5 Buccaneers we can safely call busts after the 2023 season
By Ryan Heckman
Over the course of the 2023 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly overachieved, as a team.
But, there were some players who didn't necessarily contribute to the team's success. Whether it be guys who played a good amount of snaps, or others who we thought might have a role but didn't, there were a handful of players who we might be able to label as "busts" for last season's sake.
Here's to hoping these five can turn things around in 2024, whether it's in Tampa or elsewhere.
1. David Wells, TE
David Wells is the perfect example of a training camp darling who flamed out in the end. Last summer, we heard reports left and right that Wells was impressing, and early on, too. He was catching everything thrown his way.
Yet, when the regular season rolled around, coaches didn't see enough from him to warrant a bigger opportunity. Maybe, he wasn't given the opportunity and it wasn't necessarily his fault. One could make that argument and it could hold some weight.
But, the fact of the matter is, Wells has only appeared in eight career games as a pro. At 28 years old, his opportunity to be a factor, on any roster for that matter, seems to be dwindling. What would have happened if the Bucs took his training camp momentum and ran with it into the regular season, giving him a bigger role? We might never know. But, the snap counts and playing time speak for themself: only 43 offensive snaps played all of last season.
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