The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 offseason began a lot earlier than anyone in the organization thought that it would. Tampa Bay was eliminated by the Los Angele Rams in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, stopping their pursuit of back-to-back Super Bowls short.
This offseason could be a tough one for the Buccaneers. They have numerous important free agents and very limited cap space, but on top of that, they are losing Tom Brady as well. Brady made his retirement official, which adds another task to the to-do list for general manager Jason Licht.
Brady’s retirement will likely cause a domino effect when it comes to filling out the roster this offseason. Without him leading the way, Tampa Bay is likely to take a step or two back this offseason. But, given the current state of the NFC South, they could still contend for a divisional crown in 2022.
No matter who is under center for the team next season, the pass-catching weapons need to be addressed. Brady had an embarrassment of riches to throw the ball to with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown at wide receiver and Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard at tight end. Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, Giovani Bernard and Ke’Shawn Vaughn combined to make a solid running back group as well.
However, Godwin, Gronkowski, Howard and Fournette are free agents. Brown was cut following the game against the New York Jets in a situation that we still do not have full clarity of. Adding some weapons in the offseason is a necessity, and Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports believes that process could start in the 2022 NFL Draft.
In his most recent mock draft, he has the Buccaneers selected Colorado State tight end, Trey McBride, with the No. 27 overall pick. Here is what Wilson said about McBride.
“We finally got a chance to watch McBride’s ’21 tape and it blew us away. He will block you into the stands but at 6-4, 260 pounds, he consistently finds ways to get open downfield. He does remind us a little of Gronk but stiff-armin’ Vance McDonald might be a better comp. Either way, the Bucs could be looking to restock the position this offseason — Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard appear headed for free agency.”
McBride was truly dominant in 2021, catching 90 passes for 1,211 yards in 12 games for Colorado State. The only knock against him was that he had only one touchdown, but the Rams threw for only 15 all season. He had more than a third of the team’s receptions and receiving yards.
Wilson has him projected as the first tight end off the board and the only one being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
