The Bucs revealed the workforce’s captains for the 2023 season. A lot of the Bucs’ picks have been captains earlier than in earlier years, however the retirement of quarterback Tom Brady, who was a three-time captain in Tampa Bay from 2020-22, opened up one emptiness on offense.
It is sensible for a beginning quarterback to be one of many workforce’s captains, and that’s what occurred when Brady got here to the Bucs in 2020 initially of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brady received to know his teammates by way of his personal private organized exercises over the summer season though there wasn’t OTAs to attend. Undoubtedly Brady’s status for being the best quarterback of all time preceded him and he was a simple alternative for workforce captain.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA Right this moment
The truth that the Bucs named Baker Mayfield the beginning quarterback is not any shock given his stellar play in the course of the workforce’s 3-1 begin. Mayfield started exhibiting nice management qualities because the day he arrived in Tampa in free company. That was obvious from the preliminary OTAs by way of the obligatory mini-camp and coaching camp by way of the beginning of the common season.
Mayfield has pure management potential, a trait he’s exhibited since his days at Oklahoma when he received the Heisman Trophy and went on to be the No. 1 general decide within the 2018 NFL Draft by Cleveland. He spent a substantial amount of time bonding with teammates in the course of the offseason whether or not it was attending their charity occasions or dinners or golf outings. So it comes as no shock that Mayfield is not going to solely be changing Brady because the workforce’s beginning quarterback, but in addition as a workforce captain as nicely.
Bucs Have 4 Captains On Offense
Becoming a member of Baker Mayfield as an offensive captain is long-time captain Mike Evans. The Bucs’ main receiver enters his seventh 12 months with a “C” on his chest because the workforce’s longest-tenured participant on offense. The 30-year outdated Evans has develop into a extra vocal chief in recent times, however remains to be among the best lead-by-example gamers there may be. All people needs to be like Mike, a future Corridor of Famer.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Picture by: USA Right this moment
The Bucs have one other first-time captain on offense as fellow huge receiver Chris Godwin. The seven-year veteran is the highest-paid participant on offense, incomes $20 million per season. His standing inside the workforce has additionally been elevated this offseason along with his inclusion within the Bucs’ creamsicle uniform reveal video, in addition to being considered one of 4 Bucs gamers featured on the murals at Raymond James Stadium, becoming a member of fellow receiver Mike Evans.
The ultimate captain on offense is left sort out Tristan Wirfs, one other first-time captain. With two Professional Bowls and an All-Professional berth below his belt, Wirfs is arguably essentially the most proficient participant on the Bucs roster. He’s been a rock-solid pressure at proper sort out and is now transferring to left sort out this season to switch Donovan Smith.
In a Tristan Wirfs Camp Diary for Pewter Report again in August, the Bucs’ 2020 first-rounder reveals that he would truly wish to be a workforce captain this 12 months, changing Tom Brady in that function.
“I’d completely like to be a workforce captain,” Wirfs stated. “I used to be by no means a workforce captain in school. I’ve all the time wished to be a workforce captain – that man, particularly in school – it’s all the time a legacy factor for the seniors. Right here I’m making an attempt to step up into extra of a management function the place guys can lean on me. If I’ve to get guys going I’ll get them going.
“These previous three years I’ve proven up and did my job. However in conversations I’ve had, folks have wished me to step up extra. So I’m able to be right here for whoever wants me in no matter function they want me to be. I need to assist all these guys win ball video games and be right here for them.”
Bucs Have 4 Captains On Protection
On the defensive aspect of the ball, legendary linebacker Lavonte David, who returns for his twelfth season in Tampa Bay, was a given. David has been a captain in Tampa Bay for a decade now and is the elder statesman on the Bucs roster. At age 33 he’s the oldest Buccaneer this 12 months, in addition to being one of the nicely revered gamers.
Bucs ILB Devin White and FS Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Picture by: USA Right this moment
Fellow inside linebacker Devin White stays a workforce captain, which is one thing he has been since 2020, his second 12 months in Tampa Bay. However a holdout this offseason throughout a contract dispute, along with a commerce request, may need put captain function in jeopardy. But White confirmed up for coaching camp and resumed his management function and ingratiated himself again into the workforce. His teammates rewarded him by naming White a captain for a 3rd straight season, which was one thing he was aiming for in coaching camp.
“I need to be a captain once more, that was one factor that was laborious,” White stated. “Sitting out was laborious, and I wasn’t actually sitting out as a result of I nonetheless got here in a constructing, as a result of I need to be right here. However on the finish of the day, man, that’s over with. I’m on the sphere going laborious, and I’m embraced by all the blokes. I’m on the market working and making them higher they usually [are] making me higher.”
Nostril sort out Vita Vea made his first Professional Bowl in 2021 and his elevated stature was rewarded the next 12 months when the Bucs gamers voted him as a first-time workforce captain for the 2022 season. Vea will get a second 12 months as a workforce captain after main Tampa Bay with a career-high 6.5 sacks final 12 months. Vea can also be considered one of 4 Bucs gamers on the murals exterior of Raymond James Stadium, together with linebacker Lavonte David and receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
The Bucs had three defensive workforce captains final 12 months with White, David and Vea and all three enter the 2023 season in that very same management function with a “C” on their chests. Now they’ve 4 with the choice of playmaking security Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield wished to crack the captain lineup this 12 months. To his credit score, Winfield was considered one of 4 gamers the workforce selected to look within the Bucs’ creamsicle uniform reveal video though he didn’t make the mural at Raymond James Stadium.
Whereas circuitously campaigning for a captain function, Winfield spoke about stepping up extra as a pacesetter this season as he enters a pivotal contract 12 months.
“Yeah, 100%,” Winfield stated. “You already know, the extra years you get on this league, you type of step into that function. So, my purpose is, to you, know make all people round be higher and simply encourage all people and ensure I’m bringing them as much as the identical degree as I’m.”
Up to now, the Bucs have had a particular groups captain or two, though that was not the case final season or this 12 months. Former punter Bradley Pinion and former linebacker Kevin Minter had been workforce captains on particular groups in 2021.
