Lavonte David Tells Todd Bowles Skeptics They Shouldn’t “Complain”
January 13th, 2025
A hearty faction of Bucs fans doesn’t think Todd Bowles is a head coach that can lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl.
They’re frustrated or angry, or just plain on the war path. Some have been that way for many weeks.
Whatever. Bowles is coming back. Deal with it.
Regardless, Joe mentioned the fan grumbling to Lavonte David today and asked him to address fans on the issue. He was happy to.
“Outside looking in, [fans] see something different,” David began. “But inside, being in the building and seeing him every day the way he works, the way he tries to do the best for the players and stuff like that, we know what type of guy we got. We know what type of leader and a man he is. And if you don’t hear none of us complaining about him, I don’t think you should complain about him. So just know that he got our best interest and he’s a guy who wants to win, as well. And he’s just trying to put us in the best position to win football games. You know, sometimes this it didn’t do that, but you can tell that we we love him by the way we play for him.”
So there you go. David says you should stop complaining, if you’re in that camp.
Joe doesn’t tell fans how to be fans and, frankly, Joe can’t say with certaintly that Bowles is a guy that can lead a team to a Super Bowl. It’s an unknown, much like it is for 75 percent of NFL head coaches.
Joe doesn’t consider uncertainty, however, to be a reason to fire a head coach. The Bucs had a winning season and major strides were made — and setbacks were realized. The overall culture is good.
If Bowles can’t improve next season, then Joe will have a very different perspective.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
Rarely do we ever hear players complain about a HC, most toe the company line and give generic sound bites simply for business reasons.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Well there you have it. If the players are ok with mediocre results, we should be to. LMAO.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Licht needs to stop spending premium picks and whiffing on edge rushers. I know it’s a crapshoot but still.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Making the PLAYOFFS (?!) time and again is far better than just mediocre.
David is right, we should not complain too much. Gotta stay hungry for next year, Bucos!
January 13th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
One year won’t make a difference. This group peaked with the Eagles playoff win last year. You want to see what improvement looks like? Look to the team that just beat the Bucs on the field and on the sideline. They won four games last year and drafted second overall. That’s improvement. Last year there was cause for optimism going into the offseason. I certainly don’t feel that way today.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
“A hearty faction of Bucs fans doesn’t think Todd Bowles is a head coach”
hearty=90%+
January 13th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
The defense was hamstrung by injuries this year and depth on that side of the ball will obviously be addressed this offseason. I assume we’re gonna have a lot less dead money from the Brady era holding us back so I think this team is primed for a 12 plus win season next year and a 5th straight division title. Keeping Coen is mission critical. Grass isn’t always greener, keep Bowles another year.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Either fire Bowles or…. hire a hungry vicious d cord that wants to make a name for his self..if Coen trys to leave we should offer him Bowles job and still find the d cord..I dont care if players like the head coach..I like my coach to be a azzholl like Bill billacheat yes I spelled it like that on purpose and would love for us to talk to him to see if he’s interested in coaching these goons on def..
January 13th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
The fact that emails were still being sent out by the team hawking available playoff tickets the day before the game says plenty regarding how a large portion of fans feel about this team’s prospects & performance while being led by Bowles. Todd is probably a great guy, just will never be more than an average coach. How many teams would realistically rush to hire him as a HC if he was let go? He would likely get a few Rooney rule interviews simply because of his name, but hard to see anyone giving him a 3rd run. Regardless, don’t see him lasting more than another year or two thankfully, as Carolina & Atlanta start to improve at the QB position and provide more legit competition for the division. Sadly see the Bucs current SB window likely to close before the Glazers understand Bowles is the issue holding this team back from it’s true potential, regardless of what David may think.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Also after reading the comments I completely agree with the scourge
January 13th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
@Scott,
Is it that Licht continually wiffs on edge rushers or is it a DC & his hand picked staff that have failed to develop a single one of them? I’m leaning towards the latter, though we’ll never know as long as things remain the same.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
Of course he has to say that. He needs to keep the peace in the locker room and do you really expect him to talk bad about his boss to the press? C’mon now. We know Bowles has lost at least 4 games this season due to his game managment. Let’s not give him so much credit for beating teams the Bucs should have beat regardless of the coach was. If anything, it’s the OC who bailed Bowles out when his defense allowed a ton of points. Look at the defensive despots chart and tell me how in the heck did this defense have such a terrible year. There are future hof’ers and pro bowl players throughout this defense.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
My question is..Can Todd Bowles fix our sorry ass Defense? Its been lacking all year long. Its been sucking..all year long. Yesterday we could not stop that final Washington Drive. They took almost 4 minutes off the clock. Will there be a commitment by Licht and Bowles to get us a better defense next year? I mean other teams do get even better than the yr before. That applies to the other 31 teams as well.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
If that’s supposed to make me feel better about Bowles, it didn’t work. Respect David, but Todd needs to show the fans better results on defense period. Having the 31st ranked defensive doesn’t cut it.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Pack up and Move the team. That’s my suggestion to the owners. Stadium is half empty or half filled with the opposing teams fans most games anyway.
