In a brand new summer season collection, I’ll check out some Bucs matters for the upcoming season – and discover them with a twist.
Our subsequent subject is – what if the Bucs win the Tremendous Bowl in 2024?
Impressed by Marvel’s “What If…?” comedian books and the Marvel animated collection, let’s check out some doubtlessly totally different outcomes to a few of the extra intriguing storylines in Tampa Bay that no person sees coming. To be clear, this isn’t a collection of matters that Pewter Report believes will occur or essentially hopes will occur. Simply use your creativeness and prepare for some surprises, Tampa Bay followers.
The Background
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: USA As we speak
When Tom Brady retired from the NFL after the Bucs completed the 2022 season with an 8-9 document and a humbling 31-14 playoff loss at house to the Cowboys, there have been loads of nationwide media pundits that believed – and even urged – that basic supervisor Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles hit the rebuild change and blow the staff up. Tampa Bay had an amazing three-year run with Brady that included a Tremendous Bowl championship in 2020 and a pair of division championships the following two seasons.
However with Brady gone and former second-round choose Kyle Trask not able to assume the beginning quarterback duties, there have been requires the Bucs roster to be blown up and for Licht to begin buying and selling away the very best gamers to stockpile draft picks and enter rebuild mode. As an alternative, Licht and Bowles opted to reload slightly than rebuild.
Nonetheless having loads of Professional Bowl expertise on the roster, the Bucs signed quarterback Baker Mayfield to an inexpensive, one-year, prove-it contract with the hopes that they have been getting the expertise that was the previous first total choose in 2018 – not the journeyman quarterback he had turn into within the 2022 season when he was traded to Carolina after which waived and picked up by the L.A. Rams.
Mayfield proved to be the catalyst wanted on offense and had a profession 12 months with 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns and simply 10 interceptions. It was the bounce-back 12 months he wanted to resuscitate his profession and his efficiency helped Tampa Bay enhance to 9-8, seize one other NFC South title, trounce the Eagles at house within the playoffs, 32-9, and advance to the NFC Divisional Spherical.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Okay Chase McLaughlin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
After a disappointing slide during which the Bucs misplaced six of seven video games following a 3-1 begin, the staff received its act collectively and gained 5 of the final six video games of the season because of Bowles’ regular perception in his gamers. With Tampa Bay successful six of its final eight video games, together with the postseason, Licht and Bowles seized on the late-season momentum and re-signed all the staff’s high free brokers, together with Mayfield, Professional Bowl vast receiver Mike Evans, All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr., legendary linebacker Lavonte David and ace kicker Chase McLaughlin.
Licht and the staff’s personnel division have now had three nice drafts and stockpiled the roster with low-cost, younger, starting-caliber expertise to assist the Bucs wage cap get well from the final Tremendous Bowl run. That rising expertise helped gas the late-season run final 12 months and is anticipated to assist Tampa Bay enhance and attain double-digit wins and win a fourth-straight NFC South championship.
In 2023, Tampa Bay was two wins away reaching the Tremendous Bowl, shedding at Detroit, 31-23. This season, it’s not unthinkable that an improved Bucs staff might topple the Lions and even the 49ers and attain the Tremendous Bowl.
And if Tampa Bay have been to play a powerhouse staff like Kansas Metropolis? Properly, we all know Bowles and his protection have shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense in a Tremendous Bowl earlier than. And each time the Bucs have gained a Tremendous Bowl, it’s been with a veteran free agent quarterback like Brad Johnson in 2002 or Brady in 2020. Maybe Mayfield turns into the third such quarterback in Tampa Bay lore.
What If The Bucs Win The Tremendous Bowl In 2024?
Bucs co-chair Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, assistant GM Mike Greenberg and GM Jason Licht – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay is a darkish horse contender for the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months. Most nationwide media pundits are selecting Atlanta to win the division because of the arrival of veteran Professional Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins.
But the final time the Bucs gained the Tremendous Bowl, they didn’t even win the division and needed to win three straight playoff video games on the highway as a Wild Card staff in 2020. So whether or not it occurs as a division champion or a Wild Card staff, what if the Bucs stunned the NFL and gained the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months?
What might – or would – occur subsequent for this franchise?
A Tremendous Bowl championship might ship shockwaves all through the group on many ranges. Beginning on the high, basic supervisor Jason Licht might turn into staff president after his eleventh season with the group and after successful two Tremendous Bowl rings.
Sensing that NFL groups will need a few of what the Bucs have, Licht is aware of that his entrance workplace will lastly be raided within the 2025 offseason. For some cause, different groups haven’t come calling for a few of his high personnel executives, and that has led to the Tampa Bay scouting division staying intact and producing three mega draft lessons.
Licht’s elevation to staff president permits him to advertise staff strategist and capologist Mike Greenberg from assistant basic supervisor to G.M. Licht will nonetheless be concerned in personnel, as that’s his specialty, however Greenberg will get the brand new title and a promotion.
Bucs administrators of participant personnel Rob McCartney and Mike Biehl – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
John Spytek, the staff’s different assistant G.M. will get employed away to turn into a basic supervisor elsewhere and run one other staff. This transfer is lengthy overdue, as Spytek is among the NFL’s finest expertise evaluators and personnel males.
Licht and Greenberg promote director of participant personnel Rob McCartney and vp of soccer analysis Jackie Davidson to the roles of assistant basic managers. McCartney takes over for Spytek as the highest personnel man within the group subsequent to Licht, and Davidson continues to work with and advise Greenberg and Licht with the wage cap and staff technique.
Director of participant personnel Mike Biehl, who oversees the Bucs faculty scouting division, additionally will get employed away to turn into a basic supervisor within the 2025 offseason. Longtime Buccaneer Byron Kiefer, the staff’s senior personnel director, will get promoted to director of school scouting and heads up faculty scouting as a consequence of his background in that space and his historical past as a university scout.
In a surprising transfer, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles goes out on high and retires on the age of 61. He finishes his four-year head teaching stint in Tampa Bay with a successful document and because the solely head coach in franchise historical past to have made the playoffs annually on the helm of the group.
Licht and Greenberg promote offensive coordinator Liam Coen to move coach to proceed to work with Baker Mayfield, whereas co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Larry Foote takes over for Bowles because the play-caller on protection. Line of defense coach Kacy Rodgers stays as a co-defensive coordinator.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles & Co-DC Larry Foote – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
There are a few notable roster strikes that additionally happen following the Bucs’ third Tremendous Bowl championship. Linebacker and staff captain Lavonte David retires at age 35 together with his Corridor of Fame candidacy boosted by two Tremendous Bowl titles, which supplies him an edge over the likes of Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. David and long-time defensive deal with Will Gholston experience off within the sundown a part of a small, elite group that captured two Tremendous Bowl titles in Tampa Bay.
The Bucs reward vast receiver Chris Godwin with a brand new two-year contract that carefully resembles the one dished out to Mike Evans within the 2024 offseason. As anticipated, Godwin shined as a slot receiver in Coen’s offense, and each he and Evans topped 1,000 yards every once more for the fourth straight season as a duo.
Godwin’s re-signing offers Mayfield his two high targets within the passing recreation because the Bucs look to defend their Tremendous Bowl title within the 2025 season. How’s that for a cheerful ending in 2024?
Different articles in Scott Reynolds’ What If? summer season collection:
What If Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Led The Bucs In Sacks?
What If The Bucs Wore Orange Pants For The Creamsicle Sport?
What If Mike Evans Didn’t Get 1,000 Yards This Season?
What If Bucky Irving Is Higher Than Rachaad White?
