Whereas all eyes are set on the 2023 season, Pewter Report is having a look on the Bucs in 2023 and into the longer term. Going place by place, we’ll present a three-year outlook to get an concept of what the 2024 and 2025 Bucs may appear to be — and the way 2023 might influence these future groups.
Quarterbacks
Operating Backs
Extensive Receivers
Tight Ends
At this time, we proceed with the offensive line.
Bucs Offensive Line Contracts
Bucs OT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
There are quite a lot of our bodies within the Bucs’ offensive line room proper now, a lot of that are jockeying for spots on the 2023 roster. We’ll focus extra of this part on the projected beginning group, however there are many eventualities to dive into with the depth guys in a while.
Tristan Wirfs, who’s making the swap from proper deal with to left deal with this season, is on the fourth yr of his rookie deal and had his fifth-year choice picked up for 2024 in April. As one of many recreation’s finest proper tackles and somebody who shouldn’t have any problem transferring to the left aspect, he’s in line for a large contract extension that ought to maintain him in Tampa Bay effectively past 2025.
Wirfs, although, is the one long-term certainty on the Bucs’ offensive line. Middle Ryan Jensen, who turned 32 in Could, signed a three-year deal final offseason earlier than lacking the 2022 common season with a knee damage. He’ll be again for 2023 and his deal runs by way of 2024, however he’s removed from a long-term certain factor at this level.
The remainder of Tampa Bay’s offensive line will encompass rookie contracts and one-year offers. Presumed left guard Matt Feiler, 31, is on a one-year contract, whereas projected starters Cody Mauch (proper guard) and Luke Goedeke (proper deal with) are on rookie offers. Mauch was drafted in April, so his customary four-year contract runs by way of 2026. In the meantime, as a 2022 draftee, Goedeke has a deal that extends by way of 2025.
Robert Hainsey, who began each common season recreation at middle final season, continues to be on his rookie deal as effectively. That runs by way of 2024, and he’s set to be a key backup for the Bucs this yr.
There’s little or no cash assured all through the remainder of the offensive line, with one-year contracts for Aaron Stinnie and Nick Leverett signed this offseason. Brandon Walton hits free company subsequent yr as effectively, whereas a few of the undrafted free brokers on the perimeter are removed from being locks to crack the 53-man roster this yr, a lot much less in future years.
How This 12 months Impacts 2024 & 2025
Bucs LG Luke Goedeke – Picture by: USA At this time
The efficiency of the Bucs’ offensive line this yr will decide what the unit appears like going ahead. Wirfs can be a staple it doesn’t matter what, although his transition to the left aspect of the road can be value watching in 2023. If for no matter cause he struggles or just appears extra comfy on the fitting aspect, maybe Tampa Bay can be available in the market for a left deal with subsequent offseason whereas Wirfs returns to the fitting aspect. That feels unlikely, although.
It’s the efficiency of the remainder of the road that may clear issues up a bit extra. Feiler has the dimensions wanted to make up a wall of a left aspect of the road with Wirfs, however he struggled at instances throughout his profession with the Chargers and is not any assure to be a long-term repair at left guard. He additionally simply turned 31 this previous weekend.
The Bucs are enthusiastic about Mauch, however he’s making a giant bounce to the NFL in 2023, plus he’s adjusting to the fitting guard spot. There could also be some rising pains, however he’ll want to point out some promise to ensure that the group to really feel comfy with him as its proper guard for the foreseeable future.
Goedeke is barely in yr two, however there’s quite a lot of stress on him to make this swap to proper deal with work. He struggled badly when transferring to left guard final yr, and that was a mixture of switching sides of the road, transferring from deal with to protect, leaping up in competitors from MAC soccer and dealing with a loopy run of top-end defensive linemen in his first style of the NFL.
Nonetheless, he has less-than-ideal arm size for the fitting deal with place within the NFL and might want to overcome that and solidify the place for Tampa Bay. If he doesn’t come by way of, issues might look fairly dire for his prospects in 2024 and 2025. And if that’s the case, the Bucs can be available in the market for a long-term proper deal with subsequent offseason.
