(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

For most of this season, the standout Bucs’ offensive line has featured two guys off the street and two rookies drafted in the second round.

The fifth guy is veteran left guard Logan Mankins, who was here last year but played like he was somewhere else.

This year has been a different story for Mankins. It started with a renewed commitment and reporting for spring duty with six-pack abs (those didn’t last too long, Mankins told Joe last month). Then came Mankins taking over quickly as a team leader. Before the season, Lovie Smith was calling him a team captain and general manager Jason was referring to him as “father of the locker room.”

Fast-forward to last Sunday, and Licht was gushing over Mankins with historic tones.

“He’s had a great year, and what he’s meant for this franchise — I’ve said it over and over, I may sound like a broken record — What he’s meant to this franchise, what he’s set us up for in the future, I can’t put into words,” Licht said of Mankins. “What he’s done for this offensive line room and giving these guys a roadmap for how to prepare as a professional, it’s incredible.”

It’s unclear whether Mankins will retire after this season. Mankins made that clear last month. But if Mankins does return, then that would be a reason Joe will yell for the Bucs to draft another offensive lineman in 2016.

Think about it. If Mankins has helped craft such an amazing incubator for developing offensive linemen, an increasingly tough task across the NFL, then the Bucs should take advantage. Right tackle is a looming need, as is replacing Mankins at left guard. Kevin Pamphile might not be that guy.

It’s hard to be an NFL loser with a deep and talented offensive line, and a non-rookie franchise quarterback.