The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2024 roster still has a lot of holes, as general manager Jason Licht noted at his pre-draft news conference on Thursday. In fact, he implied that this was a good thing, since a team that qualified for the 2023 playoffs and made it that far could be even better with a few major signings. In response to a particular question regarding positions like receiver, offensive line, edge rusher, and cornerback, Licht acknowledged that a quality talent at any of those spots would be highly alluring in the first round.
Naturally, Licht said that it was not feasible to address every team’s demand in a single selection. Luckily, Licht will have freedom on draft weekend thanks to the Buccaneers’ string of important re-signs (Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Lavonte David, et al.) and outside additions.
The Bucs have two new starting prospects in Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta, but they still have a need to fill at left guard, which they may target early in the draft. With the transfer of Carlton Davis to Detroit, the Bucs’ depth at cornerback was compromised, but they now have alternatives and numbers at that position thanks to the additions of Tavierre Thomas and Bryce Hall. A less urgent problem at receiver is Evans’ new multi-year contract.
Right now, the biggest variable influencing the Bucs’ draft needs was the situation surrounding quarterback Baker Mayfield—specifically, if he would stay in the NFL after his impressive comeback season in 2023 or find a new team. The Bucs were effectively eliminated from the group of clubs that were obviously interested in drafting a quarterback early in the draft when he did agree to a three-year contract to stay in Tampa.
But did the Bucs simply push that conversation to a another year and hide the quarterback column on their draft board? That’s one of our post-licht media meeting pre-draft thoughts.
In 2024, Mayfield is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Bucs for at least three more years after they fell in love with him in 2023. Mayfield brought the Bucs back to the post-Tom Brady era and made career highs in his debut season in Tampa, finishing with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes. He also placed sixth in the league in EPA per pass play. There would be no instant competition for a starting position for any quarterback the Bucs added.
In addition, Kyle Trask, a quarterback selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2021 draft, is a developmental project.
Trask, who is about to reach the final season of his rookie deal, hasn’t had many opportunities to play during the regular season though. Additionally, Tampa Bay re-signed John Wolford, the third quarterback, who is respected for his efforts as an extra coach in the meeting room in addition to his NFL starting experience. The Bucs would be more than happy to stick with the same trio that they used in 2024 as they did the previous year.
Still, the Bucs scouts aren’t taking a year off from their analysis of passers.
Licht stated, “We examine every quarterback.” “We examine the quarterbacks for a considerable amount of time. It would be incorrect to argue that we wouldn’t take a quarterback; you could take one and later be happy that you did. We currently enjoy our accommodation, although we have looked at them all already or will do so soon. This year’s candidates are a little too dominant, but occasionally we will choose someone because we like them or, as I mentioned before, because we believe they are the best candidate for a board post.”
