Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Biggest offensive needs moving forward
By Rob Leeds
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have almost used up the remainder of their cap space for free agents, but the team does still have some moves to make.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming to the end of one of their best free-agent campaigns in recent memory. The Bucs were able to bring their entire defense back, and also signed the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady, so things are looking bright for 2020.
While the big moves have been made, the Buccaneers do have some additional moves to make to keep the team on pace with the lofty expectations that are being created. The defense does need some depth, but the starters on that side of the ball have mostly been solidified.
Tampa Bay will likely spend the next few weeks and the 2020 NFL Draft on the offense.
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The biggest need for the Bucs that has not been taken care of yet is the starting right tackle. Free-agent Joe Haeg has been brought in, but it is currently unclear if the team sees Haeg as a starter or as a great depth piece for the line.
This could work, but at this point, the best bet for the Buccaneers to protect Tom Brady is to draft one of the transcendent offensive tackles available in the first round of the draft. The top four tackles in this class would all provide a high level of protection for Brady and would be on the team for years to come.
After addressing offensive tackle, the Buccaneers do need to decide on who will be the third wide receiver after the departure of Breshad Perriman.
The most likely candidate is currently the speedy Scotty Miller, but injuries or a lack of confidence from Bruce Arians could cause this to change. Miller will get a shot, but the Buccaneers will potentially target another receiver in the draft.
The final position that the Buccaneers will need to evaluate is running back.
Ronald Jones deserves a shot as the featured back for a full season, but many are starting to speculate that the Bucs will use a higher pick on the running back position.
Tampa Bay does not need to use a second or third-round pick on a running back because there are many viable options in the later rounds, but the Bucs do need to find a replacement for Peyton Barber.
The Buccaneer run game was starting to improve in 2019, but establishing a more consistent rushing attack will be important in keeping Tom Brady healthy and the offense rolling.
Next. Buccaneers bring back Ndamukong Suh to keep defense intact. dark
As it stands, the Buccaneer offense already looks great, but by addressing these three spots the Bucs put themselves in a great position to compete in 2020.
The offense for Tampa Bay was already one of the best in the NFL in 2019, which should show everyone that just a few moves could be all it takes to move the team to the top spot overall.