The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to undergo some big changes in 2023. They have already begun as offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was fired following the team’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, getting eliminated from the postseason.
From a scheme and game plan standpoint, the Buccaneers are going to look vastly different. There is a chance that they look vastly different personnel-wise as well. All eyes will be on quarterback Tom Brady as he is set to hit free agency.
There has been plenty of speculation about what Brady will decide to do. If he going to decide to retire, for good, this time after announcing his retirement in 2022 only to come back a few weeks later. If he does return, will it be for Tampa Bay or another franchise?
There are franchises around the NFL that would love to add Brady to their lineup. The Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and his former team, the New England Patriots, have all been mentioned as possible landing spots.
The Buccaneers need to have contingency plans in place so that they can be prepared for whatever outcome occurs. If Brady does opt to leave, one player that would pique their interest as his replacement is Derek Carr.
Carr’s time with the Raiders has all but come to an end. He was benched the final two games of the regular season and recently send a heartfelt message out to the fans that have supported him as the Raiders’ starting quarterback for the last nine seasons.
It is a matter of when not if, Carr is on the move. The Raiders will likely try trading him so that they can recoup some assets in exchange instead of outright releasing him. But, teams know that the franchise is on the clock and could wait them out and bid on him as a free agent instead of surrendering assets.
In Tampa Bay Carr would have some elite weapons to work with in the passing game. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage Jr. make up arguably the best wide receiver trio in the NFL. Rachaad White had a solid rookie season at running back, providing a good situation for a quarterback to join.
Fixing the offensive line will be atop the to-do list for the Buccaneers this offseason regardless of who is under center. It would have been difficult for even a prime Brady to get the job done behind that unit in 2022.
Given the current landscape with the other teams in the NFC South, there is no reason that the Buccaneers cannot compete for the division title once again in 2023. Adding Carr to the mix would ensure they remain competitive as they laid the groundwork heading into the future and prepare for life after Brady.