Some of you guys are decent people with intelligence and football knowledge, but SO many JBF commenters are morons who reduce everything to good/bad, hero/heel bullshlt.
The ONLY reason anybody would want to come to Tampa to play or coach is because of the culture created by Todd….Why else would they? Sure as hell not because of the “fanbase”.
Thats why you hear so much about “family”, “playing for each other”, etc.. You rarely hear ANY of the players or coaches talk about wanting to win for their great fans, and if they mention the fans at all they’re pretty obviously just trying to say the right thing.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the team as individuals, and as a group, think their fans suck worse than the fans think they do.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
The Saints have looked like A$$ since Brees left. The Bucs have not. I have to tip my cap to Bowls on that. The team is also improving on a yearly basis. Slowly that is, but it is till improving none the less. Even in Cap Hell this team remained competitive.
That being said the Bucs window is open now and maybe will be for a couple years. I dont know if bowles can break through his ceiling of achievement or not. He does not change very much and change is what you must do to to break past barriers.
I think Bowles gets 1 last year to actually brerak through. If he cant next year then he never will. He seriously needs to hire a gameday manager for this team, that can call timeouts when needed, give down and distance stats/advice and more. This will only make him and the team better. He needs to do more too, but the simple point of my post is that Todd is at his ceiling and needs to break through or else.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
get a pass rush so he dont need to blitz as much and we can play with just 4 people rushing the quarterback.
January 13th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Most can see the writing on the wall after the past couple years…
2025 will be NO better, likely worse…
Bowels stays around .500 and that IS his best…
Benefited GRATELY by 3 weak teams in division…
2025 Falcons and Panthers likely improve greatly and the Bucs best will likely be 3rd in the division…
Falcons swept Bucs in Raheems 1st year and Panthers were playing strong against quality opponents…
Bowels is the wrong guy and another year wasted won’t change his stripes!
January 13th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
I agree partly with your thoughts on Bowles. BUT there needs to be changes to his staff on defence. They haven’t developed an outside linebacker at all. High draft picks at the position that have not been coached up and that needs to change immediately. I’m fine with him staying if he makes changes to his staff and brings in some new blood. Not making any changes would be, as Joe says, WRECKLESS!
January 13th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Todd Bowles is not a good game manager. His timeout management all seaon long is clear evidence of that. But the bigger issue is that because he’s the DC, he can’t accept that his defense is a weak link on the team and thus adjust his mentality to offset it. If you know the defense isn’t likely to stop the opponent (because it hadn’t all game), then you go for it on 4th and 2. I’m not criticizing Bowles because the defense wasn’t very good. I recognize that we’ve got injuries galore and we’re running practice squad level guys in some positions. But the HEAD coach has to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of his own team and adjust accordingly, something Bowles never did.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
I can’t even watch the D. It’s gonna be funny when the only two games Kirk starts next year are against the Bucs.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
lol keep yelling at the wall Bowles haters. Your opinions will never matter to the team, hurts but true.
