It will take a long time for the Eagles to steam the Chiefs at 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX before a more meaningful football is placed.
This opens up discussions about how this offseason will be played for each NFL team, and how the teams will stack up with each other. ESPN recently went through such an exerciseand after making five consecutive seasons of playoffs, where will the Bucs rank?
Bucs is in the middle of ESPN’s early 2025 power ranking pack
Bucs GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
After narrowing down to playoff photos this past season, the Bucs ranked 16th in their first 2025 NFL power rankings. ESPN’s Jenna Laine spoke about this about the team’s current state and how they can improve.
The situation with the offensive coordinators is solidified (Josh Grizzard), and the Bucks really need to bolster their defense. They only had three double-digit sack edge rushers since 2005, and none since 2021. In 2024, there were almost double the number of 2024, and in 2024 there were only seven interceptions (13). They gave up an average of 22.6 points in 2024. This is in the middle of the pack and isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s about to go from playoff contenders to Super Bowl winners.
It’s hard to argue that keeping Tampa Bay at the top of the list stems from a football defensive issue. They boasted a top five offense last year, but there shouldn’t be much drop-off if Josh Grizzard replaces Liam Cohen. The focus will shift to defense and how teams upgrade units to reach another level in 2025.
Although they will not continually beat the proverb drums, the team’s needs have been accused of general manager Jason, who has since won the Super Bowl with Tom Brady in 2020, before Brady’s historic arrival. – Licht formed the core of the list. Defence as he signed, traded and drafted many high-end talents. With the nuclei slowly torn and fewer and fewer each year, head coach Todd Bowles’ defense needs to add someone who will add some differences to each level to be in a similar location.
This is the biggest way for BUCS to prove these power rankings wrong next season.
Is the 16th fair placement of Bucs that will enter 2025?
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo: USA Today
Right now, with the start of free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, it is difficult to pinpoint the most accurate slots for each team. Still, it’s worth pondering – how good is it in 2025 when they know what they need to deal with and the question marks surrounding the roster? Other teams have large teams with their own teams.
We need to wonder about the future of the Vikings, which came in 10th place. If quarterback Sam Darnold leaves him at a free agency, they may slide the list. The Rams came in 12th and there were looming quarterback questions with Matthew Stafford, who was approaching the end of his 37-year-old career. If Los Angeles decides to build around a young core, Stafford and wide receiver Coop could be trade works.
Other teams just ahead of Tampa Bay include the 49ers (13th), the Broncos (14th), and the Seahawks (15th). San Francisco and Seattle have many free agents and handouts, but Denver plays in the toughest divisions in the league and relies on Bonix to take the next step.
They’re somewhere in the middle of this group as playoff contenders, but it’s safe to say they’re not a true juggernaut yet.
What makes the Bucs dominate over the rest of the team is that quarterback Baker Mayfield is playing the best football of his career. If the team wants to wind up another Lombardi Trophy, he will need more support from defense to become a serious postseason threat if he is leading the way.
Maybe Jason Licht can learn a little How Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman built his latest Super Bowl winner.
