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2022 Team Reports

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Writers

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Team Philosophy

Former head coach Bruce Arians' coaching mantra was "no risk it, no biscuit" and it showed in his offenses, which frequently finished among league leaders in first down rate and percent of passes thrown past the line to gain. Arians has stepped back from coaching this year, but offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich remains, and while new head coach Todd Bowles has historically been more conservative than his freewheeling predecessor, he said this offseason that his offensive philosophy was "Whatever we have to do to win the ballgame. Nobody's putting handcuffs on the offense from that standpoint."

"Nobody's putting handcuffs on the offense" might not be as catchy of a mantra, but with Tom Brady back in town for another season and a glut of talented pass catchers, it likely leads to the same place-- an aggressive, first-down focused offense that prefers to get yardage in chunks rather than bits and pieces.

Quarterbacks

Starter

• Tom Brady

Key Backups

• Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask

Tom Brady continues to push the limits of NFL records and age-adjusted level of play for the quarterback position with each passing season. Brady enters his age-45 season with his key weapons returning (pending Rob Gronkowski returning) and off a career-high 719 attempts, 5,316 yards, and 43 touchdowns marking the second-highest total of his storied career. In addition to his elite passing upside, Brady has still been a sturdy bet for multiple rushing touchdowns into his 40s with at least two scores on the ground each of the past four seasons.

Blaine Gabbert has been called upon for only 27 regular season passes over the past two seasons as the backup in Tampa Bay. Gabbert has been a placeholder-level reserve over his NFL career, struggling to complete 60% of his passes and throwing almost as many interceptions (47) as touchdowns (50). Kyle Trask was drafted in the second round by Tampa Bay a year ago and is not viewed as ready for the backup role as the team kept Blaine Gabbert on the roster. Gabbert remains a hurdle for Trask in 2022 to clear if Trask is to be viewed as a Tom Brady injury away from a strong opportunity with a built-to-win Tampa Bay roster. Trask has enough arm strength, strong accuracy, and minimal mobility as the prospect scouting report reads to pair with quality size to hold up in the pocket should he find playing time this season.

Running Backs

Starter

• Leonard Fournette

Key Backups

• KeShawn Vaughn, Rachaad White [R], Giovani Bernard

Leonard Fournette was the clear preferred option for Tom Brady in 2021, posting 10 total touchdowns and collecting the third-most receptions of running backs behind only Najee Harris and Austin Ekeler. Fournette returns to Tampa Bay on a new contract and without Ronald Jones II on the depth chart. Fournette is one of the few NFL running backs with realistic chances for a dozen or more touchdowns and 75 or more receptions assuming a full season of action. Games played is one of the few variables for Fournette as he has missed action in every NFL season and at least three games in four-of-five campaigns.

KeShawn Vaughn projects as the RB2 in Tampa Bay in pencil considering Giovani Bernard being a trusted veteran option, especially in the passing game, paired with Tom Brady. Vaughn had a well-rounded profile entering the NFL, plus garnered Round 3 pedigree. However, Vaughn has been buried on the depth chart for two seasons now with only 71 touches over 22 games, one of which consisted of more than 10 carries. It is noteworthy that Vaughn saw most of his 2021 action in games either without Giovani Bernard or late in the year when Leonard Fournette missed action. Vaughn is not a given to run ahead of Giovani Bernard on the depth chart, especially as a pass-catching option. Rachaad White joins the depth chart as a Day 2 rookie in 2022. White has a well-rounded prospect profile with two-way production and the requisite size and athleticism to project a starting role with further development. White has a profile similar to Matt Forte when exiting college. With Ke'Shawn Vaughn struggling to elevate his role through two years in any notable fashion, White is an immediate threat to the RB2 role. Giovani Bernard returns to Tampa Bay after a year of sparse usage over 12 games, averaging fewer than two catches a game. Bernard, now 30 years old, has improved odds of being an injury-away starter than in 2021 with Ronald Jones II gone in free agency and Ke'Shawn Vaughn still a variable without a track record of production.

Wide Receivers

Starters

• Mike Evans, Chris Godwin

Key Backups

• Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman

Death, taxes, and 1,000-yard seasons from Mike Evans have been the bankable knowns dating back to the 2014 drafting of the super-sized wide receiver. Evans has settled into a lower-ceiling option on an annual basis with the Buccaneers in recent seasons, but has elite upside any singular game plus only Davante Adams has more receiving touchdowns than Mike Evans' 27 over the past two seasons, Tom Brady's tenure in Tampa Bay. Chris Godwin's start of the season is in doubt with a late-season ACL tear, which would bolster Evans' opportunity for elite production. Chris Godwin has missed seven games over the past two seasons and now has the beginning of his 2022 year availability in doubt with a late-season ACL tear. Godwin, especially without Antonio Brown in the lineup, has been Tom Brady's trusted underneath target in the pairing's two-year history, resulting in the 14th-most receptions over the span in the NFL. Chris Godwin's start of the season was in doubt with a late-season ACL tear, which would bolster Evans' opportunity for elite production, but the team signed Julio Jones, which can help Godwin ease into the lineup. Godwin avoided the PUP to open camp and returned to practice on August 5, so he'll very likely be on the field Week 1.