Go ahead and give up your season ticket, whatever empty threats you wanna throw. Doesn’t matter. Won’t matter. Move on
January 13th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Nobody is listening to your opinion LVD you were angry when Licht fired lovie smith so clearly you don’t know why fans are disgusted by your defense
January 13th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
@Suk Sandhu
The Falcons may not get better. Their head coach is actually worse than TB, and he doesn’t even have the excuse of wearing both the DC and HC hats.
And this is my issue. We’re in a perfect window where we’re clearly more talented than two of our division brethren (Saints and Panthers) who are going through extensive handicapped rebuilds (Saints due to salary cap issues and Panthers due to sacrificed draft capital), and the 3rd team that has equivalent talent has one of the worst HCs in football. Yet we’re content to accept the mediocrity of Todd Bowles because he managed to eek out the division title against that rabble.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
That’s fine. Waste another year then. This team underachieved all year long with Todd. The amount of times this team has come out flat and uninterested is remarkable. Just like last year. There’s a common denominator in there somewhere.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
If we can get a edge rusher I think we will be good I’m hoping hall (the corner) will be healthy next season and provide a bridge until we can get a top grade corner to play across from zyon. Hopefully David comes back another year and we can get a linebacker in free agency and draft to start molding
January 13th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
Bowles has leadership. Evident in the team.
Hard to learn that.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Have been writing for 3 months that big changes are coming to this defense in 2025 season. Have never seen a defense so incapable of getting turnovers or 3 and out stops. Not sold on Winfield. He returned ( I am told) yesterday but he was a non factor in the defense. Could be that he is still hampered by injury. Kancey looks like a football players and Vea is a presence in the middle. Joe has been promoting a legit EDGE and he is absolutely right. Daniels had way too much time to survey the field last night sort of like Rattler did for NO in the last regular season game. No need to develop an EDGE. Myles Garrett can be had for Tampa 1 and 2 picks. That would be a great deal for a recent Defensive Player of Year winner. Garrett would give Tampa 5 great years and instantly transform the Bucs defense.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Our Leader has spoken
January 13th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
As a Bowles skeptic, I have prefaced my hope to get rid of him by saying the same things Lavonte did. It’s obvious what Bowles good qualities are and everyone appreciates him for that.
They load the D, have a top 5 O again next year and come through healthier…. I bet Joe and Lavonte are both singing a different tune, if we lose a close game in the playoffs again cause Todd misused timeouts or didn’t have the nuts to go on 4th cause he trusts his D to get a stop when they are 2-9 on getting stops.
Next season is THE season. Last with Lavonte, could be last for Vea, for Evans… and everyone is just ok with potentially wasting a SB season with our best guys because Todd is liked in the room and won 3 titles in worst division in football by going 27-24. It’s madness. Trying to win Super Bowls here guys and would love nothing more than to get it for Lavonte and Mike. Clock is ticking.
January 13th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
2-9 is wrong. I counted the 4th down stops. Those were well in FG range… so 0fer on stops but trust the D!
January 13th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
If Bowles is a great leader, then he should do what all great leaders do and self-reflect and realize that game management (time out usage, 4th down go/kick decisions, etc) is NOT his strength and do something to fix it.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
For everyone saying the Panthers are going to be so much better – The Panthers D just set the record for most points allowed EVER. Bryce Young is not better than Baker and the rest of the offense is not as talented as the Bucs. The Bucs aren’t going to lose many players. I don’t know what Intel suggests the Panthers will be better than a team that just lost a playoff game on the last play of the game, but please share.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
It’s prety easy, If you’re a defensive head coach and your defense sucks, you should probably take a look in the mirror.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
Bowles will be back next year so if y’all don’t want him here, y’all should leave and that’s coming from a real fan of the Buccaneers organization, not just player coach or the building the whole organization
January 13th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Right on Lavonte! The team love and respect Todd.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
It’s maddening at times watching the soft zone defense, but the fact is that the Bowles-led defense held the Commanders to 17 points last night until the offense fumbled, and Washington started that drive in the red zone. Washington has one of the better offenses in the NFL, so that’s no small feat.
