The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are much more likely to buy at the 2024 NFL trade deadline than they are to sell, as they are equipped to go on the attack and make some impactful moves in their pursuit of their second NFC South crown in as many seasons. Improvements are clearly needed.
While the offense has largely impressed despite some injuries at the wide receiver position, Tampa has been held back by a terrible defense that has been shredded by quarterbacks left and right this season. If they make any moves at the deadline, fixing the lackluster defense should be the absolute top priority for Tampa Bay.
Subtracting a few underperformers from the equation could be enough to improve the defense accidentally. With how many premium draft picks have failed to live up to the expectations Jason Licht put on them over the last few years, Tampa Bay might need to look for veteran upgrades that immediately clean up the mess.
These three Buccaneers players have not performed like the high-end starters they were supposed to be when the season started. Perhaps Licht can try to make lemonade out of lemons by trading them away at the deadline for veterans who can make a bigger impact.
3 Buccaneers who have played like they deserve to be traded
3. SAF Jordan Whitehead
After a successful start to his career in Tampa, Whitehead's stock fell after a fairly unimpressive stint as a starter with the Jets. The former Pitt star banked on a return to his old stomping grounds alongside an All-Pro like Antoine Winfield Jr. getting him back on course, and the results have been underwhelming.
With Whitehead's usual brand of volatile coverage mixed in alongside some poor tackling and effort, highlighted by a brutal showing against the Ravens on Monday Night Football, he has been a big part of why the secondary has been so putrid against quality opponents this season. His grip on the starting job is tenuous, to say the least.
2. EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
After four years, it may be time to admit the former first-round pick is never going to figure it out. Tryon has never amassed more than five sacks in any season, and he has just one this year despite starting all eight of Tampa Bay's games so far and playing a good chunk of snaps. Tryon-Shoyinka is fumbling his best chance to show he can be a star.
JTS and the Bucs are likely destined for a split, as both parties just need to start fresh. The Bucs placed a great deal of emphasis on Tryon-Shoyinka by largely eschewing any major upgrades alongside him during the offseason, and that philosophy has come back to bite them in the rear end.
With cheaper players like Za'Darius Smith and high-end options like Maxx Crosby available for teams who will meet their very high asking prices, the Bucs can't use a lack of quality replacements as an excuse for not adding.
1. DL Logan Hall
Hall, much like JTS, put together some incredible athletic testing numbers. Unfortunately, even dating back to his college days at Houston, the idea of what Hall could be if he reaches his potential has always been more enticing than what Hall has been able to produce on the field. Mild run defense improvements won't be enough to save him.
Hall has just 13 tackles and three sacks this season, two of which came in one game. Once again proving to be a tweener who is too small for full-time defensive tackle work and not quick enough to play on the edge, the Bucs may need to give up on trying to develop him into a starter.