The Pewter Plank
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3 Buccaneers with who are trending downward

By Cory Kinnan

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Leonard Floyd #94 of the Chicago Bears rushes against Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers 48-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Leonard Floyd #94 of the Chicago Bears rushes against Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers 48-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 26: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks to Donovan Smith #76 during warm ups prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 26: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks to Donovan Smith #76 during warm ups prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

LT Donovan Smith

The Buccaneers re-signed a number of players this year, but the most expensive among them were left tackle Donovan Smith. This offseason Tampa Bay and the fifth year starter out of Penn State agreed to a three year extension worth $13 million annually after Smith has not missed a start in four years with the team.

Thus far in camp, Smith has some massive blunders that have been caught on tape, including eating a bull rush from teammate Noah Spence on the first day of practice, missing a block against the Dolphins, and completely falling over on another rep in last week’s game. After giving up around the most in the entire league in quarterback pressures since 2015, Smith has not exactly shown great signs of correcting that issue thus far.

This is of the most concern for the Buccaneers moving forward for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, the Buccaneers have invested a ton of money into Smith to be their left tackle moving forward. Secondly, this is a make-or-break year for the Buccaneers that could lead to a rebuild if it does not go well.

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After an offseason of worrying about the right guard position, left tackle may be the weakest link along the Buccaneers’ offensive front. Smith is written in the depth chart with permanent marker as the Buccaneers’ starting left tackle, but his struggles from previous years are seemingly carrying over are alarming to say the least.

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