The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take the field Sunday afternoon against the Washington Commandeers as they kick off the 2024 season.
After four preseason games, OTA’s, and mini-camp practices, we are finally ready to see what this Buccaneers team will look like this season.
After signing for another three years with the Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield returns as the starting quarterback. Coming off the best season of his career, Mayfield passed for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns.
Mayfield also led the Buccaneers to the NFC South title his first season in Tampa, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in a home playoff game and then losing in a divisional matchup on the road to the Detroit Lions.
Mayfield will try to lead the Buccaneers to their fourth straight division title, but that may be a tough challenge, as the Atlanta Falcons are a team on the rise in the NFC South and are the “sexy” pick to unseat the Buccaneers.
Mayfield will have his usual stable of receivers to throw to, with a dynamite rookie, Jalen McMillan, in the mix who will make his name known nationally sooner rather than later.
Mike Evans signed a new deal, and Chris Godwin will return for what could be his final season in Tampa, as he is in the final year of his contract.
The starter at running back, Rachaad White, who just missed 1,000 yards rushing last season, finishing with 976 yards, has set a personal goal to run for 1,000 yards this season.
The team suffered a blow at running back when Chase Edmonds was placed on the IR and will miss the entire season.
The rookie from Oregon, Bucky Irving, will spell White with help from second-year back Sean Tucker.
Big things are expected from Irving as a rookie this season, both as a runner and receiver.
In the final preseason tuneup against Miami, the Buccaneers averaged 4.0 yards on the ground. This may seem insignificant to some, but after averaging 3.4 yards per carry the last two seasons, this puts a smile on the faces of Buccaneer fans everywhere.
The offensive line received a makeover, as two new players will have starting roles that were not on the club last season.
Rookie Graham Barton from Duke beat out Ron Hainsey for the starting center position, and Ben Bredeson, who played with Dallas last season, will start at left guard.
The defensive line will see a new look with a slimmed-down Vita Vea, who has lost significant weight. The Bucs felt that Vea, who played at 347 last season, was slowing him down and preventing him from reaching his potential.
Two seasons ago, Vea had a career-high 6.5 sacks, with 31 tackles and 7 TFL. Last season, those numbers dropped off as he battled toe, pec, and groin injuries.
The Buccaneers hope that a slimmed-down Vea will help put those nagging injuries behind him while helping get his production back up to the 2022 levels.
Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, and William Gholston also return along the defensive line for Tampa.
The linebacker position is where the Buccaneers experienced the most change.
Devin White signed with Philadelphia. The team drafted Chris Braswell from Alabama, who is expected to make a significant impact immediately.
KJ Britt returns after his breakout 2023 season and will line up next to old faithful Lavonte David, who is returning for his 12th season with the Buccaneers.
It’s “put up or shut up” time for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who has been a disappointment so far during his time in Tampa and could be playing his last season with the Buccaneers.
YaYa Diaby will start as an outside linebacker, with Anthony Nelson, Markees Watts, and Jose Ramirez adding depth.
JJ Russell and Sirvocea Dennis will spell David and Britt on the inside.
In the secondary, the Buccaneers brought home Antoine Winfield Jr., signing him to a four-year, 84 million deal.
Jordan Whitehead starts opposite Winfield Jr. to form one of the NFL’s best safety duos.
Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum will handle the cornerback spots.
Tykee Smith, the rookie from Georgia, edged out second-year player Christien Izien from Rutgers for the starting nickel back spot.
Izien had a solid first half in 2023 but struggled as the season unfolded.
Trey Palmer beat out rookie Cam Johnson to win the punt returner job. Johnson, a rookie from Barton College, came to camp as an undrafted free agent and had a good training camp.
But after the final preseason game, Todd Bowles decided that Palmer would be better in that role. Rookie Bucky Irving will handle the kick-return duties.
One surprise on special teams was the team cutting long-snapper Zach Triner and giving the job to undrafted free agent Evan Deckers.
On the 2024 Buccaneers, 44 of the 53 players were either signed and developed by the Buccaneers or drafted by the Bucs.
All seven draft picks in the 2024 draft made the final 53-man roster. 22 of 23 draft picks over the last three drafts have made the team.
That is an excellent job of scouting, drafting, and developing talent, yet no one even mentions Jason Licht for GM of the Year.
There are two things that I am predicting for this Buccaneers team this season. They will make the playoffs for the fourth year and win their third straight NFC South division title.
Although the Falcons have improved their roster, and many predict they will dethrone the Bucs in the NFC South, the Buccaneers will still stand tall as NFC South Champions at the end of the 2024 season.