SR’s Fab 5: 10 Bucs Games We Can’t Wait To See

Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that features five things that are on my mind. SR’s Fab 5 is now a quicker read, but still packs a punch. Enjoy!

FAB 1. The Bucs’ 5 Must-See Games This Year

The Bucs’ 2024 schedule with dates and times won’t be released until the middle of May following the NFL Draft, but the team’s opponents have been known since the 2023 season ended following the playoff loss to the Lions. Due to another first-place finish atop the NFC South, Tampa Bay will face a challenging slate of games consisting of six playoff teams, including both of last year’s Super Bowl participants, San Francisco and Kansas City.

Home Opponents

Atlanta Falcons – 7-10
Carolina Panthers – 2-15
New Orleans Saints – 9-8
Baltimore Ravens – 13-4
Denver Broncos – 8-9
Las Vegas Raiders – 8-9
Philadelphia Eagles – 11-6
San Francisco 49ers – 12-5
Washington Commanders – 4-13

Away Opponents

Atlanta Falcons – 7-10
Carolina Panthers – 2-15
New Orleans Saints – 9-8
Dallas Cowboys – 12-5
Detroit Lions – 12-5
Kansas City Chiefs – 11-6
Los Angeles Chargers – 5-12
New York Giants – 6-11

Tampa Bay’s schedule includes nine games at home and eight on the road, and is filled with several must-see games. Now that NFL free agency is winding down and every team has made improvements to its roster, let’s take a look at the Top 5 games we can’t wait to watch this season as the Bucs look to build on their 9-8 season from a year ago. Can Tampa Bay continue to climb the ranks in the NFC toward another Super Bowl appearance? The outcomes of these five games will tell the tale of the 2024 Buccaneers.

1. San Francisco 49ers – Home

Due to Tampa Bay finishing atop the NFC South again, the Bucs will play the 49ers for a third straight year. San Francisco has won the two previous meetings on the West Coast, 35-7 in 2022, and 27-14 last year. This time, the game is in Tampa Bay. Will the third time be the charm for Todd Bowles and Co.?

The Bucs appeared to be narrowing the gap between their team and the 49ers based on the scores of the last two meetings. But San Francisco is still the class of the NFC, winning the NFC West three out of the last five years and posting a 54-29 record during that span, which is best in the conference. San Francisco is 25-9 over the past two seasons and is coming off a loss to Kansas City in the Super Bowl.

Getting a win over San Fran could do wonders for Tampa Bay’s confidence. And a victory would put the NFL on notice that the Bucs are a real force in the NFC this year.

2. Detroit Lions – Away

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

While Todd Bowles had an absolute masterpiece of a game plan against Philadelphia in the team’s Wild Card win, he still hasn’t figured out how to slow down Jared Goff and Detroit. That was evident in two losses to the Lions last year – once at home in Week 6, 20-6, and once on the road in the Divisional playoffs, 31-23.

Goff completed 70% percent of his passes in both games, averaged over 300 yards per outing, and threw for a combined four touchdowns and was not intercepted. Now, the Bucs can extract some revenge for the Lions ending their season with a road win at Detroit. Putting more pressure on Goff and sacking him will be key, and picking him off once or twice would be helpful, too.

If the NFC doesn’t go through San Francisco this year, it could very well go through Detroit. This game, like the 49ers game, will serve as a measuring stick for how much progress the Bucs have made this year.

3. Atlanta Falcons – Home And Away

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield, Jr. and QB Kirk Cousins – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Okay, Atlanta. Let’s see what you’ve got with Kirk Cousins now at quarterback. With the addition of Cousins, the national media are expected to crown the Falcons as NFC South favorites this year. That will only put the Bucs, who have won the division the past three years, in a familiar – and perhaps favorable – role as underdogs once again. Todd Bowles defense has thwarted Cousins in the last two meetings against the Vikings. Will that trend continue?

Cousins’ arrival in Atlanta this offseason has been highly touted by the national media. Just like Derek Carr’s arrival in New Orleans was a year ago. But how did that turn out for the Saints? While New Orleans finished with an identical 9-8 record as Tampa Bay did last season, the Bucs won the division due to a tiebreaker, and Carr wasn’t the difference-maker he was expected to be.

To be fair, the Falcons have won two out of the last three games against the Bucs dating back to the 2022 season finale – and with Desmond Ridder at quarterback. Cousins will make the Falcons offense better, but it’s fair to say that the Bucs have improved this offseason as well. And Liam Coen could be an upgrade over Dave Canales as a play-caller due to his experience.

