Several offseason NFL power rankings have come out, but predictably, Todd Bowles’ Bucs was most picked last in the NFC South. Tampa Bay doesn’t have Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, under center field, so it’s understandable that some media outlets are suddenly skeptical of the Bucks.
But NFC South has no clear frontrunner. So why not the Bucs, who won Super Bowls and became back-to-back division champions?
Brady is gone and replaced by Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask, but the Bucks still have nine players who have made at least one Pro Bowl. And most of the roster still has championship DNA.
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles said of life in Tampa Bay after Brady: “It’s uncharted territory and I’m feeling a lot of energy because we have some very good players on the team. I’m looking forward to them stepping up and making a difference.”
Bucks ILB Coaches Larry Foote, HC Todd Bowles and LB Labonte David – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs won the NFC South last year with an 8-9 record, but all three division foes were close behind with 7-10 records.
“The South is always tough,” Bowles said. “Anytime you play a Division game, they know you and you know them, so there’s not much separation. I think the South will be tough again this year.”
But Bowles isn’t even ready to hand over the division to New Orleans, who signed the league’s most experienced quarterback in former Raiders signal-caller Derek Carr.
“He’s a good quarterback. He was a good quarterback for the Raiders,” Bowles said. There will be a quarterback.
“Worry about yourself, worry about getting better, prepare when you play that week. I don’t have much to say.”
Todd Bowles’ Bucks had as good an offseason as the NFC South Fords
Thanks to Derek Carr, the Saints are currently considered the favorites to win the division.
Mayfield beat Cleveland 1-1 in the 2020 playoffs. Carr is 0-1 in the postseason, Carolina’s Andy Dalton is his 0-4, and Atlanta’s Taylor his Heinicke is his 0-1.
The Falcons have invested heavily in free agency, acquiring defensive linemen Curry Campbell and David Oniemata, free safety Jesse Bates and linebackers Kayden Ellis and Heinicke. The team also re-signed guard Chris Lindstrom, giving Caleb McGarry a big deal.
Bucs DC Todd Bowles and CB Jamel Dean – Photo Credit: USA Today
The Panthers have a new coach in Frank Reich and will no doubt spend their first overall pick on a talented quarterback in either Ohio State’s CJ Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young. They added end Hayden Hurst, running back Miles Saunders, wide receiver Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and signed Dalton, among other moves.
For now, experts can put Bucs at the bottom of NFC South. It won’t be a problem until the team hits the field in his December and decides on the grass or grass division.
but The Bucks actually had a very good offseason $35 million of that is from Brady, despite limited cap resources due to $75 million in dead cap money. Tampa Bay has Mayfield, running back Chase Edmonds, defensive tackle Greg Gaines, kicker Chase McLaughlin, New Powerful Safety Ryan Neal among other movements.
“It is too early to say what will be done [in the NFC South]said Todd Bowles. “Everybody is making changes for the better. We worry about ourselves now trying to get better. We’re in the middle of doing something, we’ll see what the team looks like in September.But we’re ready to compete.”