Some fans want Bowles to walk the plank and appoint Coen as head coach. I love Coen, and I’m sure Licht will do all he can to retain him. But there is no guarantee that even a great coordinator will be a good head coach.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Yeah, we just want a winner. A better team. And a Bruce Arians football mind.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
he’s mediocre at best.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
I am not a fan of Todd Bowles, but the team’s record has slowly improved the last three years despite having one of the youngest teams in the NFL. We have him for at least one more year. If we can be more active this year in free agency and continue to hit on our draft picks, I would not be surprised if the Bucs make a big jump next year. I just hope we don’t waste a draft pick on an edge rusher. Sign one in free agency or trade for one. We don’t have a good history of developing the edge rushers we draft.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
We know he wants to win, but we also know he doesn’t have the ability to do it consistently against good teams.
January 13th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
This is the problem writ large. First of all, we, the fans, pay the salaries of all involved. So, that being the case, I’ll complain about any damn thing I want to. I get it…He’s your buddy. This is one of Bowles’ problems. He’s got his friends on the team. Now Lavonte David is one of the top players in Buccaneer’s team history and the NFL. If he’s not a first ballot hall of famer it will be a crime. There are others though.. As proof I refer you all to Devin White. He was a beast at LSU and his first season here. Hes also immature. That can be forgiven in a kid as most rookies are when they enter the league. Part of the responsibility of the coaching staff is to understand what people need and give it to them. Some people you train CAN’T be told they are great. Some people have to be told they suck and if they don’t get it together they will be replaced. You have to kick them in the butt daily to get the best out of them. Some coaches take that too far. (Arians) Some coaches don’t do it all. I don’t know what Bowles is like behind closed doors but the fact that players stick around active until even the fans notice? You should bench them before I ever get the opportunity to notice.
I suspect the Glazers think there can be some changes that will make it work. I don’t agree. Guess what? No one cares what I think. They own the team.
I understand management and accountability. I have seen some changes moving in that direction. But people are who they are by 60. So I guess we’ll see.
One of the interesting things I’ve noticed among the fans as well as the players… grow some thicker skin. And don’t move to a major market. Ask Jerod Mayo how it feels to get cooked alive by the fan base. You think what people say on Joes is harsh? Go to New York, but brace yourself. Or, God help you, Philly.
January 13th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
“You want to see what improvement looks like?”
@Scourge
How about 8-9, 9-8, 10-7 ? Do you comprehend statistical improvement?
How about some help. That’s a 20% FACTUAL IMPROVEMENT not my or your OPINION of improvement.
How about trend lines. The 3 years trend is up, if Bowles…oops Bowels aren’t I so funny? continues on that trend it’ll be 11 next year and 12 the following.
IF he does that but still does not reach the SB I’ll begin to listen to some of the bedwetting that goes on here!
@GoneGator “Wouldn’t be surprised if the team as individuals, and as a group, think their fans suck worse than the fans think they do.”
The comment about players always mentioning family and never playing one for the fans, with the possible exception of hurricane week, which they suffered through with us, that stands out to me.
Some have said the players only say the politically correct things hence LVD’s praise. I say as someone who has interview 100’s of players obviously they do not bite the hand that feeds them but if they’re unhappy they say NOTHING…MUCH as they have done to praise we fans!
January 13th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
MerryPlankster777 Says:
Making the PLAYOFFS (?!) time and again is far better than just mediocre.
