(Almost) Winning The Offseason
March 30th, 2022
Killing the offseason.
Back in January, the Bucs ended their season barely losing to the Rams. And in a piece for CBS Sports, the Bucs came up just short of the Rams again this week.
Jeff Kerr of CBS decided to break down every NFC team’s offseason fortunes (or misfortunes). Kerr had the Bucs with the best offseason second only to, you guessed it, the Rams.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key additions: WR Russell Gage, G Shaq Mason, CB Logan RyanThe Buccaneers won their offseason the second Tom Brady announced his return, pulling himself out of retirement and instantly making Tampa Bay Super Bowl contenders. Brady’s return sparked Chris Godwin to sign an extension with the Buccaneers and added Gage to the fold while Godwin recovers from an ACL injury. Tampa Bay has one of the best wide receiver trios in the league with Godwin, Gage, and Mike Evans. Now, the Buccaneers have to convince Rob Gronkowski to return.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line will look different with Ali Marpet retiring and Alex Cappa moving to the Bengals, but the Buccaneers added Shaq Mason in a trade and Ryan Jensen re-signed hours before free agency. Brady will be protected in 2022, which will be huge in attempting to dethrone the Rams.
Adding Ryan at safety replaces the loss of Jordan Whitehead, another boost to the secondary after Carlton Davis signed a three-year extension early in free agency. Tampa Bay will have to address the pass rush as Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh are free agents. Both players are also heading into their mid 30s.
Joe believes if the greatest quarterback of all time decides to return, then you won the offseason. What more needs to be said?
Kerr went on to type he could easily see the Bucs and Rams in the NFC title game at Tampa. They’re clearly the best teams in the NFC, he noted, and given how lame the NFC South is north of Tampa, the Bucs ought to have homefield advantage for the playoffs.
The Bucs’ schedule is damn tough this year. So Joe is guessing Kerr thinks the Bucs can sweep the NFC South? Gotta get past that slimy Saints hex first.
March 30th, 2022 at 12:09 am
I agree Joe. You win the off-season when Tom Brady decides to come back.
And I’m not sure how the Rams won. They signed one WR and kept two average OL players. But sure… they won.
March 30th, 2022 at 12:34 am
Use trask and the late first
Round pick to move up in the first round
March 30th, 2022 at 12:46 am
And the Rams lost Von Miller
March 30th, 2022 at 1:01 am
After the draft that all will change
March 30th, 2022 at 1:21 am
The Rams are going to look the same as now, when the season starts. The Bucs have an almost complete arsenal of draft picks.
Even with a normal draft the Bucs will win this off season, though the Colts getting Matt Ryan, might make them close.
Rams are going to have a tough season, and the Saints are going to have offensive problems, maybe 9-8. No big deal.
Trask is still our QB of the future. I still have faith in that, he will be better than fine.
March 30th, 2022 at 2:09 am
Not sure what the Rams did. They lost Von Miller, Whitworth, & OBJ. Signed Allen Robinson.
The Bucs replaced a S & RG and potentially improved both positions. They also added a very good young WR.
March 30th, 2022 at 5:45 am
Hey no question Robinson was a big pick up for them…
But whitworth was their oline leader.
And vonn miller is a huge loss for them as it did take time for him to get going.
Its about the trenches
And this article is not including gronk will return cause cmon …he will…and pretty sure suh will too.
The best position groups in this draft are edge rusher and corner. Our two biggest holes left to fill imo. Obviously d tackle without suh but dline in this draft is que horrible. So sign suh cause slim pickins at d tackle
Now sure bucs could go guard but olines rarely have 5 top players. You can get by with / hide one ok to good (stinnie) player. And guards can be found in rounds 3 and 4 too
Go bucs!
March 30th, 2022 at 6:14 am
This guy is an idiot. The Rams have had a horrible offseason so far.
Lost Von Miller, Andrew Whitworth, OBJ, Robert Woods, and several other key players.
March 30th, 2022 at 6:20 am
They would’ve won the off season if they had went after Miller. Having him in the line up would instantly cover some of the deficiencies in our secondary. Lack of pressure is our BIGGEST weakness the offense is not
March 30th, 2022 at 6:48 am
Craig
Good find. I wasnt aware that rams dont have 1st and 2nd round picks
And their 3rd and 4th round are comp picks so end of each round
I mean they have a ton of comp picks in final rounds
Not sure they find a guy that plays to much? Unless they bundle a bunch to move up
March 30th, 2022 at 7:00 am
The Rams lost some players in the offseason……but they added some complacency.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:11 am
Plus, it’s the Rams that have the bullseye on their backs this season.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:44 am
Let them be crowned as the offseason champs.. I’d rather win the season! Hopefully we’ll be able to land one of the top 3 DTs in the draft. If not, hopefully we’ll get to add Zion and snag Winfrey in the 2nd round.. Licht has put together some good draft classes recently. This one needs to be more impactful immediately than last years class.
March 30th, 2022 at 9:07 am
we won
March 30th, 2022 at 10:10 am
When it’s all said and done, I believe the Bucs will be the ones winning.
March 30th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
I give props to the champs, because they earned it and were built primarily to match up with our team. I anticipate a healthier line and receiver core, so will take my chances with the rematch this post season.