Bucs Disrespected Once Again In Final NFL Offseason Power Rankings
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been disrespected in just about every conceivable category this offseason, whether it's individual player rankings or offensive and defensive rankings, or coaching staff rankings.
And the team continues to be overlooked nationally.
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After being projected to be cellar-dwellers in 2023, all the Bucs did was win the division and beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round before being ousted by the Detroit Lions in a close game on the road.
The team proved something last season and brought back most of the talent that impressed last year.
But that apparently means nothing to the pundits this offseason, as the Buccaneers have been horribly overlooked in the final offseason NFL power rankings.
No. 24 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 Record: 9-8 ( Lost Divisional)
2024 Betting Win Total: 7.5
[Quarterback Baker] Mayfield will be adjusting to a new play-caller yet again after the Buccaneers lost OC Dave Canales to Carolina's head coaching job. Mayfield has worked briefly with new OC Liam Coen in his stint with the Rams but Coen wasn't calling the plays and runs a slightly different system. That clouds the outlook for the offense for me even though the skill positions are in good shape and the offensive line is. young and theoretically on the upswing.
On defense, there's a lot more personnel turnover. Tampa Bay is transitioning to new faces at edge rusher, linebacker and cornerback and there isn't much in the way of proven production at those positions. Former third-round YaYa Diaby had 7.5 sacks as a rookie but there's not a clear double-digit sack producer on the roster unless Diaby takes a step forward. The cornerback group outside of Jamel Dean is a question mark, too.
The Bucs are the second-best team in the South according to the rankings, with the Carolina Panthers last on the list at No. 32, the New Orleans Saints at No. 27, and the Atlanta Falcons - who many say will win the division - at No. 19.