4 Buccaneers who need to thrive in Week 1 vs Commanders

While most things tend to wither and turnover in the fall, football blooms. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are poking to fully lean into that blossoming as the team has the chance to build on the surprise success it experienced last season and firmly establish itself has a contender in the NFL.

To call last season a surprise is a bit unfair, though. Outsiders were taken aback by what the team was able to do, but everyone inside the building knew that the right pieces were in place. That’s why Jason Licht spent the offseason bringing back players who helped contribute to what happened in 2023, and it’s why expectations are much higher than they were this time last year.

Everything comes to a head on Sunday, when the Bucs host the Washington Commanders and begin what we all hope is the start of another dominant season. If that’s going to happen, a few guys need to step up right away to set the right winning tone.

Baker Mayfield, QB

Perhaps nothing factored into the Buccaneers turnaround last season than Baker Mayfield merely existing on the roster. His play on the field help spur the team to its fourth consecutive playoff appearance and a third straight NFC South title, and his identity was imprinted on the locker room in ways that continually paid off.

There’s a reason the Bucs pulled themselves out of a 1-6 midseason slump in ways we hadn’t seen before — even with Tom Brady under center — and Baker is a massive reason why.

It’s why he got $100 million this offseaosn and it’s why Jason Licht had handed him the keys to the franchise. Now comes the part where that investment pays off, which is something Baker can do right out of the gate.

Baker also has incentive to prove the doubters wrong, many of whom still loudly exist.

Despite all he did last season to finally start living up to his No. 1 overall pick potential, pundits have spent the offseason putting him down and casting him aside in favor of Kirk Cousins and the Falcons. There was a similar vibe last summer when the Bucs were mocked for signing Baker, but guess who ended up getting the last laugh?

The expectations are high this season, and everything the Bucs do will be viewed through the prism of Baker. Good or bad, he’s the face of the franchise and he has a chance to fire back at the doubters straight away and let everyone know this season will be even better than the last.

Bucs offensive line

The past two seasons have been rough for the Bucs’ offensive line. Injuries have plagued the unit and poor play has combined with that to create one of the most frustrating situations on the roster. So much hinges on Tampa Bay’s offensive line, with the run game perhaps being held back the most by all that has happened.

Jason Licht spent the offseason investing what he could into the line, from investing a top draft pick in Graham Barton to scouring the mid tier ranks of free agency to find some depth. That has resulted in a revamped line that seems ready to buck the trend of holding the team back.

Barton is a Day 1 starter, earning the center job in training camp, while fee agent Ben Bredeson won the left guard job alongside his rookie teammate. Tristan Wirfs was handed the richest contract in NFL history for a lineman, while Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke look poised to have breakout seasons.

We will get our first good look at the line in Week 1, but already expectations have raised beyond where they were before. If Tampa Bay is going to truly build on last year’s surprise success, then the offensive line needs to finally show improvement.

Chris Godwin, WR

So much of the spotlight was stolen by Mike Evans last year, and rightfully so. The Bucs refusing to meet his preseason contract demands cast a shadow over everything that happened after, and the pending free agency of a future Hall of Fame wide receiver understandably captured the attention of the entire league.

Godwin now moves into the pole position of players who need new contracts and have every incentive to ball out this year. His $60 million deal expires at the end of the season, which is even more reason for Godwin to have a bounce back season.

A glance at the stat sheet from last year would suggest that Godwin had a decent season, as he finished with one more yard than he did the year before. Granted, that was a down year for the Bucs offense that resulted in Byron Leftwich getting fired, and Dave Canales replacing him didn’t exactly do wonders for Godwin’s production.

While his numbers were fine on the surface, the context was a little messier. He went long stretches without a receiving touchdown, finishing the season with just two, and felt like a non-factor most weeks. That’s absurd considering how talented he is, and breaking out this year and reminding everyone why he’s a top receiver in the league is paramount not only for the Bucs but for his wallet as well.

Jake Camarda, P

Typically one of the most consistent players on Tampa Bay’s roster, Jake Camarda had an uncharacteristically bad preseason. It culminated in Todd Bowles calling him out and threatening to carry a second punter, but that never ended up happening.

Instead, Camarda enters the season with something to prove — his worth, which amounts to a lot.

Saying a team’s punter is one of its best players might be an insult, but with Camarda it’s a testament to how important he’s been to the Bucs. He’s flipped fields and changed games with this leg, proving to be an important piece of helping the defense pin teams deep in their own territory.

That’s the guy who fans have fallen in love with over the last few seasons, and it’s the punter he needs to return to being after disappointing this August.

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