It has been a crazy 2022 for the Buccaneers already. They came so close to making a second straight Super Bowl appearance before a walk-off field goal loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. Tom Brady announced his retirement shortly afterwards, before backtracking just 40 days later. Bruce Arians then announced his retirement from coaching, leaving Todd Bowles to take over as the team’s new head coach. With all of that now behind them, this is a team who will feel another Super Bowl is well within reach in 2022.
Offseason additions and losses
It was an odd offseason for the Bucs in that it feels like their biggest addition was a player they had on the roster in 2021. Tom Brady’s decision to retire and then return just 40 days later came as a surprise, but it has kept this team very much in contention for another Super Bowl. They subsequently made some key win-now moves, giving long-term deals to the likes of Chris Godwin and center Ryan Jensen. On defense they also added a pair of high quality veterans in Logan Ryan and Akiem Hicks, making this unit even more imposing.
Whilst many of the big names returned, there were some that didn’t. Rob Gronkowski and Ali Marpet retired, leaving holes at tight end and guard respectively. The latter was filled with one of the best trades of the offseason, with the Bucs sending a fifth round pick to New England in exchange for guard Shaq Mason. Offensive lineman Alex Cappa also left in free agency, along with defensive stalwarts Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh.
2022 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 2,33 | Logan Hall – IDL, Houston |
| 2.57 | Luke Goedeke – IOL, Central Michigan |
| 3.91 | Rachaad White – RB, Arizona |
| 4.106 | Cade Otton – TE, Washington |
| 4.133 | Jake Camarda, P Georgia |
| 5.157 | Zyon McCollum, CB Sam Houston State |
| 6.218 | Ko Kieft – TE, Minnesota |
| 7.248 | Andre Anthony – EDGE, LSU |
With Brady back in town and the team hunting for another Lombardi trophy, this draft was all about finding immediate contributors. Logan Hall gives them versatility along the defensive line whilst also helping to replace the production lost in free agency. Rachaad White should dovetail nicely with Leonard Fournette in the backfield and gives them a dynamic pass catcher at the position. Cade Otton could be one of the draft’s mid-round surprises. Injuries hampered his pre-draft process, but his tape was amongst the best tight ends in the 2022 class. Don’t be surprised if he becomes a favourite target of Tom Brady.
Offense
Where else do you start with this offense other the modern Dorian Gray in Tom Brady. Despite turning 45 this offseason he has shown no sign of dropping off. His 2021 tape was up there with the best that he’s ever put together and he should have been in the conversation for MVP. He passed for 5,316 yards, which is the third highest single season total in NFL history. He also led the NFL in Football Outsiders’ DYAR metric and finished second in DVOA. With Brady at the helm the Bucs are capable of winning any game, regardless of the surrounding talent.
Fortunately for them, they also boast one of the league’s best offensive units outside of quarterback. In Mike Evans and Chris Godwin they have arguably the best one-two punch at wide receiver in the NFL. Whilst the loss of Antonio Brown will hit hard on the field, his replacement in Russell Gage is a very capable receiver capable of being a dynamic third option for Brady. Behind that trio there is a host of players who can contribute, including five-time All-Pro Julio Jones. Add in a talented backfield of Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White and you have one of the league’s best offenses.
The offensive line is very good too. Tristan Wirfs is arguably the best right tackle in football, whilst Donovan Smith is reliable as Brady’s blindside protector. In Shaq Mason they have acquired a high level starter for just a fifth round pick. Finding any holes on this offense is tricky, but if there is one it will be the rest of the interior offensive line. Ryan Jensen is a great center, but he now looks set to miss most of the season. His backup is second-year Robert Hainsey, who played just 31 snaps as a rookie. At left guard the projected starter is Aaron Stinnie. He also comes with experience concerns, playing just 137 snaps in three years.
Defense
There isn’t a better front seven in football than the Buccaneers. This is a unit that suffocates opposing running games and strikes fear into the hearts of quarterbacks. They were elite before this offseason, yet managed to get even better. Adding Akiem Hicks to the interior is an upgrade on the departing Ndamukong Suh. In Vita Vea they have arguably the best nose tackle in football. Off the edge they boast the explosive edge duo of Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. They now add rookie Logan Hall into the mix, who can cause problems up and down the line.
At linebacker they have one of the game’s best in Lavonte David. He is the longest tenured member of the defense with more than a decade in Tampa Bay and serves as the defensive captain. Devin White might be a little more limited, but he’s the hammer to David’s scalpel. White’s 43 pressures last season ranked second only to Micah Parsons amongst linebackers. There’s plenty of talent in the secondary too. Their young cornerback trio of Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, and Sean Murphy-Bunting work brilliantly together and they have one of the league’s best safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr.
Much like the offense, there aren’t really any holes in this unit. That said, the talent does drop off somewhat behind the starters. This showed up as a particular problem in the secondary last season. All three starting cornerbacks missed time with injuries and they couldn’t rely on their backups to hold up in single coverage for any length of time. It is true along the defensive line too, with their backup edges consisting of Cam Gill and Anthony Nelson. If they can all stay healthy this year this will be a truly elite unit, but that is easier said than done.
Prediction
The Bucs continue to be one of the most fearsome rosters in the NFL. On offense they have the ever-reliable Tom Brady under center and a passing attack capable of blowing away even the best defenses. On the other side of the ball they have a tough unit with a track record other teams can only dream of. This is a team that are justifiably the favourites to win the NFC title.
