There are weapons all over the field offensively for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the national media is taking attention.
In one article posted by Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, he ranked every NFL starting quarterback’s supporting cast heading into the 2019 season. Surprisingly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their playmakers around Jameis Winston were ranked around the middle of the pack as the 17th best group in the league.
While the Buccaneers may have lost security blanket Adam Humphries to the Tennessee Titans in free agency and traded away DeSean Jackson for a sixth round pick, they still return a high powered group at the receiver position. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are developing into one of the better one-two punches in the entire league, and they added former first round pick Breshad Perriman, who finally seems to have put it together.
The Buccaneers also drafted Bowling Green wide receiver Scotty Miller with the pick they acquired for Jackson, and signed three undrafted free agents in Anthony Johnson, DaMarkus Lodge, and Xavier Ubosi. Tampa Bay is pretty set at the receiver position entering Winston’s contract season.
More from The Pewter Plank
- Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
- ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
- Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
- Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
- The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
"“Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is probably facing a make-or-break option year as 2020 free agency looms. The good news is he should continue to benefit from one of the best pass-catching groups in the league” (Gagnon via Bleacher Report)."
Gagnon does mention that the running game in Tampa Bay is lacking, and the team did nothing to improve upon it. While this is true, the Buccaneers are showing faith in Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones II moving forward and hoping a change in blocking scheme will open up some lanes.
The Buccaneers may have one of, if not the best tight end rooms in the league as well with two proven pass catchers in O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. With the NFL leaning towards a two tight end norm, the Buccaneers are more than set at the position.
"“They should have done more to address the running game, and they’ll miss Humphries as a potential security blanket. Still, Evans is a dominant force, and those tight ends will make Winston’s life a lot easier. Altogether, this unit belongs in the middle of the pack” (Gagnon via Bleacher Report)."
Overall, not too shabby of a ranking for a team that has finished 5-11 in back-to-back seasons. Should Winston put it all together in his contract season, the rest of the NFC South could be staring down the barrel of a high-powered Buccaneers offense.