Three hottest seats on Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Few seats in Tampa are truly hot following the team's third consecutive NFC South title in 2023. Still, issues along the offensive line could jeopardize a couple of jobs, while the coaching staff might not be fully out of the woods, either.

Here are the three hottest seats on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Center Robert Hainsey

The former Notre Dame offensive lineman is entering the final year of his rookie contract. After an uneven first three seasons, he might not be in the team's long-term plans, but Hainsey can change that with a productive 2024. In 2023, he allowed four sacks and 27 total pressures, tied for the league's 12th-most among centers. He also contributed to Tampa's league-worst rushing attack.

The Bucs finished last in ESPN's run-block win-rate rankings and averaged 88.8 rushing yards per game. According to data from Pro Football Focus, Tampa running backs gained a measly 374 yards on 138 carries up the middle in 2023, an average of 2.7 yards per attempt. Hainsey was also flagged nine times, the second-most among all centers.

Right guard Cody Mauch

Hainsey isn't the only lineman with dirty hands. Mauch, entering his second season, is also a culprit. Among 55 guards with at least 254 run-block opportunities in 2023, Mauch received the league's worst run-block grade, per PFF. Backs only gained 2.9 yards per attempt when rushing in his direction compared to 3.6 yards when running to the left side of the line.

He was inconsistent in pass protection, too. Despite seven games with one or fewer pressures allowed, Mauch finished the season with 48 total pressures and seven sacks allowed. The Bucs have the pieces to win another division crown. If Mauch can't keep his end of the bargain, Tampa must find someone who will.

Head coach Todd Bowles

Tampa Bay has had one of the league's best offseasons by retaining quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Now, it's up to Bowles to ensure last season wasn't a fluke and the Bucs are still the class of the NFC South. If he remembers to use all of his timeouts, even better.

Bowles' ability to keep Tampa afloat following Tom Brady's retirement when several pundits expected it to decline is commendable, but the Bucs won't be a feel-good story this season if they make the playoffs. More will be expected of them, and for a coach with a 43-58 career record and only two winning seasons, it remains to be seen if Bowles can deliver an encore as good as his last act.