We are mediocre if you haven’t noticed already. Saints have an interim coach, Atlanta and Carolina have new head coach and gm’s. We already had the most talented roster and were the most stable of course we’re winning the division. At least David Tepper let a head coach make it through the entire season for once. Bowles gets the team suddenly it’s not talented. Jamel Dean was fine when BA was head coach and does have a Super Bowl Ring but then started to suck when Bowles took over. You can win with average corners
January 13th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
He hasn’t improved the past 3 years, glad you’ll finally hold him accountable next year when we don’t even make the playoffs because Coen will be gone. Of course Bowles is trying, he’s just not good enough. Of course Levonte, like Baker is humble, takes responsibility for his actions, and won’t throw anyone under the bus. But somebody has to say it. Apparently everyone’s too scared to
January 13th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
Not sure who is on the defensive staff for the Vikings, but Bowles should hire a real assistant defensive coordinator with a fresh look, the Bikings have an aggressive defense that blitzes under Brian Flores. Hire somebody to bring that fresh perspective
January 13th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Players didn’t complain about Raheem either
Not comparable. There were discipline issues and all kinds of other problems. And a 10-game losing streak.–Joe
Players will never complain about a Soft Coach
They get paid and great play is not demanded
Bowles record speaks for itself
One playoff Win
Only in playoffs because of a soft division
Heck Washington had to get us in this year
January 13th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Bowles is trash and the galzers need to step in. TBH What has Licht done beside the Brady years??
I mean that 2 round kicker worked out well for us.
The undersized d line men except Vita
He’s had some good pics but he’s had some bad bad ones too
Bowles keeps his job while Bill Belichick the most winningest coach in history was out there
January 13th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
he told the entire league what his plan was for the wildcard game, and he did it almost a week before the game. we’re gonna run. then baker says we’re gonna target a time of possession victory. all this despite the fact bowles is infamous for giving up double-digit play drives against just about anybody. so what happens? the commanders focus on exactly the right things and enjoy the comfort of knowing bowles is 90 pct likely telling the truth, even on national TV etc. does this remind you of The Godfather trilogy, where Dons repeatedly have to tell their number twos (sonny in the original) “never let them know what you are thinking” well, Licht is our Don, and he needs to talk to handle this exactly how brando and pacino did
January 13th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Buffalo’s coach has not done it; Green Bay’s coach hasn,’t done it; Cleveland’s coach hasn’t done it; Why don’t their fans cry like ours.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Lavonte, your defense sucked majority of this season.
January 13th, 2025 at 8:49 pm
I know everyone talks about how bad our division is and that’s the only reason we’ve won, but I don’t think that’s true. The AFC South doesn’t look great. And while I’m not saying we’re the Bills (though I see some similarities), have you seen the rest of the AFC East? We *are* a good team that has beaten other good teams. We’ve played the best teams close. We’ve lost some real stinkers, and how we lost last night sucked, but it’s not like we were blown out.
I’ll miss watching them the rest of the playoffs, but I look forward to next year. I hope we can make some adjustments on defense that can turn them around. Whether that’s bringing in a new HC, or getting a DC, or other coaching personnel adjustments, that’s above my pay grade. There are plenty of people who know football a lot better than I do with all kinds of different positions on those questions.
January 13th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Fire Bowles. Anything else is just another waste of a season.
January 13th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Thanks Joe for the testimony from Lavonte David. An NFL coach having the respect of his players goes a long way this day and age. Somehow I knew that’s the way it was in the locker room. The Bucs players would do absolutely anything for Todd Bowles, add that to all of the knowledge Coach Bowles has, and that’s what you need to win the Super Bowl!!
Go Bucs !!!!!
January 13th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
I have no problem with Bowles as DC. He needs another CB, ILB, and edge rusher! I do believe they need to do everything possible to keep Liam Coen though, and if that means limiting Bowles to 1-2 years and then handing the reigns to Liam…. put it in writing and do it!
January 13th, 2025 at 9:47 pm
Really David??? no problem with Bowles…did we watch the same game???
Bucs’ defense couldn’t get off the field, thus keeping their own offense on the sideline. Washington never punted. They just chewed up the clock. Daniels threw the ball 35 times…Baker just 18 times. Daniels QBR was 118…Baker’s QBR was 156…almost perfect. Washington controlled the ball all game. Buccaneers’ defense was more than inept: they kept their own offense off the field. Yeah…Baker fumbled but he fought like hell to try to keep the offense on the field. This was just a pathetic performance by the defense. We have an elite NFL offense with the worse NFL defense.
Bowles needs a complete revamp on defense led by a new DC. Just keep Bowles as the HC, Coen as the OC, and maybe Saleh as DC…or someone who can put the fear in the defensive players…
January 13th, 2025 at 10:24 pm
The Bucs offense did not score enough points when they had the ball. Several wasted drives, and a turnover. That’s it bottom line. Bucs normally average 30 points ……. They scored 20. All the Bucs needed was one more TD !!
