As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1of the 2025 season, they needed to sort out their offensive line. Tristan Wirfs being out to start the year obviously threw a wrench into the Bucs' o-line, as their terrific left tackle was unable to play in this game.
The thought was that Charlie Heck would be the starter at left tackle until Wirfs could fill in but -- psych! The Bucs had other plans. The team shockingly has decided not to start Heck at left tackle and instead start Graham Barton there instead.
Yes, the same Graham Barton who has played center for his entire career. With Barton moving from center to left tackle, who will take over at center? Well, shield your eyes, Bucs fans, but according to Rick Stroud, it'll be Ben Bredeson snapping the ball to Baker Mayfield.
BREAKING: Bucs will start Ben Bredeson at C and Graham Barton moves to LT. The LG is Michael Jordan, who just signed to the practice squad and elevated this week.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) September 7, 2025
Bucs completely reshuffle OL right before Week 1 vs. Falcons
The immediate thought here is that something behind the scenes had to have happened. The Bucs seemed confident in Heck taking over at left tackle until Wirfs could come back so why, right before the game is set to start, is he not in that role? There's got to be something else going on that we aren't being told right now.
The original plan was to have Heck at left tackle, Bredeson at left guard, Barton at center, Cody Mauch at right guard, and Luke Goedeke at right tackle. Now, that formation is still the same on the right side but Barton has shifted over to left tackle, Bredeson to center, and practice squad member Michael Jordan is filling in at left guard.
Again, there has to be some information we're not privy to just yet. We'll see if this move ends up panning out or if ends up being a total disaster. Hopefully this unit can keep Mayfield upright and the Bucs can take down the Falcons in Week 1!