When training camps open up later this month, one of the more fun teams to watch will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have some of the juicier storylines that will make heavy impacts on the 2023 campaign.
This is a team that's trying to figure out their direction, and of course there's one major position that will help determine that direction.
Life after Tom Brady cannot be easy, but there is enough talent on this roster to compete if they can figure out a couple of key position battles. Brady may be gone, but the Bucs do still have a good enough chance to surprise and win the NFC South.
Before they think about that, though, the Bucs will have to get through camp and make some tough decisions when it comes to specific roster battles. Let's look at three position battles worth watching, and follow it up with a pair that aren't as important.
Battle 1: Cody Mauch and Nick Leverett at right guard
If you were to check out certain outlets right now and view the rough draft of a Bucs depth chart, most would slot in rookie second-round pick Cody Mauch as the starter at right guard. However, there is a case to be made that Nick Leverett will get the first opportunity as the veteran.
Mauch has the makings of the future right guard of this Bucs team for a very long time, but play strength is a question mark. Tampa may take a familiar route with Mauch, sitting him for his rookie year (or for however long Leverett can be sufficient) and then waiting until his second season to let him loose.
Still, a second-round pick is valuable capital to spend on a player that you plan to sit for a year. We'll see how this pans out, but this seems to be really the only big question mark along the Bucs' offensive line.