Russell Gage sits in an appealing depth chart locale for the early-season 2022 projections. Chris Godwin's recovering ACL marks a potential absence that would push Gage into the likely Tom Brady PPR machine role of underneath routes. Gage is coming off of back-to-back quality seasons as an ancillary target for Matt Ryan in Atlanta, totaling 138 catches over the span and eight touchdowns. Gage has the upside to lead the team in targets in the perfect storm of no Chris Godwin or Rob Gronkowski early in the 2022 season.

Julio Jones was signed when training camp opened, which solves the team's WR4 issue. Jones could have value at the beginning of the season if Chris Godwin is not ready, and his presence, assuming good health, will give the team one fewer reason to rush Godwin back. Jones' durability and sagging snap counts in reason seasons offer pessimism for a pronounced and extended role in the offense.

Tyler Johnson fell to Day 3 in the NFL Draft despite a quality profile and has yet to carve a consistent niche for the Tampa Bay depth chart. Three of Johnson's four solid games in 2021 were weeks where Antonio Brown missed action. Leaping Russell Gage for the WR3 role will be paramount for Johnson to achieve predictable upside after a promising uptick to 36 receptions in 2021. Breshad Perriman continues his second stint with Tampa Bay, venturing to the Jets in 2020 between stops with the Buccaneers. Perriman has bounced around since being a Round 1 flame-out in Baltimore and posted his best NFL season (36-645-6) with the 2019 Buccaneers. Perriman still offers lid-lifting vertical ability in his later-20s and has averaged more than 15 yards-per-reception every season accruing more than 10 receptions. Perriman offers an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass veteran option if Tyler Johnson and Jaelon Darden-type younger options fail to develop into the regular season.

Tight Ends

Starter

• Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph

Key Backups

• Cade Otton [R]

Long-time Buccaneer Cameron Brate is the starting tight end outside of Rob Gronkowski reversing his retirement announcement or Tampa Bay signing a notable free agent. Brate has multiple 500-yard seasons under his NFL belt, plus has been a touchdown maven in his career with 33 scores and a 13% touchdown rate.

Kyle Rudolph joins the Tampa Bay depth chart as signs point to Rob Gronkowski not playing for the team this season. Rudolph has long been a touchdown maven in the NFL, but his erosion over the past two seasons has been swift. Rudolph has average a paltry two catches per game over the span with two total touchdowns. Cameron Brate and Rudolph form an uninspiring duo of older veterans with Cade Otton likely to mix in as the season progresses from the 2022 NFL Draft class.

Cade Otton was Tampa Bay's Round 4 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Otton, while not a plus-level athlete for the position, was one of the best blocking options in the draft class. Otton will have a prominent role, even if he is not overly involved in the passing game, as a rookie if Rob Gronkowski does not come out of retirement to rejoin the roster.

Offensive Linemen

Starters

• LT Donovan Smith
• LG Luke Goedeke [R]
• C Robert Hainsey
• RG Shaq Mason
• RT Tristan Wirfs

Key Backups

• Josh Wells, Fred Johnson, Ryan Jensen (IR)

Right tackle Tristan Wirfs made All-Pro last year and has developed into one of the best pass protectors. Left tackle Donovan Smith is decent. Center Ryan Jensen is an outstanding center but suffered a serious knee injury in training camp, leaving last year's third-round draft pick Robert Hainsey to man the spot. The guards are in flux: Ali Marpet retired, and Aaron Stinnie blew out his knee, leaving rookie Luke Goedeke (second round, Central Michigan) at left guard. Right guard Shaq Mason (trade from New England) stepping in for Alex Cappa. Even with the injuries to Jensen and Stinnie, this remains a top group.

Kickers

• Ryan Succop, Jose Borregales

Succop had another high-scoring season with the Bucs, finishing 10th in total points, but he made 0-of-1 from 50+ yards and 7-of-10 from 40-49 yards, so he was well outside of the Top 10 in fantasy leagues that award bonuses for kick distance. The prolific Buccaneers offense giving him a league-leading 59 extra point attempts was more responsible for Succop's success than his leg, so he's only acceptable as a last-round, swing-for-a-single kicker.

Returners

Kickoff Returners

• Jaelon Darden

Last year, the Buccaneers had incumbent return specialist Jaydon Mickens compete with incoming rookie Jaelon Darden. Mickens started the season as the primary returner, but Darden supplanted the veteran and rendered Mickens expendable. Heading into 2022, the role is Darden's to lose.

Punt Returners

• Jaelon Darden

Last year, the Buccaneers had incumbent return specialist Jaydon Mickens compete with incoming rookie Jaelon Darden. Mickens started the season as the primary returner, but Darden supplanted the veteran and rendered Mickens expendable. Heading into 2022, the role is Darden's to lose.

