7 Buccaneers players who won't be back in 2024
By Josh Hill
Aaron Stinnie and Matt Feiler, OL
Among the list of offseason improvements the Bucs need to make, fixing up the offensive line might be at the top. for as much flak as the run game justifiably caught -- for a second straight season, no less -- a lot of the blame needs to be shared with how poor things were upfront.
Sunday's loss to the Lions was a key example of that. Tampa Bay had hardly any edge protection against the Lions defensive rush, which led to situations where Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch were getting into the backfield unblocked and causing problems. Things weren't much better in the interior, an area of the offense that many have been circling for an upgrade going back to the first half of the season.
Stinnie didn't begin the season as a starter, rather he replaced Matt Feilier who was benched due to injury and poor play. It left the Bucs scrambling for answers much in the same way they were last season when the offensive line was ravaged by injuries that contributed to the offense stunting the way it did.
Tampa Bay needs to upgrade at guard, which likely means the end of at least one of Fielier or Stinnie if not both. The Bucs would be wise to tear things down and either draft replacements at a cheaper cost or spend some of its freed-up cap space on a guard who can step in and improve things inside.