Buccaneers Fall in Latest NFL Offseason Power Rankings

Despite bringing in quarterback Baker Mayfield and retaining key defenders Jamel Dean and Lavonte David, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still falling in national eyes.

David Harrison | Mar 22, 2023

Buccaneers Fall in Latest NFL Offseason Power Rankings /

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If I told you three years ago the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were keeping their No. 2 cornerback Jamel Dean, franchise stud linebacker Lavonte David, and replacing quarterback Tom Brady with a former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, you'd probably be pretty happy given the circumstances.

Now that it's happening however - and coming off the season the Bucs just had - those moves are good enough to rank the team 24th in the NFL, one spot down from where they were at the end of last season.

"The Bucs profiled as a team that might be ready to tear it all down after Tom Brady announced his retirement," NFL.com's Dan Hanzus wrote in his post-free agency frenzy power rankings. "Instead, the organization looks to keep its veteran core together for another run...Tampa signed Baker Mayfield to compete with former second-round pick Kyle Trask. Expect Mayfield to win the job if no other competition enters the picture."

24th overall might seem low for a team coming off a playoff appearance and back-to-back NFC South Division titles.

Given how the playoff spot and division crown were won, however, it's not unreasonable to see Tampa Bay ranked this low.

Add to it the loss of players like safety Mike Edwards and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, and the fact the Buccaneers are the lowest power-ranked team that made last year's postseason is also not a surprise.

In its current state, many will expect the team to fall in the NFC South standings as well, but Hanzus still has the Bucs ahead of the Atlanta Falcons (No. 27) while the Carolina Panthers (No. 18) and New Orleans Saints (No. 22) both rank higher.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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Published Mar 22, 2023

DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has been in sports media since 2015 using written, audio, and video media to cover athletes, coaches, and games. In addition to covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for BucsGameday and Locked On Bucs he also covers the Washington Commanders for Commander Country and Locked On Commanders and the Washington Wizards for Inside the Wizards. David also covers the NFL as a whole as one of the Friday hosts for Locked On NFL. He is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and previously spent 20 years as an active member of the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.