The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot to prove as a team in 2020, but these players will have the most weight on their shoulders going into the season.
Having expectations and meeting those expectations is the name of the game for the Buccaneers in 2020.
Every analyst seems to think that this team has become one of the most dominant in the NFC throughout the offseason, and Tampa Bay is just hoping that the season will happen to prove the pundits right or wrong, depending on where they stand.
In addition to the team, the individual players also have a lot on the line, although a trip into the deeper part of the playoffs will prove something.
Playing for the Buccaneers has often been detrimental for most players as they rarely ever play in primetime games and are mostly shown in highlights for other teams. With that narrative quickly changing, many players in Tampa Bay will be under heavy scrutiny from the start of the season due to the mounting expectations that have formed and the increased access to important games.
The good news and the bad news for the Bucs is that almost every player will be judged every week, and this exposure could make or break careers, especially those with something to prove in 2020.
Can Brady still dominate without Bill Belichick?
Tom Brady made one of the biggest surprise moves in sports history from the outside looking in because he wants to join a mediocre team and take them to the playoffs, silencing the “Brady is a Belichick system guy” critics.
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Brady wanted a challenge, and a challenge he has found. The Buccaneers were one of the worst NFL teams of the past decade and were rarely even close to being in contention for a playoff spot.
The Bucs failed to make the playoffs last season, but it was clear to anyone that the team had the pieces to make it close. Brady saw an opening and took it.
Playing with the Buccaneers will give Brady the opportunity to showcase his talent in a vastly different system than Belichick’s. This was a massive gamble, though, because any drop-off in success could detract from Brady’s GOAT status.
Every eye in the NFL will be on Brady in his Buccaneer threads. Every touchdown and interception will be scrutinized and placed under the microscope, but this is exactly what Brady wanted. He even has a shot to be the first quarterback to ever play in a home Super Bowl.
The opportunities for greatness are numerous, but the pressure is on for Tom Brady to prove that he is the greatest of all time in Tampa Bay this season.
Is he a true shut-down corner?
Carlton Davis is often the forgotten man of the Buccaneer defense, but his role in 2020 will be as important as ever.
Davis is the de facto CB1 in Tampa Bay and took the toughest matchups week in and week out last season, to a decent level of success. After playing in 14 games, Davis was able to finish second in the league in passes defended with 19, showing that he is an excellent fit in Todd Bowles‘ scheme.
Even though the Buccaneers had two rookies perform well last season, Davis will still take the toughest matchups in 2020 and is on the cusp of a massive contract if he can replicate his play level from 2019.
It is easy to forget that Davis was a second-year player in 2019, and so far, the bar is only moving up. Having a consistent starting corner is paramount in the NFL, and the Bucs have to figure out if Davis is their guy.
Considering that he is on his rookie contract still, the Buccaneers still have some decisions to make, but Davis could earn a massive extension this year if he can prove that he belongs for the long haul.
Has Barrett earned a long-term extension?
Shaquil Barrett is likely going to play the 2020 season on the franchise tag, which will still make him one of the highest-paid players at his position. The Buccaneers could have signed him to an extension after his record-breaking year, but they decided to take one more season to see if an extension is the right decision.
This is the smart move for the Bucs to make, especially considering that Barrett has expressed willingness to play on the tag and not hold out, but the door has been opened wide for Barrett to make or lose his money.
If Shaq continues to play at his exceptional pace and has a season reminiscent of 2019, the Bucs will have no choice but to make him one of, if not THE, highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL.
If Barrett falls off or suffers a slump, he stands to be forced into signing a much more mediocre offer. Sack Barrett has decided to bank on himself and is playing every game with that extension in mind.
Motivation is a great thing to have in sports, but Barrett will be playing under his career’s most scrutiny. Regardless of what happens, the whole NFL will be watching to see if Barrett can hold up under the immense pressure.