Talk about having a great offseason. When you add the greatest QB and TE of all time, you did something right.
2019 Record: 7-9 (3rd In NFC South)
Key Additions:
QB: Tom Brady
Do I really need to say anything else?
TE: Rob Gronkowski
Again, do I really need to say anything else?
After being clearing waivers, Fournette just fell into Tampa Bay’s lap. He has, no doubt underperformed to an extent, but still has shown flashes of being a great back.
QB: Josh Rosen???
Rosen will be on Tampa Bay’s practice squad so I wouldn’t call this a “key signing,” but I refuse to back-track on my “Rosen will be a good QB” take.
Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 13: OT Tristan Wirfs
Many considered Wirfs to be the most complete prospect in the draft. This was a clear need for the Bucs and now that they have a 42-year-old QB, the need became bigger.
Round 2, Pick 45: S Antoine Winfield Jr
Winfield just has a nose for the football. He had a Minnesota school record of seven interceptions in 2019. He is undersized and can struggle with his tackling, but he is an athletic specimen.
Round 3, Pick 76: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
The Bucs now have a crowded, but very talented RB room. There is a lot of touches to go around. I’m very curious to see how the Bucs will handle the RB situation.
Round 5, Pick 161: WR Tyler Johnson
Round 6, Pick 194: DL Khalil Davis
Round 7, Pick 241: LB Chapelle Russell
Round 7, Pick 245: RB Raymond Calais
Season Preview
Offense:
Tampa Bay caused the biggest buzz in the NFL by signing Brady to take over for Jameis Winston. They didn’t stop breaking the hearts of Patriots fan there, they also were able to trade for Grownowski, who came out of retirement to play with his long-time QB.
Ronald Jones was able to improve on a down rookie year to become the teams starting back. He will be splitting reps with Fournette and LeSean McCoy, but Jones will get most of the reps for Tampa Bay.
Mike Evans is, at worse, a top-five receiver in the NFL. Meanwhile, Chris Godwin broke out in 2019 and has become a top WR in the NFC. Then you get to a TE room that includes Gronkowski and former first-rounder, O.J. Howard.
Defense:
Outside of Carl Nassib, the Bucs are returning their entire front-seven. They were seventh in sacks and a big part of that was breakout star Shaquil Barrett, who led the league with 19.5 sacks.
They were the number one run defense in the entire league thanks to Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea, and Jason Pierre-Paul.
A reason they were number one in run defense is that they were the third-worst pass defense. The Bucs are hoping that Winfield’s ball-hawking ability can help clear up the lone weak spot on this defense.
Win Total: 9.5
I have Tampa Bay at 11 wins in 2020. The only spot on their team that scares me is the defensive backfield. Other than that, this is a really, really good team.
Fantasy Player To Watch: Chris Godwin
Some experts are saying that Godwin is starting to become a superstar in this league, and I agree. I wouldn’t draft him as my WR1 yet, but he will be going early in your fantasy drafts.