The debate over which team will rule the NFC South will be settled on the field – twice – this year. And we can’t wait to see it.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Home

Bucs S Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs got revenge for a 25-11 shellacking they took from the Eagles in Week 3 on Monday Night Football with 32-9 beatdown of Philadelphia in the Wild Card playoffs. Will it be the Eagles’ turn to get revenge this year in yet another game in Tampa Bay?

This will also be a revenge game for former Bucs inside linebacker Devin White, who signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Eagles this offseason. Expect White to be highly motivated to play against his old team. And look for the Bucs to try to run the ball right at him, as well as exploit him in pass coverage with play-action that he is susceptible to bite on.

It’s fun to see the old Bucs vs. Eagles rivalry from the Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden days in the early 2000s get restored in modern times. Don’t be surprised to see this contest wind up in primetime as another Monday Night Football game, or perhaps on Sunday night or Thursday night.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Away

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The ultimate measuring stick for any NFL team is getting a shot at the defending Super Bowl champions. Kansas City has won back-to-back Super Bowls and three out of the last five championships. Patrick Mahomes’ only Super Bowl loss came at the hands of Tampa Bay and Todd Bowles’ defense in 2020. Mahomes made the Bucs pay for Super Bowl LV with a 41-31 win at Raymond James Stadium in 2022, but he’d love another shot at lighting up Bowles and his defense.

Winning at Arrowhead Stadium is tough to do, but the Bucs did just that in the team’s last visit. Tampa Bay prevailed at Kansas City, 19-17, in 2016, but the only players left from that team are Mike Evans and Lavonte David. So that victory is long forgotten and essentially meaningless since it happened on a Dirk Koetter-led team.

Arrowhead’s homefield advantage is evident as Kansas City has the claim to playing in the loudest NFL stadium, hitting 142.2 decibels against Tom Brady and the Patriots in 2014. The best way to quiet a crowd on the road is for the Bucs to jump out to an early lead against Mahomes and the Chiefs. But that’s easier said than done, and Tampa Bay’s rebuilt secondary will be in for a challenge against the league’s best QB.

FAB 2. 5 More Intriguing Bucs Games

The next five games may not be the marquee matches like the first five, but there are plenty of intriguing storylines to watch for against this handful of Bucs opponents in 2024.

6. New Orleans Saints – Home And Away

Ex-Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett and Saints QB Derek Carr – Photo by: USA Today

The NFC South team with the biggest chip on its shoulders this year could be New Orleans. With the Bucs getting bragging rights as three-time division champs, and the Falcons likely getting all of the flowery praise from the national media as the likely favorite to win it this year, the Saints will be the forgotten team in the division.

New Orleans inched closer to reclaiming the NFC South crown last year, tying Tampa Bay with a 9-8 record – only to lose due to a tiebreaker. Derek Carr must play better in order for the Saints to take the next step, and Dennis Allen needs to improve upon last year’s record to keep his job as head coach. New Orleans hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2020 and Allen’s seat is getting warmer as he enters his third season in charge.

Todd Bowles is 3-1 against New Orleans since taking over as head coach, and the Bucs swept the Saints in 2022. After getting a 26-9 road win in Week 4 last year, the Saints returned the favor in Week 17 with a 23-13 pummeling in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. Is another split coming between the Bucs and the Saints, or will one team get a sweep?

7. Baltimore Ravens – Home

Ex-Bucs ILB Devin White and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photo by: USA Today

The Ravens and Bucs rarely play each other, and that’s a good thing for Tampa Bay. Baltimore leads the all-time series 5-2, and has won the last five games, including a 27-22 win at Tampa Bay in 2022. The Bucs lost a 10-3 halftime lead – and top pass rusher Shaq Barrett to a season-ending Achilles injury – as Lamar Jackson caught fire in the second half.

The Ravens had the best record in football last year at 13-4, in addition to the NFL MVP in Jackson, who can hurt opponents with his arm or his legs. Baltimore is one of the most balanced teams in the league. Tampa Bay’s young defensive front will be tested to not only stop the Ravens’ potent ground game led by Derrick Henry, but also to pressure and sack the mobile Jackson.

Former Bucs play-caller Todd Monken did a great job with Jackson and the offense in his first year as the Ravens offensive coordinator. It will be quite the chess match between Monken and Todd Bowles in this one.

