Buccaneers’ Cody Mauch Named One of NFL’s Most Underrated

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers boasted one of the top lines in football last season, so it’s no surprise they prioritized keeping that unit intact heading into 2025.

The Buccaneers secured left guard Ben Bredeson with a three-year, $22 million contract extension in March, solidifying their offensive line chemistry for the 2025 season. Bredeson played a crucial role in the team’s dominant run game and pass protection last year. With Tristan Wirfs, the left tackle, currently recovering from a knee injury, the Buccaneers anticipate a strong reunion of their starting lineup once he’s back. The intact line will feature Bredeson at left guard, Cody Mauch at right guard, Graham Barton at center, and Luke Goedeke at right tackle, alongside Wirfs.

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Mauch is entering his third NFL season after being drafted in 2023. Despite playing tackle at North Dakota State, the Buccaneers transitioned him to guard, a move that has paid off. Mauch has become a key lineman for Tampa Bay, earning recognition from PFF writer Zoltan Buday as one of the NFL’s most underrated players heading into the season.

“Perhaps no offensive lineman bettered their game more in 2024 than Tampa Bay’s Mauch. The Buccaneers’ 2023 second-round pick earned only a 43.9 PFF overall grade as a rookie, which ranked 74th among 79 guards that year. This past season, he recorded a 74.6 PFF overall grade, which ranked 16th at the position.”

Buday continued,

“Mauch also logged a 77.2 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, ranking sixth among 73 qualifying guards, and allowed pressure on only 2.7% of pass plays (tied for fourth best among guards).”

Mauch is poised for another strong season in 2025, playing alongside talented linemen Luke Goedeke at right tackle and Graham Barton at center. Barton, a first-round draft pick, has bolstered the Buccaneers’ offensive line, and the chemistry within the unit bodes well for the team’s performance.

The Buccaneers’ offensive line will look to build on its strong performance from last season, with their first challenge coming in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Charlie Heck is expected to start at left tackle in place of injured Tristan Wirfs.