The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering the second half of the season looking to avoid another midseason slump like we've seen over the last two seasons. Adjacently, a few players are looking to make sure they step up in ways that not only helps the team navigate around that fate but gets them paid as a result.
While this season hasn't been perfect, the first nine games have been exciting. If these 2022 draftees expect another contract, they must step up and help the Buccaneers win the division.
Rachaad White, RB
Rachaad White has been up and down throughout his tenure in Tampa Bay. The 2022 3rd round pick started his career splitting carries with Leonard Fournette before taking over as the lead back in 2023. Then, the Bucs drafted RB Bucky Irving in the 2024 NFL draft, and he quickly took over.
White is at the end of his four-year rookie contract, but the Bucs would be making a mistake to re-sign the former junior-college standout. White averages just 3.8 yards per carry throughout his career and has taken a backseat to Irving. Even when asked to carry the workload, White hasn't thrived.
Through four games as the lead back with Irving on the mend, White has just 179 yards on 54 carries, just 3.3 per carry. He's still solid catching passes out of the backfield, which Mayfield loves to throw, he's not contract-worthy. The Bucs are likely better off rerolling in the 2026 NFL draft unless White turns it around quickly.
Cade Otton, TE
Cade Otton has struggled to find consistent production throughout his tenure in Tampa Bay. The fourth-year man out of Washington finally totaled over 500 yards last season, for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, his production this season hasn't backed it up, and he's struggling.
With so many Buccaneer playmakers injured, Otton has the opportunity to thrive, but hasn't. The tight end struggled heavily through the first four games. He caught six of eleven targets for 34 yards.
Shortly after Mike Evans was injured in Week 3 against the Jets, Otton turned it on. He's caught twenty passes for 237 yards in the last four games. While the hot streak is nice, Otton must keep it up to earn another contract this offseason.
Logan Hall, DL
The Bucs' 2022 second-round selection put on a strong 2024 with 5.5 sacks, but hasn't recreated that magic this year. Through eight starts, Hall has 0.5 sacks, two Quarterback hits, and no tackles for loss. He's just playing 52% of the snaps, but that's typical for the fourth-year defensive end.
PFF ranks Hall 72nd among defensive ends in the league, and for good reason. Hall has struggled to make an impact, and it's showing. Thankfully, his teammates have combined to average the 6th most sacks per game in the NFL, but Hall's performance is concerning. The former 33rd overall pick must step it up the rest of the year if he expects an extension this offseason.