8. Dallas Cowboys – Away

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs and the Cowboys are set to meet for the fourth time in four years. Although these teams didn’t play each other in 2023, Tampa Bay beat Dallas at home on opening day as the defending Super Bowl champions in 2021, 31-29, and then again to open the 2022 season in Dallas, 19-3. That was Todd Bowles’ first game as Tampa Bay’s head coach.

But the Cowboys got revenge in the 2022 playoffs, hammering the Bucs in Tampa, 31-14, in the Wild Card playoffs in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. That was Tom Brady’s last game in the NFL, as Dak Prescott was the better quarterback that night.

The Cowboys have finished 12-5 in each of the last three seasons under Mike McCarthy, but have struggled in the postseason outside of beating the Bucs in 2022. Dallas has not been active in free agency, so we’ll see if the team is as formidable as usual. This game will be intriguing to watch and could wind up in primetime.

9. Carolina Panthers – Home And Away

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Panthers QB Bryce Young – Photo by: USA Today

Former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales takes over as the Panthers head coach in one of the offseason’s biggest surprise moves. Canales inherits the worst team in football after Carolina went 2-15 last season, and is without a first-round pick this year, which hurts as it would have been the first overall selection.

The reason why the Panthers are without that first-rounder is because they traded up to get quarterback Bryce Young No. 1 overall last year. Canales has worked wonders with QBs in stops in Seattle and Tampa Bay, and it will be interesting to see how much progress he can make in his first year working with Young and the Panthers.

Although the Bucs swept the Panthers last year, it was by narrow margins in both games. Tampa Bay beat Carolina, 21-18, at home and then on the road, 9-0, in Week 18. Baker Mayfield had three potential interceptions dropped at Carolina, and the Panthers had a fourth-quarter touchdown called back, too. If the Bucs want to win the NFC South once again, they’ll need to continue to sweep the Panthers.

10. Washington Commanders – Home

North Carolina QB Drake Maye – Photo by: USA Today

Perhaps no team has been remade more this offseason than the Commanders. After finishing with a 4-13 record in 2023, Washington replaced head coach Ron Rivera with Dan Quinn and has made a ton of moves in free agency to overhaul the roster. Quarterback Sam Howell was traded away, and the Commanders are expected to select either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick.

Left guard Nick Allegretti and center Tyler Biadasz are free agent imports, as are tight end Zach Ertz and running back Austin Ekeler. On defense, new edge rushers Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell will flank defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, while free agents Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu upgrade the linebacking corps.

Washington won’t be the pushover it has been in years past, and it will be interesting to see which top rookie QB leads the Commanders into Tampa Bay for an NFC clash this season. The Bucs faced a slew of rookies and backup QBs last season, and often took advantage of that. But this year’s schedule calls for the team to face more seasoned and elite passers.

FAB 3. Bucs 2024 Offensive Depth Chart

Tampa Bay could very well make another signing before the 2024 NFL Draft, but it seems like general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles might be done in free agency.

The Bucs added a pair of offensive linemen in Sua Opeta, who will compete at left guard, and Ben Bredeson, who will compete at center. Both will bring depth along the interior and raise the floor of Tampa Bay’s backup linemen. The team also re-signed Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield, Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, reserve running back Chase Edmonds, swing tackle Justin Skule and backup quarterback John Wolford.

Let’s examine the Bucs’ current depth chart on offense heading into the draft. Projected starters are in bold and players on the fringe of making the 53-man roster are italics.

QB Baker Mayfield / Kyle Trask / John Wolford
RB Rachaad White / Chase Edmonds / Sean Tucker / Patrick Laird
WR Mike Evans / Rakim Jarrett / Cephus Johnson III
LT Tristan Wirfs / Justin Skule
LG Sua Opeta / Luke Haggard
C Robert Hainsey / Ben Bredeson
RG Cody Mauch / Logan Stenberg
RT Luke Goedeke / Brandon Walton / Silas Dzansi
TE Cade Otton / Payne Durham / Ko Kieft / David Wells / Tanner Taula
SLOT WR Chris Godwin / Deven Thompkins / Raleigh Webb
WR Trey Palmer / Ryan Miller

Bucs WRs Deven Thompkins and Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

Analysis: It will be interesting to see if the Bucs draft a quarterback to develop behind Mayfield and ultimately replace Trask, who is in a contract year, or if they stand pat. New offensive coordinator Liam Coen has worked with Wolford before in L.A. and loves him, so Tampa Bay’s QB room could be set for 2024.

Despite re-signing Edmonds, the Bucs need to address running back in the draft, as there is a big drop off in talent if White goes down with an injury. Tucker is an unknown after getting very little playing time in a disappointing rookie season.

