Five Biggest Training Camp Storylines For The Buccaneers Offense

Training camp is upon us. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will soon be taking the field and beginning to prepare for the 2025 NFL season. Expectations are high and everyone should be paying close attention to this Super Bowl contender.

Today I turn my attention to the offensive side of the ball. This was one of the best units in the NFL last season. With stars all over the field, there will be plenty to see.

However, there are a surprising number of questions for a group that returned all their starters from last year. Even beyond questions, there will be plenty of storylines to follow. Here are my five biggest training camp storylines for the Bucs offense.

Josh Grizzard

While all of the starters are returning from the Buccaneers offense, there will be a significant change. Josh Grizzard will be taking over the offensive coordinator job from now Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. And while this in house hire brings some stability it’s safe to say that there is also some uncertainty.

Grizzard has never called plays at any level. The Bucs are no stranger to this as it was the case two years ago with offensive coordinator and now Carolina Panthers beach coach Dave Canales. Todd Bowles knows how to break in a new play caller.

This comes with a natural chess match in practice. Bowles, a defensive minded coach who also serves as the defensive play caller in season going against Grizzard in live game simulations. Trying to out maneuver one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL on a daily basis should get Grizzard ready from the regular season the same way it did Canales in 2023.

Replacing Wirfs

This is certainly the biggest bummer of all the storylines this offseason. Star left tackle Tristan Wirfs’ unexpected knee surgery will sideline him through all of training camp and into the regular season. Now the team has to get his replacement up to speed.

Charlie Heck was signed this offseason to replace Justin Skule as the primary backup offensive tackle. He has 23 career starts in his five year NFL career. In terms of depth, he is very serviceable.

However, he’s a better run blocker than he is a pass blocker. He will have to be brought along in pass protection and given some additional support. I’ll be keeping a close eye on how he progresses.

Godwin Injury

We know that Chris Godwin is going through the rehabilitation process after a season ending injury last year. However, we don’t know exactly where he is in that process or what his time table looks like. His health situation will be something to monitor as he works his way back to the field.

The other aspect of this is who will step in for him in the offense. Between first round pick Emeka Egbuka and second year player Jalen McMillan it should be an interesting competition. Both are good options, so they should push each other to be the best version of themselves.

McMillan ended the season very strong last year. He finished the year with eight touchdowns last year and filled that Godwin void down the stretch. Egbuka is obviously someone the Bucs really like after spending a first round pick on him. His route running, reliable hands and toughness over the middle make him a natural number two in this offense.

Year Two Jumps

The Bucs have a number of second year players on offense who could play a big role in 2025. The likes of Graham Barton, Jalen McMillan, Bucky Irving and even Devin Culp were all rookie draft picks last season who got playing time last season. These players will all be critical in year two. 

As last year’s first round pick, Barton has the biggest expectations. He moved from left tackle to center and that came with some natural growing pains. Now with a year of experience and coaching under his belt he can start to realize his massive potential. 

Both McMillan and Irving were big time playmakers for the Buccaneers offense last year. They each scored eight touchdowns and stepped up in the second half of the season when injuries riddled the team. Both now will look to build on last season in one of the NFL’s most exciting offenses. 

Also, keep Culp on your radar. He is an very athletic pass catching tight end with high upside. If the coaching staff can get the most out of him then he will develop into a legitimate weapon.

Filling Out The Wide Receiver Depth Chart

We know the big names at the top of the Bucs wide receiver room. Mike Evans, Godwin, Embuka and McMillan are all set in stone. After that things start to get a little more interesting.

Veteran Sterling Shepherd will look to stick with the team again this year. He was a teammate of Mayfield’s in college, so their chemistry is probably the best of this bottom tier. The Buccaneers also drafted Tez Johnson in the seventh round. He is severely undersized, but his college tape looks really good and he has legitimate punt return ability which will give him a leg up.

Trey Palmer is entering his third year with the team. He has blazing speed and is more of an outside receiver unlike Shepherd and Johnson. Then there are the likes of Ryan Miller, Kameron Johnson and Rakim Jarrett who the coaches have all spoken highly of at various points. Of this group I like Miller due to his size at 6’1 and 220 lbs.