are going to have to replace RT Demar Dotson as he will not be returning to the team. Dan Skipper out of Arkansas is someone they've scouted quite a bit at tackle as well as Zach Banner from Southern Cal at guard. Tampa's front office loves big lineman and both of these guys are mammoths among men.
