Buccaneers Fall in Latest Power Rankings

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear up for the 2025 season, they’re aiming to keep the momentum rolling into training camp. The road to a fifth-straight division championship starts now, and the Pewter Pirates are locked in.

With no major overhauls in the offseason, the Buccaneers’ key move was promoting Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator, yet the team still faces high expectations for a deeper postseason run.

The NFC South is ripe for the taking, but the Buccaneers will need to navigate a demanding NFL schedule to claim the division title.

Despite a quiet offseason, the Buccaneers made savvy moves in free agency and the draft. However, The Athletic’s latest power rankings suggest some doubt, dropping Tampa Bay four spots to 16th.

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The Buccaneers find themselves in an intriguing position, especially with powerhouse teams like the Packers, Texans, Steelers, and 49ers ranked ahead of them.

Tampa Bay’s offense is poised for another strong season, returning all 11 starters and bolstering a top-five unit with additions like Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson. However, knowing their defense was a weakness, Tampa Bay focused on shoring up the defensive line and secondary through the draft and signing elite pass rusher Haason Reddick in free agency.

The Buccaneers’ recent drop in rankings can be attributed to two key factors: uncertainty surrounding Chris Godwin’s return to form after his ankle surgery and the expected absence of All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs for the first four games due to an MCL injury. Both players were placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, casting a shadow over Tampa Bay’s prospects for the upcoming season.

In essence, the team’s rankings took a hit because of concerns about Godwin regaining his old form and Wirfs’ injury, which will impact the team’s performance, especially in the early stages of the season.

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The loss of key players like Chris Godwin and Wirfs can significantly impact the Buccaneers, particularly in the early going. Given the NFL’s grueling schedule, Tampa Bay is taking precautions to protect its stars for the stretch run. While the season’s start might not live up to expectations, the 2025 Bucs have potential. If everything falls into place, they could surge up the power rankings by season’s end.

The BR Rub 

Look, we get it. Starting a season without two stars like Godwin and Wirfs is brutal. But neither player is reported to be out for the season. Yes, Charlie Heck isn’t Tristan Wirfs, but he’s serviceable in the short-term.

The Godwin Injury was horrific, no doubt. It also creates a huge hole in the team’s offense. But, with emerging star Jalen McMillan behind Mike Evans, this isn’t as bad as some would think. Then add in first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka and you quickly realize, the Bucs offense is built to be without Godwin for the time being.