Buccaneers' Veterans Key To 2025 Super Bowl Hope

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had themselves a good offseason, with free agency, the draft, and the ability to re-sign a host of their own players, general manager Jason Licht has gotten it done.

With the Buccaneers seen as a contender in the NFC, and for some, in the wider Super Bowl race, the franchise will enter the 2025 season with as big expectations as it had when Tom Brady arrived.

But the big question is can Tampa Bay bring it all together and go on a deep playoff run?

For CBS Sports, the re-signing of two veteran players is key to any optimism the franchise has.

"The Buccaneers were able to keep two key core pieces intact this offseason," CBS Sports writes. "First, they secured long-time linebacker Lavonte David on a one-year deal as he enters his age-35 season. Then, they lured Chris Godwin back to Tampa with a three-year, $66 million extension.

"While these players are a bit long in the tooth, they've been instrumental pieces to their string of success over the last half-decade. Keeping them in-house should go a long way in Tampa Bay, continuing to push for deep playoff runs."

David helps marshal the defense from his linebacker spot, and one could argue that, still at his age, he is one of the better linebackers in football.

As for Godwin, he was on a career-best pace prior to his injury in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens, which ruled him out for the year. Having him back to go with Mike Evans and the handful of other weapons gives Baker Mayfield plenty of options in the passing game.

But more than just stats, David and Godwin bring a veteran leadership quality both on and off the field that will help the Buccaneers' young core navigate NFL life.

And that might just be the secret ingredient in the Buccaneers amounting to something substantial in 2025.