NFL Draft: Buccaneers Need to 'Step Up' in Rapidly Improving NFC South

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to get their feet back on solid ground following the retirement of quarterback Tom Brady, the rest of the NFC South is applying pressure on them to do it faster than they may be able to.

Make no mistake about it, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dealt quite the blow when quarterback Tom Brady decided to retire. 

Not only because of his talent but the amount of dead cap the Bucs were then forced to carry into this offseason due to void years on his contract. 

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Those things put the team into what many are calling a rebuilding year, although general manager Jason Licht and coach Todd Bowles have said many times they still expect to be competitive this coming season. 

And it's a good thing they do because the NFC South Division is giving them no time to catch their breath. 

This is just one reason 33rd Team's Jeff Diamond tabs Tampa Bay as a franchise with much more work ahead of them this offseason. 

"The Buccaneers have an aging roster that needs a solid draft, and they have nine picks to add talent," says Diamond. "They should draft more offensive line help, starting with a right tackle to replace Smith and another guard. Tampa Bay needs to add depth and youth at running back, tight end, and throughout the defense, including a replacement for Edwards. Drafting a developmental quarterback in the middle rounds is a good idea to add competition in the future."

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Do these things, and 'poof', the Bucs are back in business. 

As Diamond points out, Licht has nine picks to work with entering the NFL Draft and the award-winning league executive identifies six immediate needs for him to use them on. 

And it only took one paragraph to do it. 

Certainly, Tampa Bay lacks the type of flexibility every team wants entering the draft with clear needs at several positions. 

But Diamond says the Buccaneers should be back on track as early as next year if they can nail this draft class.

"Things should look better for Tampa Bay cap-wise in 2024," he writes. "The Buccaneers need to step up their talent base because their NFC South peers...appear to be doing just that."

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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