Just How Close Are The Bucs To Becoming A Top Contender?

The Bucs exceeded expectations during the 2023 season, making it to the divisional round before losing to the Lions, 31-23. While this past year should be considered an overall success, how close is the team to competing for the Lombardi Trophy?

What moves need to be made to get there? That is where the waters get a bit more murky.

Bucs Are Headed On The Right Track

Now that teams are entering the offseason, it is time to gameplan how to reload and remain competitive for as long as possible. While there are pieces in place, the Bucs have some work to do.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently went over how all 32 NFL teams rank from being top contenders to undergoing full-on rebuilds (ESPN+ subscription required). Tampa Bay is on a solid trajectory, ranking 15th overall and grouped under the tier “headed on the right track.”

Here is Fowler’s reasoning behind his ranking:

“Tampa belongs in this category thanks to four consecutive playoff appearances. The Bucs will need to spend as they try for a fifth straight appearance. Yes, re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield is crucial, and both sides are open to that. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs is one of the NFL’s best players at a premium position and hits free agency in 2025; extending him at a huge clip is a no-brainer. Then there’s receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

“Both players delivered big in contract years. Evans wants to retire a Buc, but the team will need to strike a deal worth well above $20 million per year to assure he does. Some around the league predict Tampa Bay will franchise-tag Winfield, one of the best all-around safeties, at around $17 million. Could Tampa look to trade corner Carlton Davis III, who’s due $14 million in base salary next season? He has missed 16 games over the past two years but is a cover corner who would have a market.”

Each of these serves as a big contractual issue for the team to solve to keep their current ranking. Initial signs suggest that Mayfield, Wirfs, Evans, and Winfield are more likely than not to receive new contracts and stay in town. In Mayfield and Evans’ case, it would mean reaffirming their commitments after testing the free-agent waters, which can prove unpredictable.

Wirfs can play out this season on his fifth-year option, but both sides would surely like to lock him up on a big deal to keep him as the anchor on the offensive line. The same goes for Winfield, but they can also choose to franchise tag him to keep him in town if need be.

While all these moves would need to happen to keep the Bucs competitive, how does Tampa Bay go about competing against the Juggernauts? More moves remain to be made.

Bucs Have More Work To Do To Become A Top Contender

When looking at teams like the Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens, and Lions whom Jeremy Fowler listed as all being “major contenders,” it is evident that the Bucs have some work to do. Of course, there will be debate on whether Baker Mayfield can be the quarterback of a Super Bowl-caliber team. Looking at the team-building strategy of other teams though, there is a blueprint to having success.

Take the Lions for instance.

The same argument could be made for Jared Goff, and while he had a better season than Mayfield in terms of statistics and wins, both sides of the ball in Detroit were strong enough to support Goff and elevate his play. That is where general manager Jason Licht can work his magic and attempt to do the same.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Adam Slivon/PR

Both free agency and the NFL Draft are the ways to get there, and while bringing in free agents can help fill in the gaps, the bread and butter of team-building comes through drafting and developing homegrown talent. It would serve the Bucs well to find a bonafide edge rusher, and two top options this go-round are Florida State’s Jared Verse, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, and Alabama’s Dallas Turner – should they fall to No. 26.

If not, the best hope is either finding another draft steal like YaYa Diaby was in the third round last year, or striking gold again and landing another Shaq Barrett on a low-risk, high-reward contract in free agency. As well as acquiring a transformative edge rusher, it goes without saying that football games are won and lost in the trenches.

There are stars on both lines, but there is always a need for more firepower. Sticking with the defense, adding another top talent to pair with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey could help drastically. Although the Bucs have spent their last two top draft picks on defensive linemen (Logan Hall and Kancey), it is one position where you can never have enough talent. On offense, landing a left guard and center are two of the biggest areas to improve to give the quarterback the best chance to succeed.

Otherwise, supplementing the skill positions with more playmakers on both sides of the ball would help the team sneak out a few more wins. Whether that is finding another offensive weapon at wide receiver and/or tight end or another ballhawk in the secondary, these are additional needs that will need to be addressed.

How Tampa Bay goes about adding to their roster is something that Pewter Report will continue to cover in the coming weeks prior to free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft, but when looking at this roster, what moves do you think the Bucs should make to truly take the team to the upper echelons of contention status?

Share your thoughts below.