The defense Holding Daniels to 23 points is a pretty good performance.
Go Bucs !!!!
January 13th, 2025 at 11:11 pm
I love LVD’s body of work but he’ll never be confused for Hardy Dickerson. He was a real alpha dog that got the best out of his other players. No one on this defense had the balls to get in Bowles’s face and chew him out for his soft, lifeless defense. Hell, most of this defense never learned how to tackle. I just wish at least one player on defense played all out. It seems they were not playing with any urgency. Dean, Britt and Hayes need to go asap.
January 13th, 2025 at 11:18 pm
really Bartow??? the offense got on the field for only 24 minutes, so lets blame it on the offense then for not scoring 30 pts because they were sitting down for the other 36 minutes watching our pathetic defense get chewed up…The Commanders purposely milked the clock all game to keep the Buccaneers’ offense off the field or the Commanders would have put 40 on the scoreboard.
Our defensive secondary is just pathetic…I’m tired of some individuals thinking that the offense sucked last night. Baker was 15-18 with a QBR of 156…Evans had 7 catches, and Irving had 90 yards in only 24 minutes.
January 14th, 2025 at 9:26 am
There are two major rules for a head coach. One of them I think Todd Bowles is great at which his being a leader of man instilling a culture having guys want to run through a brick wall for you…
The other is in-game management and play calling which most teams these days have separate coordinators for both sides of the ball. Given that he is also the team’s defensive coordinator I think that is where the main issue is
I would have no objection for keeping him on as head coach if he were to hire a defensive coordinator who could implement a more modern scheme that is a little less player dependent as it was very clear this season due to injuries which happen almost every year that as soon as you don’t have the best player for your scheme fit that the defense falls apart..
During our Super bowl season we had the right players for the scheme and it showed especially during that run at the end of the season and the playoffs.
I would love it if the owners and management kept Todd on as head coach but mandated that he give up his defensive coordinator responsibilities and that we got somebody who could allow the defense to play more aggressively especially on the back end.
As far as free agency and the draft I think are priority for our first four picks should be a rusher cornerback linebacker interior and wide receiver.
We do not know what will happen with Chris Godwin and Mike is getting older. If you look at our team this season after Mike and McMillan we did not really have any receivers worth a damn.
Chase Young is scheduled to be a free agent It’s still pretty young and can be cheap relatively speaking for a first-round talent. I would target him I would target Greg Newsome as these are players who can become starters that would not break the bank and are veterans. Then I would take the best player available in round one it either the edge or cornerback position. I would try to get a very good receiver in round two and I would take a very good inside linebacker which often is still available in round three as it is not deemed as important to position. I would then double down on either corner or edge in the fourth round and take somebody who might be a little bit more raw but has great measurables the way we did when we drafted Zion McCollum.
January 14th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Anti-Bowles is two types of people. Those who are racist and those who don’t really understand the nuances of football.
January 14th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Far too few understand the salary cap hell the has been tied solely to the draft since then.
2023 was a miracle, winning the division and even a playoff game. The team was one of the most injury-free teams in the entire NFL, which certainly had a lot to do with their record.
2024 was a season where the Bucs draft was centered on their biggest weakness at the time – their offense. Six out of the seven picks in the draft were offensive players even though their defense was extremely thin in terms of depth. Of those seven picks, six had some sort of positive impact including the lone defensive guy – Tykee Smith. Unfortunately, 2024 was a year where the injury bug hit BIG TIME – especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Bucs put everything into rebuilding the offense in 2024 and I expect at least six of the seven picks to go to rebuilding the defense in the upcoming draft. Although it is sad that the Bucs didn’t go further this season, it is still remarkable that this team has done as well as it has due to the salary cap hell left behind in the most recent post-Brady years.
I, for one, see the future as incredibly bright. After an all-defense (or almost all-defense) draft next year, the future for the Bucs looks quite bright to me!