The Bucks have announced their team captains for the 2023 season. Most of the Bucs’ selections have previously served as captains, but the retirement of quarterback Tom Brady, who was a three-time captain with Tampa Bay from 2020 to 2022, created one vacancy in the offense. .
It makes sense for the starting quarterback to be one of the team’s captains, and that’s what happened when Brady came to the Bucs at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Ta. Brady got to know his teammates over the summer through his own personally organized workouts, even though he didn’t have any OTAs to attend. Arguably, Brady was preceded by the reputation of being the greatest quarterback of all time, making him an easy choice to be team captain.
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The fact that the Bucs named Baker Mayfield their starting quarterback comes as no surprise given his stellar play during the team’s 3-1 start. Mayfield began showing great leadership qualities from the day he arrived in Tampa in free agency. That was evident from early OTAs to mandatory minicamp to training camp to the start of the regular season.
Mayfield has natural leadership abilities that he displayed during his time at Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy and was selected No. 1 overall by Cleveland in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent a lot of time bonding with his teammates during the offseason, attending charity events and going out to dinner and golf. So it’s no surprise that Mayfield would replace Brady not only as the team’s starting quarterback, but also as team captain.
The Bucs offense has four captains.
Joining Baker Mayfield as offensive captain is longtime captain Mike Evans. The Bucs’ leading receiver enters his seventh year with the “C” on his chest as the longest-tenured player on the team’s offense. Evans, 30, has established himself as a more vocal leader in recent years, but remains one of the best role models. Everyone wants to be like Mike, a future Hall of Famer.
Bucks WR Chris Godwin – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Bucs have another first-time captain on offense in fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin. The seven-year veteran is the highest-paid player on the offense, earning $20 million per season. His status within the team also increased this offseason when he appeared in the Bucks’ creamsicle uniform unveiling video. One of four Bucks players depicted on Raymond James Stadium muraljoins fellow receiver Mike Evans.
The final offensive captain is left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who is also a first-time captain. Wirfs, a two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro, is arguably the most talented player on the Bucks’ roster. He has been a solid force at right tackle, but is moving to left tackle this season in place of Donovan Smith.
In Tristan Wirfs’ camp diary published in Pewter Report in August, the Bucks’ 2020 first-rounder revealed that he actually wants to replace Tom Brady as team captain this year.
“I would love to be the captain of the team,” Wirfs said. “I never captained a team in college. I always wanted to be captain of a team, especially in college, it’s always a tradition for the seniors. Here I’m trying to step up into more of a leadership role where men can rely on me. If I have to move guys, I’ll move them.
“For the last three years, I’ve been out there doing my job. But in the conversations I’ve had, people have wanted me to step up more. I’m ready to be here in whatever role they’re looking for. I want to help all of them win ballgames and I want to be here for them.”
The Bucks have four captains on defense.
Defensively, legendary linebacker Lavonte David, returning for his 12th season with Tampa Bay, was a given. David has been a captain for his 10 years in Tampa Bay and is the elder statesman on the Bucs roster. At 33, he is the oldest and most respected player on this year’s Buccaneers.
Bucks ILB Devin White and FS Antwan Winfield Jr. – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Fellow inside linebacker Devin White has been a team captain since 2020, his second year in Tampa Bay. However, his role as captain may be in jeopardy after a trade request and contract holdout this offseason. Still, White showed up to training camp, resumed his role as a leader and integrated into the team. His teammates rewarded him by naming him their captain for the third consecutive season. That was what he was aiming for in training camp.
“I want to be captain again. That was one of the tough things,” White said. “It was hard to sit. I didn’t really sit because I wanted to be here, because I’m still in the building. But at the end of the day, it’s over. I’m on the field all my life. I’m working hard and I’m being hugged by everyone. I’m working in the field and improving them, and they’re [are] It makes me better. ”
Nose tackle Vita Vea made his first Pro Bowl in 2021, and his height paid off in the Bucs’ game the following year. He was selected as the first team captain for the 2022 season. Baer led Tampa Bay with a career-high 6.5 sacks last year and is in his second year as team captain. Baer is also one of four Bucs players depicted in the mural outside Raymond James Stadium, along with linebacker Lavonte David and receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
The Bucks had three defensive team captains last year in White, David and Baer, and all three enter the 2023 season wearing the “C” on their chests and in the same leadership roles. They currently have four with the selection of playmaking safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield wanted to break up the captain’s lineup this year. To his credit, Winfield was one of four players selected by the team to appear in the Bucks’ Creamsicle uniform unveiling video at Raymond James Stadium. I didn’t paint it on the mural.
Winfield isn’t directly pursuing the captain’s role, but he spoke about stepping up as a leader this season as he enters an important contract year.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” Winfield said. “The more years you get in this league, the more you’re going to take on that role. So my goal is to encourage guys and get them on the same level as me, knowing that I’m going to make the guys around me better.” We need to make sure that we raise our standards.”
In the past, the Bucs have had a special teams captain or two, but that wasn’t the case last season or this year. Former punter Bradley Pinion and former linebacker Kevin Minter served as team captains on special teams in 2021.
