Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus provided grades for all games. 32 NFL teams offseason. The Bucks received some pretty favorable reviews from PFF analysts and former Pewter reporters.
Sikkema gave Tampa Bay an “A” for its offseason.
Only the Detroit Lions received a better grade (A+) than the Buccaneers.
Sikkema wrote about the Buccaneers’ offseason: “Tampa Bay re-signed Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. this offseason, but did not re-sign Shaq Barrett and Devin White and traded Carlton Davis. In other words, they kept the players they wanted to keep. The Buccaneers then executed a very good draft that included an immediate starter in Graham Burton followed by a line of quality reserves.”
Sikkema focused much of his analysis on how Tampa Bay managed to retain a lot of the talent that was potentially departing. In terms of additions, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht added cornerbacks Tavierre Thomas and Bryce Huff to the roster. Safety Jordan Whitehead and offensive linemen Su’a Opeta and Ben Bredeson.
All of these additions, except for Whitehead, were designed to improve the bottom end of the Buccaneers’ roster while giving the team potential lower-tier starting options.
Tampa Bay is one of six teams to receive an A grade from PFF, joining Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Washington.
The Buccaneers had the best offseason in the NFC South.
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and assistant GM John Spytek – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Sikkema compared the Buccaneers’ offseason to that of their most direct rivals and ranked the Buccaneers as the best.
The Saints had the second-best offseason performance, earning a B+ grade. Sikkema noted that their top two draft picks, offensive tackle Talise Fuaga and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, should make an immediate impact, and he thinks New Orleans got great value with their fifth-round pick of development quarterback Spencer Rattler.
The Panthers received a C+ on the report card, with Sikkema praising the hiring of Dave Canales, the additions of free agents Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and the trade acquisition of Diontaie Johnson.
He also sees immediate impact from skill-position draft picks Xavier Leggett, Jonathan Brooks and Ja’Tavion Sanders, but was critical of the process that led to pass rusher Brian Barnes being traded away from the team.
The Falcons were rated the worst in their division, not just the league, and without elaborating on the talking points in NFL circles after the draft, Sikkema criticized the Falcons’ decision. Draft quarterback Michael Pennis Jr. Despite major defensive issues, they gave Kirk Cousins $90 million in guaranteed money and then selected him eighth overall.
