Lois Newman is Now a pirate Newman was traded after Tampa Bay acquired him on waivers from the Green Bay Packers. With the starting offensive line set, Newman will be an addition to the roster. While sixth-round rookie Elijah Klein impressed with his preseason performance, he ranks ahead of Klein on the additions list and is poised to be the first choice if the team needs to use a backup guard. Royce Newman brings a wealth of experience that Tampa Bay has indicated is a priority in building its offensive line this year.
Buccaneers G Royce Newman – Photo Credit: USA Today
The team appears to be remaking its interior offensive line this year, emphasizing a balanced approach. They are looking to see progress from right guard Cody Moach, who had an up-and-down rookie season. The Buccaneers also spent a first-round pick at center to draft Graham Burton out of Duke. That combination means starting two players next to each other, each with one year of experience. They didn’t want to spread young players across the entire interior.
In the offseason, the Buccaneers signed Ben Bredeson and Su’a Opeta to compete for the left guard position, with the loser of that battle providing a veteran option if a backup is needed at either guard position, and now, with Opeta out for the season, the Buccaneers have shown a new determination to avoid having to field an extremely young player in the event of injury.
The Lois Newman Tapes
I watched some tape on Newman in 2023 to get a feel for him as a player, and the former fourth-round draft pick is a good athlete who performed well in the pre-draft process.
Royce Newman was the 142nd pick in the 4th round in the 2021 draft class. His RAS was 8.72 out of 10.00, which ranks 148th out of 1,152 OGs from 1987-2021. #RAS #Packers pic.twitter.com/JCMqM1bG5x
— Kent Lee Pratt (@MathBomb) May 1, 2021
His best traits I saw aligned with this test: He can get off the line quickly and get good angles on the block. This fits well with the Buccaneers’ strategy we saw throughout the preseason. They rely on the run game and their offensive linemen are expected to be athletes who can be quick in the run game with aggressive movement and drive blocking. He also showed a strong latch when his hands land in the right place.
To highlight these movement skills, we bring you offensive line guru Brandon Thorn.
One of my guys in the 2021 class, Royce Newman, is playing solidly at RG. pic.twitter.com/3zdqy23qU0
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 23, 2021
Lois Newman’s Chance
Despite some positives, there’s a reason the Packers let him go: He was due to make $2.25 million in the final year of his rookie contract after reaching a playing-time threshold that increased his original salary of $1.055 million. With him transitioning from a first-year starter to a backup by 2024, Green Bay opted to save money and give someone else on the roster a chance to take his place.
Buccaneers G Royce Newman – Photo Credit: USA Today
Royce Newman’s game hasn’t improved at all in multiple facets. He plays from such a wide base that his feet slow him down (and sometimes stop him completely) which can get him into trouble. Slower feet make him more susceptible to being slanted. He also hasn’t shown a great anchor that he can use to fend off power rushers.
This inconsistent hand position, plus a lack of success at the NFL level, paints a picture of someone the organization can’t place a lot of confidence in him for. Pro Football Focus Newman’s pressure rate allowed increased from 4.85% in 2021 to 6.64% in 2022 to a career-high (but not in a good way) 8.33% last year.
His run blocking doesn’t make up for his failings in pass protection, and many of the issues listed above show up in the ground game as well. No, the Buccaneers didn’t try to acquire Roy Newman because they saw a player they could unlock. What they want is a player with NFL experience, no matter how bad it may be. What they want is a veteran. And Newman gives them that. He has 33 games’ worth of experience and over 1,700 snaps over the past three seasons. If Bredeson or Mauk can’t play, the Buccaneers will want to work that experience into the starting lineup. Roy Newman brings experience, but nothing more.