Team Defense

This season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense finished seventh in defense after finishing as the sixth-best unit during their run to a Lombardi Trophy in 2021. Last year under the team's new Head Coach Todd Bowles finished 5th in points allowed (353) and sixth in takeaways (29). Veterans have led the Buccaneers' defense over the past two seasons. This has led to a defense that finished top 10 in sacks and takeaways in the past two seasons. The Tampa Bay defense struggled against the pass in 2021, finishing 12th in passing yards allowed (4,062) and 19th in passing touchdowns allowed (27). The biggest flaw of the Buccaneers' defense last season was allowing 214 passing first downs; just seven NFL teams gave up more in 2021. The Tampa defense lost a few veterans heading into the 2021 season and will need their young defensive leaders to step up. The return of Tom Brady should keep the Buccaneers defense among the tops in sacks, takeaways, and fantasy relevance again this season. The 2021 defense returns mostly intact, with Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Jordan Whitehead the only major losses, but Logan Ryan, 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and a freshly extended Vita Vea helping hold down the fort. The Buccaneers defense's best results last year came against weak offenses like New England, Chicago, Carolina, and the Giants, so with the Cowboys, Saints, Packers, and Chiefs to open, it's better to let someone else draft them and add them on the waiver wire after they are dropped because of a tough early schedule.

Defensive Linemen

Starters

• DE William Gholston, DT Vita Vea, DE Akiem Hicks, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Key Backups

• DL Logan Hall [R], DL Raheem Nunez-Roches, DL Pat OConnor

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line didn't offer much excitement from a fantasy-scoring perspective last season. The Buccaneers had three defensive linemen finish from DL70 to DL97. Three of those players finished from DL70 to DL77, only two players averaging over 10 fantasy points per game. Shaq Barrett was the lone bright spot with his dual position eligibility depending on your league rules. Barrett finished the season as the DL23 while rookie pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is just scratching the surface. He finished as DL149 last season. Tampa Bay led the NFL in blitz percentage (40.8%) last season. The team signed Akiem Hicks after the draft, and he'll likely start at one defensive end spot, with veteran William Gholston and #33 overall pick Logan Hall battling for the other.

One of Hall and Gholston as a top backup gives the team strong depth and a great defensive end rotation. Nunez-Roches will give the team quality snaps and good injury depth. If they keep a fifth down lineman, it will probably be O'Connor, who was mainly a special teams player last year.

Linebackers

Starters

• OLB Shaq Barrett, ILB Devin White, ILB Lavonte David, OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Key Backups

• OLB Anthony Nelson, OLB Cam Gill, OLB Andre Anthony [R], ILB K.J. Britt, ILB Grant Stuard

The Tampa Bay linebacking group has been the heart and soul of the defense over the past two years. The combo of Devin White and Lavonte David have been special together, the pair both finished as top-12 linebackers a season ago. Devin White finished with his second consecutive 120+ tackle season and Lavonte David''s injury forced him to only play in 12 games in which he recorded 97 tackles. As long as the two remain healthy they have proven to be consistent for IDP fantasy football. The Tampa Bay defense missed 120 tackles last season which was seventh-worst in the NFL. The team's top two linebackers were responsible for 24 missed tackles combined. Tryon-Shoyinka and Barrett will give the team a strong edge duo, but their IDP value as linebackers will be based on your scoring system. This season, the Buccaneers defense will depend heavily on their linebacker group.

Nelson will be the top backup outside, going into a contract year, with Gill, in his third year, and Anthony, a seventh-round pick this year out of LSU battling to be the fourth outside linebacker with the potential for the team to keep five. Kevin Minter was the top inside backup last year, but the team hasn't brought him back, so a pair of 2021 third-day picks are the top candidates to back up David and White after mostly playing special teams as rookies.

Defensive Backs

Starters

• CB Carlton Davis, S Antoine Winfield, S Mike Edwards, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB Jamel Dean

Key Backups

• CB Zyon McCollum [R], DB Logan Ryan, S Keanu Neal

The NFC South Champion Buccaneers have been average against the pass each of the last two seasons. There aren't many reasons to believe that will change heading into the 2022 season. The Tampa Bay secondary is led by Antoine Winfield who has finished as a top-30 defensive back in each of his first two seasons. The Buccaneers secondary allowed 599 yards this postseason which was a big part of them not making it back to the Super Bowl. The Buccaneers added veterans Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal to help bolster the secondary for another potential championship run after Jordan Whitehead left for the Jets in free agency. Edwards is returning and should replace Whitehead, but Ryan and Neal will get a shot to start. Davis, Murphy-Bunting, and Dean are returning as the top three corners, with Murphy-Bunting likely kicking inside on passing downs

The Buccaneers have scant cornerback depth, with Ryan possibly playing a role there and fifth-round pick Zyon McCollum projected as a top backup even though he is making the leap from Sam Houston State to the pros. The Buccaneers will have one of the best safety groups from 1-4 even though they lost Whitehead in free agency.