Bucs OL Luke Goedeke Ready To Re-Invent Himself Again

Entering the draft in 2022, Goedeke’s prospect profile on NFL.com noted some of his key strengths and weaknesses.

Some key strengths of his game include the following:

• Converted tight end with a surly disposition.
• Strength and quickness to succeed in any run scheme.
• Hard worker in the weight room and with tape study.

While some of his biggest weaknesses were also documented:

• Needs to keep slide steps choppy and low.
• Lack of length can get him beat to the punch.
• Jump in competition and position switch could slow progress.

His profile concluded with Lance Zierlein quoting a former NFL personnel executive saying, “He’s got better instincts than [CMU teammate Bernhard] Raimann and I think he’s going to have the better pro career of the two.”

A 2022 piece by The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner dived deeply into the connection both Raimann and Goedeke formed as offensive linemen during their time as Central Michigan Chippewas.

Both converted from tight ends to tackles and formed a tight bond along the way. Raimann was taken in the third round by the Colts and started 11 games in 2022. Over this offseason, reconnecting with him is important for Goedeke.

“Here and there,” Goedeke said when asked if he talked with Raimann throughout the season. “It’s been a busy rookie year. Hopefully try to connect more in the offseason, but we just spoke about our rookie year a few times – what’s going on and everything.”

A lot has gone on for Goedeke in the past calendar year, and it is a journey that he reflected on further with Pewter Report late last season.

Bucs OL Luke Goedeke Has Had Quite The Journey So Far

Mentioning the background of his journey to him, Goedeke spoke of how surreal it has all been.

“It’s been a dream come true, to say the least,” Goedeke said. “I don’t think it’s truly, fully hit me hit, that I’m really in the NFL. I’m taking every opportunity I can to try to make the most of it, and it’s just crazy that I get this opportunity to play this game at the highest level. I’m really thankful for it.”

Goedeke was also thankful for the experience of protecting Tom Brady last season. Although he grew up in Packers country, he still supported the Patriots and Brady from afar. Asked which team he grew up rooting for, Goedeke mentioned the green and gold.

“Packers, but I was a closet Patriots fan,” Goedeke said. “Otherwise, they don’t let you live in Wisconsin if you don’t root for the Packers. I actually had a Tom [Brady] jersey growing up, so it’s pretty crazy how full circle this has all gone.”

Goedeke had a chance to return to his roots in both aspects in September when he started against his hometown Packers in the Bucs’ home opener.

Another full-circle moment was returning to Valders High School back in February to get his jersey retired.

His rookie season in the NFL was far from perfect, but that is a part of the developmental process for many young players.

“Definitely a lot of ups and downs along the way,” Goedeke said in December as the Bucs’ 2022 season was winding down. “Learned a lot so far, continuing to learn day after day. Getting more comfortable on the left side, even getting some work on the right side. Just a lot of ups and downs and a lot of adversity throughout this season – whether it’s a struggle playing during a few games or an injury.

“It’s been adversity, but at the end of the day, you can only grow from it. Taking it all in and learning – I feel more confident than ever, to be honest with you, especially on the left side. I’ve come a long way in the past weeks; just going against our starting defense in practice helps and everything. It’s just where I’m at right now.”

Bucs OL Luke Goedeke Confident In Being Able To Take Second-Year Jump

For Luke Goedeke, there is a reason he was a second-round pick by the Bucs. He will likely start somewhere on the offensive line in 2023. The team thought highly enough about his ability to develop that he was placed in the left guard spot at the beginning of the season. It is easy to see why, as he has quickly taken leaps throughout his football career.

A Division III college tight end to Division I right tackle to NFL left guard? That is quite the growth track.

While he would be benched in Week 8 in part due to a foot injury, the team’s faith in Goedeke as a player never wavered, and having the perspective of seeing the game from the sideline and honing in his process was helpful.

Did his own confidence dip?

“A little bit, at times, but like, I feel like I’m more confident than ever,” Goedeke said. “You have some games where you’ve played not like you hope and stuff like that. It’s like, ‘Dang, I need to get better, I need to improve,’ and then trying to force it that much harder but it’s not getting any easier.

“Maybe a little bit, but for the most part, my confidence has remained high. At the beginning of the year, I faced a gauntlet of [defensive] tackles. It is what is, and you can only grow from it and get better from it, so that’s kind of where I’m at with everything.”

Asked further about his ability to take the next step; it is not a question for him whether he can improve.

“Absolutely. You had the Combine training and for me, it was like, people had no idea where I’d play,” Goedeke said. “Whether it’d be tackle, guard, some even had center. So, just trying to get down all three and then coming here, they threw you at the left side. In this offseason, I’ll be able to get to grow with that more and more and continue to get better at that.”

Luke Goedeke Has A Big Supporter In Tristan Wirfs

Bucs right tackle Tristan Wirfs defended the play of Goedeke during the season, and he continued to stick by him through his struggles.

“So big thing, I was doing my best to talk to him all camp – the whole season really – because I know what it’s like,” Wirfs said. “He puts a ton of pressure on himself, he can wind himself up really easy. So I was like, ‘Just take a deep breath, everything will be fine,’ but I think that just being able to let go of stuff – something bad happens, so what? I always tell him to take a big breath and there’s nothing you can do to get that play back; you got to move on.

“So I think that’s been a big thing for him, and a way he has grown is by being able to move on, let go, and keep playing. Not letting it fester. If you sit there and fester on it, it’s just going to snowball. From camp to now, exponentially, it’s been awesome.”

If the Bucs draft an offensive tackle next week Goedeke could wind up at right guard, replacing Shaq Mason and playing next to Wirfs.

Luke Goedeke has walked a unique path to becoming an offensive lineman for the Bucs. His story is still being written, but one can assume the next chapters will be filled with more stories of growth and overcoming obstacles.