Buccaneers: 4 players entering make-or-break seasons
By Ryan Doyle
There are multiple players on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who need tremendous seasons to stick with the franchise beyond 2018.
For nearly the entire organization, the 2018 campaign is of the make-or-break variety. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell on their face last season, they have become an afterthought and are consistently projected to finish last in a talented NFC South division.
General manager Jason Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter are both on the hot seat. Licht and Koetter have been a tandem since 2015, and although they almost made the playoffs in 2016, many believe they are back to square one entering a pivotal season.
The team will be without Jameis Winston for three weeks, and the defensive side of the ball is still a significant concern. The stench of the 2017 season hasn’t been wiped off of this team yet. Things may get worse with the gauntlet of a schedule facing the franchise to open up the season.
Another last-place finish could result in an organizational overhaul. The team could be looking for a new head coach, general manager and even a quarterback.
While the doomsday situation may seem a little extreme, there is indeed a path that could lead Tampa Bay towards disaster in 2018.
The Buccaneers roster is full of players who are also trying to stick with the organization. Former top draft picks need to live up to the hype, and expensive free agents need to prove they are worth all the money the Buccaneers dished out to them.
Here are four players who are entering make-or-break seasons with the Bucs.