Tampa Bay has the best receiving duo in the league in Evans and Godwin, who moves into the slot this year, but also likes Palmer and Jarrett. Still, with the Bucs expected to deploy more 11 personnel (one back, one tight end, three receivers) in Coen’s offense, Tampa Bay needs to continue to add talent at wide receiver. It’s a rich and deep class at the position, so look for the Bucs to draft at least one next month to challenge Palmer for the WR3 role.

Bucs G Sua Opeta – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs could use an upgrade at tight end, especially from a speed and blocking standpoint. Perhaps new tight ends coach Justin Peelle can help in terms of getting his players to block better. With fewer two tight end sets being used in 2024, Tampa Bay may stand pat at this position and hope its young tight ends improve and mature this offseason. The 2024 draft class is rather weak at the position.

The Bucs are fortunate to have two of the best tackles in the league in Wirfs, a Pro Bowler, and Goedeke, who was the most improved player on the team last year. The interior offensive line needs upgrading through the draft.

Opeta was signed to provide competition at left guard, but in reality, he’s simply a better backup than Aaron Stinnie or Nick Leverett were. Bredeson was signed to compete with Hainsey, as the team would like to find a better center. Look for the Bucs to draft a starting left guard early in the first two rounds, and perhaps draft another lineman in the middle rounds to compete at center and guard.

FAB 4. Buc 2024 Defensive Depth Chart

Now that we’ve taken a look at the offensive depth chart as it currently stands heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, let’s view the Bucs defensive depth chart.

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht concentrated on revamping the secondary in free agency, adding strong safety Jordan Whitehead, a former Buccaneer, outside cornerback Bryce Hall and nickelback Tavierre Thomas. The Bucs also re-signed legendary inside linebacker Lavonte David and reserve nose tackle Greg Gaines, and used the franchise tag on All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Projected starters are in bold and players on the fringe of making the 53-man roster are italics.

OLB YaYa Diaby / Markees Watts
DT Calijah Kancey / Mike Greene / Eric Banks
NT Vita Vea / Greg Gaines
DT Logan Hall / C.J. Brewer / Lwal Uguak
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka / Anthony Nelson / Jose Ramirez
ILB K.J. Britt / J.J. Russell / Vi Jones
ILB Lavonte David / SirVocea Dennis
CB Zyon McCollum / Bryce Hall / Keenan Isaac
CB Jamel Dean / Josh Hayes / Quandre Mosely
NCB Christian Izien / Tavierre Thomas
SS Jordan Whitehead / Kaevon Merriweather
FS Antoine Winfield Jr. / Richard LeCounte III

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson and Bengals QB Joe Burrow – Photo by: USA Today

Analysis: The Bucs made a major move in cutting outside linebacker Shaq Barrett this offseason as his declining production no longer matched his salary. The Bucs are high on Diaby, who led the team in sacks with 7.5 as a rookie. But they need to find a starter on the other side. Tryon-Shoyinka and Nelson are serviceable and entering contract years, so both should be motivated. Watts and Ramirez have shown promise, but can’t be counted on to start in year two. Expect the Bucs to draft another edge rusher in April – likely by the end of Day 2.

Tampa Bay has spent three top draft picks on defensive tackles Vea (2018), Hall (2022) and Kancey (2023). Gaines and Greene return for depth but could use one more defensive tackle. Will the Bucs draft one or re-sign Pat O’Connor after the draft?

Good riddance to inside linebacker Devin White, who signed a cheap one-year, prove-it deal with Philadelphia in free agency after two very inconsistent seasons of play in Tampa Bay. Thankfully, David returns for another season at age 34, and the team has a few in-house candidates to possibly replace White in Britt, Russell and Dennis. But don’t rule out the Bucs adding another inside linebacker in the draft.

Bucs CB Bryce Hall – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have revamped their secondary, trading oft-injured cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Lions for a third-round pick. McCollum will start opposite Dean, and Tampa Bay signed Hall, the former Jets cornerback, to a one-year deal to add competition.

The Bucs could use another outside cornerback for more depth, but the team shored up the nickelback role in free agency. Thomas brings veteran experience from the Texans and will compete with Izien.

Whitehead returns at strong safety, where he’ll team up again with Winfield. Merriweather showed promise as a rookie and offers solid depth. But the Bucs could use another safety for depth and competition for LeCounte, and will likely select one in a deep draft class.