One of many extra attention-grabbing circumstances is Jensen. Coming off of a season-long knee damage that he elected to not have surgical procedure on, he can be enjoying his age-32 season in 2023. There is probably not any cause to consider he’ll lose his imply streak and nasty type of play, however there are eventualities the place 2023 is his closing season in crimson, white and pewter. We’ll dive into these within the subsequent part.
Three-12 months Outlook: Bucs Offensive Line
Bucs OL Robert Hainsey and LT Tristan Wirfs – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Wirfs is the one beginning member of the offensive line who’s written in stone for the Bucs. Contract-wise, the group has loads of linemen on rookie offers who it want to pan out, however there’s little certainty.
Is Feiler going to be something greater than a one-year stopgap at left guard? Can Goedeke blossom right into a serviceable NFL proper deal with? Will Mauch adapt effectively to the NFL and enhance his go safety to go together with his excellent run blocking prowess? Will Hainsey show to be a solution to the puzzle wherever within the subsequent two years earlier than his deal runs out?
Aside from these guys, it’s all about who can give you spectacular sufficient contract years in 2023 to stay on the roster past this season. Leverett has been a terrific hand for Tampa Bay, so it will be good for him to nonetheless be round — not less than as a depth piece who can plug in and play. Stinnie, Walton and John Molchon have been mainstays by way of depth, however whether or not or not they provide sufficient to stay round for the longer term appears to be up within the air. Undrafted free brokers Silas Dzansi and Chris Murray are two intriguing names to control as potential gems who may determine into the Bucs’ future plans if they’ll latch on to the apply squad and impress.
After which, in fact, there’s Jensen. If he maintains his excessive stage of play and the Bucs are adequate this yr that they assume they’ll make a powerful run at issues subsequent yr, it is smart for the group to carry onto him for his contract yr — although maybe with a small restructure.
Bucs Cs Robert Hainsey and Ryan Jensen and LG Shaq Mason – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
But when a reset is within the playing cards for 2024 or the group merely sees worth in testing Hainsey because the beginning middle once more in his contract yr, there could also be a actuality the place Jensen’s future lies elsewhere. Whether or not that’s through a commerce for a late-round decide or a flat-out launch, who is aware of? There can be marginal cap financial savings if the Bucs launched him, although that will speed up the void cash in his contract. A post-June 1 transfer would save quite a lot of cap in 2024, however useless cash can be added again in 2025.
Commerce eventualities are maybe extra attention-grabbing, however they’re tougher to mission. What is going to Jensen’s worth be like in a yr? A part of that hinges on when he’s theoretically being moved. He’s due a roster bonus on March 22, so a commerce earlier than then would web marginal financial savings. A transfer after March 22 would imply the Bucs absorbing a little bit of a success, although the worth might bounce up a bit as a result of the buying group received’t need to dish out the roster bonus.
Any of those eventualities might be in play, and quite a lot of it relies upon each on how the Bucs and Jensen carry out in 2023. However transferring on from him may give the group an opportunity to see whether or not Hainsey is their long-term middle. If he doesn’t transfer the needle in 2024, then there can be a totally recent begin on the place come 2025.
Three-12 months Outlook Abstract
The Bucs’ offensive line is much from the solidified unit it was just a few years in the past. Gone is longtime left deal with Donovan Smith, and Professional Bowl guard Ali Marpet isn’t strolling by way of these doorways any time quickly. Shaq Mason was a one-and-done in Tampa Bay final yr, and there’s an actual probability Jensen may quickly be on his means out as effectively until he returns to his Professional Bowl kind. The Bucs have quite a lot of younger items alongside the offensive line who will want time to gel, after which the group can get a real analysis of what it has. The one certainty is that Wirfs can be there to guide the offensive line unit into the longer term, and he’s an elite constructing block to have round.
