The 2024 season saw significant improvement for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers that already had a high floor following their 2023 campaign. The Baker Mayfield experiment has excelled for the Bucs who finished with top-five marks in both rushing and passing this season.
However, Liam Coen’s departure will present another hurdle for Mayfield and this group. They will work with their third different offensive coordinator in the last three seasons.
Luckily, newly appointed offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will be a familiar face once he steps into the role though he has a high standard to live up to once he puts on the headset.
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Grizzard and the Bucs also have some pressing roster questions heading into the offseason. While Tampa Bay’s offense did flourish in 2024, they will need to coordinate the necessary adjustments, specifically at wide receiver, to carry over that success.
Mike Evans comes off another historical season, but his climbing age is becoming a minor concern. The more pressing matters involve the team’s No. 2 in Chris Godwin who is set to hit free agency following a gruesome injury that ended his season.
Tampa Bay has expressed interest in bringing him back, but that may be a hard ask given the money they have tied up on other players. The Bucs could find a solution to their wide receiver questions through the NFL Draft.
Following the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl, ESPN’s Matt Miller has released his latest projections and has the Bucs selecting Luther Burden III out of Missouri at pick 19. Despite some questions on what he can provide, Burden’s upside will be very enticing for NFL teams. especially built like Tampa Bay.
“He’s a case of ‘what can he do?’ versus ‘what has he done?’ And scouts will no doubt go back and forth on the answer to those questions. If Tampa Bay schemes him early touches as he develops his route running, Burden would be a special No. 2 receiver from the get-go.”
Looking at the Bucs’ depth chart at wideout, they found solid production from Jalen McMillan at the tail-end of the season. He is not yet ready to shoulder the responsibility of consistent No. 1 or No. 2 on a contending team.
If Burden delivers on that billing, he has the capacity to be that player.
