2024 Buccaneers Season Recap
The Buccaneers finished the regular season with a 10-7 record. This was followed by a 23-20 loss to the Washington Commanders in the Wildcard round. Despite the disappointing loss, the Buccaneers season was, for the most part, viewed as a success. The offense thrived under OC Liam Coen. Quarterback Baker Mayfield had a career year, the offensive line ranked among some of the best in the league, and the running game came to life with the addition of Bucky Irving.
The defense had its fair share of struggles throughout the year, especially due to the number of injuries they had to deal with. They did step up in various big moments but generally ranked low in key defensive metrics this season.
It’s hard to be satisfied with anything short of a Super Bowl. However, the Bucs showed lots of talent and grit throughout a season riddled with injuries on both sides of the ball. The question remains: What can they do to take that next leap into contention?
The Liam Coen Debacle:
Coming off the 2024 season, the Buccaneers organization and fans could not have been higher on Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. Undoubtedly, he was a part of the plan for the future in Tampa Bay. They had agreed on a deal that would make Cohen the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL. However, this deal was contingent on him not taking a second interview with Jacksonville for their Head Coaching position. During this time, the Jaguars fired their GM Trent Baalke, which sparked Coen’s re-interest in the job. Shortly after, Liam Coen was announced as the new Head Coach of the Jaguars, leaving Buccaneers fans feeling betrayed.
The New Offensive Coordinator
The Buccaneers took their time finding Coen’s replacement, interviewing several potential suitors. They decided on an in-house name and promoted last year’s pass game coordinator, Josh Grizzard, to the new Offensive Coordinator. Because it was an in-house hire, the offensive system should remain similar to last year’s.
Positions of Need
After their first-round exit to the Washington Commanders, it is clear the Bucs have some holes to fill if they plan on becoming a true Super Bowl contender. However, Jason Licht has done an incredible job filling out this roster in the past couple of years. So, it is not unrealistic for the Buccaneers to be in contention next year. The catch is that the Buccaneers currently have only $1,399,732 in cap space per OTC. Several players, such as Lavonte David, Chris Godwin, K.J. Britt, Anthony Nelson, Ben Bredeson, and others, are pending free agents. Cuts and restructured contracts will certainly be needed this off-season to free up the salary cap situation.
The consensus positions of need for the Bucs going into this offseason include Edge, ILB, CB, and S. Additionally, if they cannot resign, Godwin WR will also be in a position of need. There are other positions that would benefit from an upgrade, but those are the primary 4-5 they need to focus on. Whether it be through free agency, the draft, or trades, there are plenty of valuable assets on the market that the Bucs could target.
Potential Cornerback Targets:
Benjamin Morrison, Jahdae Barron, Charvarius Ward, Byron Murphy
Potential Safety Targets:
Malaki Starks, Xavier Watts, Talanoa Hufanga, Quandre Diggs
Potential ILB Targets:
Jihaad Campbell, Demetrius Knight Jr., Jalon Walker, Ernest Jones,
Potential Edge Targets:
Myles Garrett, Mykel Williams, Jack Sawyer, Chase Young
Potential WR Targets:
Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Tez Johnson, Darius Slayton
Buccaneers Outlook
As I mentioned earlier, restructuring contracts and possibly cuts will be needed to free up cap space. Granted, if they get this done, the Bucs could be in for a big offseason. Coming off a promising season despite multiple injuries, the future looks promising. They have multiple key young pieces locked in for the foreseeable future, along with a great front office.
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