Anybody who has been to Raymond James Stadium or just pushed by it is aware of that yearly, murals of among the Bucs’ core gamers adorn the partitions on every nook. When the brand new season rolls round, new murals go up — virtually prefer it marks the return of soccer.
These participant murals are positive to look completely different in 2023, although. This offseason has introduced some important adjustments to the group you can take into account because the faces of the franchise.
Former Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Tom Brady, who was a fixture on the facet of the stadium for the final three years after arriving through free company in 2020, retired in February. Maybe his title will quickly be up inside of Raymond James Stadium within the Bucs Ring of Honor, however the Brady mural outdoors on the southwest nook of the stadium is quickly going to return down.
Leonard Fournette, who discovered himself featured on the northeast nook final season after the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, was launched in March. So, there’s one other mural that can want changing when the calendar turns to July.
Lastly, there’s the case of Devin White. Whereas he’s nonetheless a member of the Bucs and figures to nonetheless be round this fall, his commerce request this offseason was extremely publicized. Because of this, his inventory with among the Tampa Bay trustworthy has plummeted. There are nonetheless some diehard followers of the younger linebacker who will all the time have his again, however his approval ranking is probably going at an all-time low inside the Bucs fan base.
The truth that White is meant to be a group captain doesn’t assist issues, and the decision-makers could also be hesitant to maintain him as one of many featured faces on the stadium in 2023. He looks like much less of a “franchise man” lately, particularly given his unsure future past this season.
It wouldn’t be unprecedented for White to be left off the stadium. It was a special state of affairs fully, however the Bucs opted to not embrace Jameis Winston among the many gamers featured on murals initially of the 2018 season. Winston, the group’s quarterback on the time and a fixture on the stadium beforehand, was going through a three-game suspension to begin that yr.
White’s circumstances aren’t the identical, after all. However it will really feel considerably awkward to see him featured on the facet of Ray Jay this yr (very similar to it will’ve been awkward to see Winston up there in 2018).
Who Joins The Bucs’ Mural Mainstays In 2023?
Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
So, who is likely to be featured on the corners of Raymond James Stadium for the brand new yr? Assuming the Bucs proceed with the way in which issues have been lately — two gamers on every nook — there are eight spots.
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Lavonte David and Vita Vea are positive to maintain their locations. Evans and Godwin are the 2 who make the offense go. David is a group legend and Vea was a first-time captain in 2022 and stays one of many anchors of Tampa Bay’s protection. Shaq Barrett is more likely to keep his spot within the group as properly. He’s the group’s prime cross rusher and one of the established gamers on the protection.
However who replaces Brady, Fournette and probably White?
Tristan Wirfs has definitely earned his place. He’s top-of-the-line within the recreation at his place, and he’s set to turn out to be an even bigger chief for Tampa Bay this yr.
Wirfs is about to maneuver from proper sort out to left sort out, however there’s no motive to consider he gained’t be the identical dominant power he’s been for the primary three years of his profession. He’ll determine into the Bucs’ plans for a very long time to return, so seeing him featured on their residence stadium might turn out to be an everyday factor.
Past Wirfs, the opposite spots are rather less clear. It feels just like the protection is extra more likely to be represented by the ultimate two spots than the offense. Antoine Winfield Jr. ought to have a case, as ought to Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean. Might they realistically put all three on one nook of the stadium to showcase the secondary? It’s exhausting to select simply two of the three defensive backs, particularly after Dean’s resolution to re-sign for 4 extra years.
What do you assume, Pewter Folks? Who ought to everybody be seeing on Ray-Jay as they’re driving up and down Dale Mabry Freeway and Himes Avenue this fall? Tell us what you assume within the remark part under.
