Five Tampa Bay Buccaneers who need 2020 season to happen
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to end a 12-year streak of missing the playoffs this season and they have the means to do it. But there are certainly questions up-in-the-air currently.
Oh, and none of them relate to anything having to do with on-the-field talent, development or analysis.
Buccaneers fans, along with the rest of the country, are patiently waiting to hear about the fate of the 2020 season. While most believe we’ll play, there are many NFL players who are voicing their concerns as we inch closer to the start of training camps.
That could, in turn, lead to the season being postponed until further notice or even canceled if conditions worsened.
Here are five Tampa Bay Buccaneers who need the 2020 season to happen.
5. O.J. Howard
O.J. Howard is in the final year of his rookie deal and he needs to make the most of it. There have been talks and discussions of the Buccaneers attempting to trade Howard- though none of that has come to fruition yet- and it’s clear that he needs to prove himself heading into this season.
A season canceled would only further hurt Howard’s chances of signing a second deal once that rookie contract comes to a close.
Another year passed means one less opportunity for him to prove himself and that’s something that the former first-round pick simply can’t afford.
4. Ronald Jones II
There’s not much of a financial reason that Ronald Jones II needs the 2020 season happen, but this has more to do with his long-term impact and ‘staying power.’
Jones’ rookie deal still has two years remaining on it and he’s set to make over $1 million in each of the next two seasons. That being said, the most important contract for running backs is the second one.
Running backs don’t have long shelf-lives in the NFL, even in a vertical passing offensive scheme, and that means Jones II has to put himself in the best position possible to get a big-time second deal. If a year passes without him being able to prove himself, that means another offseason for the Buccaneers to bring in another big name that potentially unseats him on the depth chart.
3. Lavonte David
We all love Lavonte David and there’s no doubt that Tampa Bay will want to give him an extension after his contract runs out following this season.
That being said, David turned 30 this past January.
He has already been playing in the league for eight seasons and there has been several statistical analysis studies that prove that once a linebacker turns 30, their overall production significantly decreases.
This very well may be David’s last season- certainly his last couple- to play at a Pro-Bowl level and cement his legacy with the franchise.
2. Shaquil Barrett
Though we don’t think of age as a problem with Shaq Barrett- and it’s not- there’s certainly a question as to how many years the Bucs will sign him to when they offer that long-term extension.
Much of that will be based off of his performance this season.
The Bucs placed the franchise tag on Barrett earlier this offseason and it doesn’t seem that the two sides will end up working out a deal before the deadline. With Barrett expected to play on the tag, he’ll have a major opportunity to prove himself.
Though many would argue differently, the 2020 season may very well be the most important one of Barrett’s career when it comes to his future profit.
1. Tom Brady
Tom Brady doesn’t need the 2020 season for financial gain and he certainly doesn’t need the season to cement his legacy.
So, why is he out the top of our list? It simply has to do with how bad he wants to play this coming fall.
Brady has never been more motivated than he is right now. He has never wanted to prove himself and compete for a championship more than he is trying to do currently. Brady didn’t come to Tampa Bay to cruise through his final few years. He came ready to compete. We can see that through his commitment this offseason.
If the season is canceled, Brady grows a year older and one step closer to retirement.
Does that ‘competitive fire’ truly stay if he’s forced to wait an entire year to play?
If Tom Brady wants to get to the postseason and compete for a championship, it has to happen this year. He doesn’t have time to waste and certainly doesn’t want to wait even longer to get on the field.