NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like they were true contenders this season. However, their season ended earlier than expected. How can the team take steps forward to be a competitor in the NFC in 2025?
Let’s be honest here. The Bucs outplayed their expectations in 2024, but they also feel like they didn’t live up to their potential. With a 10-7 finish and a divisional lead to finish the season, where they fell short was the postseason. As a fan, you have to be happy with the season. Sure, you can be upset they fell short if you want, but this team showed that it’s built for the long haul. Fans were wondering what Tampa Bay would look like post-Tom Brady should be more than happy with what they got in Baker Mayfield.
Baker finished 2024 with 4500 yards passing, 71% completion percentage, 41 TDs, and just 16 interceptions. Could he have cut the turnovers down to single digits, sure. However, when a QB has 40 sacks in a season, you have to realize he’s throwing under plenty of pressure and was, more often than not, able to find the open WR.
What’s even crazier about this is just how lopsided the receptions were. Seven receivers for the Bucs were targeted at least 50 times which includes Chris Godwin who only played 7 games due to injury. Yet, only Mike Evans hit the 1,000-yard plateau while the next closest was Cade Otton with 600-yards. Defenders had to know it was going to Evans on big plays and still couldn’t stop it. Mayfield threw for 4,500 yards despite the largest chunk being to one guy.
That has to speak volumes. If the Buccaneers can get another WR who can step in and get closer to 1,000 yards they’d have a pretty good shot at being dominant. Chris Godwin was on his way before getting hurt and that was a setback for Tampa Bay. If they can hit on one more playmaker in the draft, say at the tight end position or a spark plug WR, this offense will be truly rolling. While Otton had 600 yards receiving, he managed just 4 TDs. Tampa Bay’s offense was built on spreading the ball out to get Evans open. If they can get that type of threat out of a second weapon next season and get a red zone threat, Tampa Bay will be scary.
Their offense is stacked. Any other team that relied that heavily on a key playmaker, and they end up being one-dimensional, but not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A spark on offense and build a dominating defense and the Bucs might be harder to beat next year than they were in 2024.
