The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several important decisions to make during the 2020 offseason. Here are 10 keys to success.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several important decisions looming during the 2020 offseason.
The Buccaneers will need to make decisions on what to do with unrestricted free-agents, as well as how to handle the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here’s a look at 10 keys to a successful offseason for the Buccaneers.
10. Give Shaq Barrett long-term extension
The first key is pretty simple: Pay Shaq Barrett.
Barrett proved to be the best edge-rusher in the NFL last season, setting franchise records and earning a Pro Bowl bid, and he deserves to be paid.
Not only is Barrett a talented edge-rusher, he has expressed a love for the Buccaneers which is something you don’t necessarily see a lot in small markets. He’s a special talent and one that the Bucs absolutely cannot afford to let go.
The Buccaneers need to lock in Barrett for a long-term deal to keep him in Tampa Bay and that will be the first step to a successful offseason.
9. Re-sign Pierre-Paul
Much like Barrett, Tampa Bay needs to get a deal done with Jason Pierre-Paul.
JPP totaled 24 tackles, including 8.5 sacks, over the course of the season and was integral part of that Buccaneers front-seven for the past two years.
Bruce Arians expressed his desire to keep that front-seven together and two pieces Tampa Bay can’t afford to let walk are Barrett and Pierre-Paul.
He’s shown development and the plus-side with a guy like JPP is that the best is yet to come.
8. Empower the youth
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finally in position to make a reasonable run to the playoffs.
The Bucs have missed the playoffs 12-straight seasons and it’s been a long drought as the franchise has attempted to return to prominence.
Well, the 2020 season could be different and one of the main reasons why is the youth that was developed during 2019.
Guys like Devin White, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean and Mike Edwards, to name a few, need to be empowered to take that next step from being a rookie to becoming a veteran. It’s a short turnaround, but that’s the way the Buccaneers reach the next level. They grow with the youth.
Over the offseason, Tampa needs to find ways to empower those youth to feel like this is their organization and that they want to be here long-term for success.
7. Make right decision on Suh
I’m not here to tell you what the right decision is Ndamukong Suh at this point.
Arians said that Suh would be the third-highest priority in terms of free-agents this offseason on the defensive side of the ball- just behind Barrett and Pierre-Paul.
Suh was loved by the Tampa Bay faithful and had a productive season along that interior defensive line, but this is a two-way street.
If Suh wants to stay in Tampa Bay, he needs to accept a reasonable deal and that’s not likely to be the $9.25 million that he received last season. If he’s wanting to seek money and a higher contract, the Buccaneers need to part ways.
Being wise and knowing what to pay Suh and, maybe even more importantly, what not to pay him will be as important a decision as any for the Buccaneers.
6. Fill the holes in free agency
Look for Tampa Bay to explore options when it comes to free agency.
The Buccaneers could use safety help. Perhaps a guy like Devin McCourty would be a great option?
Tampa Bay may consider bringing in another running back or addressing the defensive line with a cheaper option than Suh. There may be an offensive lineman or two that the organization chooses to bring in.
They’ve got decisions to make with unrestricted free agents who could stay with the organization, as well as those who could join. I’d really like to see some answers at spots in the roster- particularly safety, defensive line and offensive line- before we even approach the draft.
5. Tag Jameis Winston
This is a controversial topic to say the least when it comes to the fanbase.
A portion of the fanbase wants to part ways and a portion wants to continue with Jameis Winston. At this point, I believe the best option is to use the franchise tag on Winston, bring him in for another year and hope that he can clean up the interception total.
Though there are some talented options in free-agency at quarterback, it’s not likely that Tampa Bay signs any of them and most wouldn’t be significant upgrades to Winston.
He has shown a high upside and, hopefully, he could make the jump in Year 2 of Arians’ system.
4. Draft an OT in the first-round
If the Buccaneers choose to part ways with Suh, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to see them come away with a guy like Javon Kinlaw.
That being said, I still think the way to go is to address the offensive tackle position in the first-round.
Getting a player like Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs or Andrew Thomas would give the Buccaneers more consistency on the edges of that offensive line and immediate relief for that line.
Go ahead and address that issue and get a talented, potential Pro Bowler for the future.
3. Win big in the second-round
The second-round may be one of the most important rounds of the draft for the Buccaneers.
There are a couple of guys who could potentially fall to the Bucs in the second-round and would be big-time options.
Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins has been linked the Buccaneers in the second round. That would be a huge pick-up. We’ve also seen guys like RB Jonathan Taylor, RB Najee Harris and several other linked to Tampa Bay.
For the Buccaneers to continue to improve, the organization has to win big in the second-round, especially with the depth of talent in this draft.
2. Draft defensive line, defensive backs later
If the Buccaneers somehow miss out on the four top offensive tackles in the first-round, they’ll likely address the defensive tackle or safety position with the No. 14 overall pick.
A guy like LSU Safety Grant Delpit or South Carolina DL Javon Kinlaw could be perfect options at that point.
However, if the Bucs do get their offensive lineman early and then they address the running back position in the second-round with an explosive name, you can certainly expect them to draft defensive line and secondary members later in the draft.
An absolute perfect third-round selection would be Ohio State’s DaVon Hamilton. Hamilton was a force with the Buckeyes and is one of the most NFL-ready players that will be taken in the mid-rounds.
1. Address the running game
No matter what, Tampa Bay has to address the running game this offseason.
Obviously, the Buccaneers need to get Ronald Jones more carries. But outside of him, it’d be extremely helpful to either draft or sign a running back who could make an explosive impact.
That’s not taking a shot at Peyton Barber, it’s just that the Buccaneers really need a second option who can serve as a homerun threat.
That’s why, in my opinion, J.K. Dobbins would be the perfect fit. He’d be a running back that could come in, be a big-play threat and loosen up the defense. Dobbins also would be a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield, which could be an asset to Winston moving forward.
If it’s not Dobbins, the Buccaneers still need to address the running game, which was among the worst in the league for a third-straight season.
Whether that means looking at a guy in free-agency or drafting a running back in the mid-rounds, it has to be addressed for this team to grow and become a more complete offense.