FAB 5. Jason Licht’s 5 Best Trades

Tampa Bay made a significant, pre-draft trade during free agency, dealing starting cornerback Carlton Davis III and a sixth-round pick to Detroit for a third-rounder. To get a third-round pick for an aging cornerback who has trouble staying healthy and coming up with interceptions was actually quite a coup for Bucs general manager Jason Licht.

Licht has made several trades as he enters his 11th season as Tampa Bay’s general manager and getting a third-rounder for Davis one of his better ones. Where does it rank among the others? Here’s my list of the Top 5 trades Licht has made since his arrival in 2014.

1. Moving Up One Spot To Get Future Hall Of Famer Tristan Wirfs

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jason Licht’s best first-round pick was his first ever as Tampa Bay’s general manager in 2014 when the Bucs selected future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans seventh overall. But his second-best first-rounder was Wirfs, whom he selected 13th overall in 2020.

Licht traded a fourth-round pick to San Francisco to move up just one spot to land Wirfs as the Bucs received intel that other teams were trying to trade up ahead of Tampa Bay to select the talented tackle. Why leave it to chance? That would be the best fourth-round pick Licht has ever spent as Wirfs has been a three-time Pro Bowler and is viewed as one of the Top 3 offensive tackles in the league.

At the time, it seemed like a high price to pay to move up one spot. In hindsight, it was a genius move by Licht to get the player he and the Bucs not only wanted, but desperately needed.

2. Stealing Jason Pierre-Paul From The Giants

Licht absolutely fleeced former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman when he stole Pierre-Paul from New York for a third-round pick in 2018. Pierre-Paul was still in his prime at age 29 and would notch 12.5 sacks in his first season in Tampa Bay, ending the team’s double-digit sack drought that began in 2006.

Tampa Bay swapped fourth-round picks in the deal, and New York used that third-round pick to draft defensive tackle B.J. Hill. The Giants’ fourth-rounder was used on quarterback Kyle Lauletta, while the fourth-rounder that the Bucs received was used to trade up to get offensive lineman Alex Cappa in the third round.

Pierre-Paul and Cappa helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV in 2020. In fact, Pierre-Paul was the Bucs’ lone Pro Bowler in the Super Bowl season after he recorded a team-high 9.5 sacks and two interceptions. JPP notched 33 sacks in four seasons in Tampa Bay and was the actual best player Licht has traded for.

3. Getting Rob Gronkowski To Pair With Tom Brady

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This was kind of a no-brainer, but to only give up a fourth-round pick for a future Hall of Fame player who would catch two touchdowns in Super Bowl LV was the definition of fleecing. The Patriots didn’t have much leverage as Gronk could have stayed retired, but New England should have held him hostage for a Day 2 pick in hindsight.

Instead, Licht finagled the 31-year old tight end out of the Patriots’ clutches, using the good relationship he had formed with head coach Bill Belichick while previously working in New England to get the deal done. Gronkowski would only play two seasons with Brady in Tampa Bay, but he caught 100 passes for 1,425 yards (14.3 avg.) and 13 touchdowns in the regular season in red and pewter and helped win Super Bowl LV.

4. Dealing Carlton Davis III For A Third-Rounder

Tampa Bay was getting frustrated with the oft-injured Davis, who missed nine games due to nagging injuries since signing a three-year contract extension in 2021. Davis has never played every game in a season in his six years with the Bucs, missing a total of 22 starts. And when he was on the field, he rarely created takeaways, notching just four interceptions over the last three years.

The Bucs were going to release Davis to save over $6 million in cap space in a cap-cutting move if they couldn’t find a trading partner. Instead, Licht can now acquire another player with the pick obtained from dealing Davis, or he can use that third-round pick to move up in the draft to get a draft target – perhaps in the first round.

5. Getting A Starting CB In Zyon McCollum For A Fourth-Rounder

Ask Licht and he’ll tell you how excited he was to pull off this trade for McCollum. He and head coach Todd Bowles had targeted the long, athletic cornerback in the 2022 draft. And when the Bucs didn’t have a fifth-round pick to draft McCollum, Licht traded a fourth-round pick in 2023 to Jacksonville for the Jaguars’ fifth-rounder to select him, in addition to acquiring a seventh-round pick.

So, it essentially cost the Bucs a fourth-round pick to come away with the most athletic cornerback in draft history, according to Kent Lee Platte’s RAS (Relative Athletic Score) site. And the fact that McCollum is slated to start in his third season, replacing Davis, shows you how confident the team is in the young cornerback.

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