The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shaping up to again be one of the better teams in the NFC, with Baker Mayfield leading the team to what they hope will be a third straight playoff appearance in 2025.
No one can argue that the offense, now led by Josh Grizzard, has weapons that are the envy of the league with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, Bucky Irving, and Cade Otton.
So the offense is set. But what about the defense?
For most, this is where the problems start. General manager Jason Licht signed Haason Reddick in free agency and drafted Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish to help solidify the secondary.
But despite that, CBS Sports' biggest question mark for Tampa in 2205 is whether its defense is playoff-ready.
"Is Todd Bowles' defense equipped for a real run? We know now that Baker Mayfield has the arm and the guts to spoil contenders down the stretch, plus a lineup now featuring rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka," CBS Sports writes. "Is Bowles' once-vaunted unit on the same level? It would certainly help if Haason Reddick is able to come through as a sack artist for hire."
Given the sheer number of weapons available, there are no questions about Mayfield and the offense, but it is all on the defense.
Last season, the Buccaneers were 16th in the NFL for points allowed (22.6 p.g), seventh in sacks (46), 15th in allowing third-down conversions (39 percent), and ninth in allowing touchdowns once in the red zone (53 percent).
The Buccaneers were fine, but those stats need to tighten up to go deep in the postseason. Will Reddick, the draft selections, and the proposed improvement from players on the roster help that? It's possible.
And until they can consistently prove it on the field, some might be hesitant to put the Buccaneers at the pointy end of the NFC conversation because of it.
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