Bucs Team Notes

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Check out the latest headlines regarding your Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Bucs assistant coach rumored as candidate to join Saints staff

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a busy offseason when it comes to addressing needs and changes within their coaching staff. It started with Liam Coen leaving to become the Jaguars head coach, and from there, they have lost several assistants.

It is now rumored that another Bucs assistant coach may be rumored to be leaving the staff if he can secure a job with a division rival.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported the potential hiring of George Edwards to the Saints during Super Bowl Week. The team is expected to hire Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their head coach following Super Bowl 59.

The NFL Insider writes, “Two names I’ve heard as possibilities at defensive coordinator are 49ers assistant coach Brandon Staley and Buccaneers outside linebackers coach George Edwards. Both have history with Moore — Staley hired Moore as his offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2023, and Moore overlapped with Edwards in Dallas.”

With the connection between the two, it makes sense that Edwards may find himself in a position for a promotion. If he does leave, Bowles has become well-versed in bringing on new, promising talent to his coaching staff over the years.

Source: https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2025/...ch-rumored-as-candidate-to-join-saints-staff/

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Former Bucs quarterbacks takes first NFL coaching job with Detroit Lions

It is not uncommon for former NFL players to return to the league through the coaching ranks. This past week, the Detroit Lions hired a former Bucs quarterback as an offensive assistant.

Bruce Gradkowski, who was with the Bucs for two seasons after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, was hired by the Lions on Friday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN was the first to report the hire for the Lions. Detroit coach Dan Campbell is known for hiring former players to build on his staff, and the approach has proven to be beyond fruitful for him and his players. The team lost several coordinators and assistants this offseason, many of which were former players.

Gradkowski joins the NFL after coaching the St. Louis Battlehawks as their offensive coordinator for two seasons. Apart from playing for the Bucs, he also notably played quarterback for the Steelers, Bengals, Raiders, and Browns.

Source: https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2025/...es-first-nfl-coaching-job-with-detroit-lions/

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Super Bowl 59 showcases potential Bucs Free Agency targets

Super Bowl 59 was a showcase event for those who love the phrase “defense wins championships.” Never has a statement been more true than after seeing what the Eagles did to future Hall of Famer Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs offense.

The Eagles defense was dominant, but they are expected to be impacted by free agency as several key players are on expiring contracts.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could significantly enhance their defense by targeting free agents Zack Baun, Josh Sweat, and Milton Williams. Each brings a unique skill set and impressive 2024 seasons that would bolster a Buccaneers’ defensive lineup that needs to inject more talent.

LB Zack Baun ​

In 2024, Baun delivered a standout performance for the Philadelphia Eagles, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. He recorded 151 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, four pass breakups, and 3.5 sacks. His versatility as a linebacker, excelling in both coverage and pass-rushing situations, would provide the Buccaneers with a dynamic defensive asset. In Super Bowl 59, Baun had a diving interception and has been all over the field this season making plays.

OLB Josh Sweat​

Sweat has been a consistent and effective pass rusher for the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 2024 season, he accumulated eight sacks, 27 tackles, and two pass deflections. His ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks would address the Buccaneers’ need for a more formidable pass rush.

DL Milton Williams ​

Williams has demonstrated his potential as a defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 2024 season, he recorded five sacks, 11 solo tackles, and seven assists. His quickness off the ball and ability to shed blockers would add depth to the Buccaneers’ defensive line, enhancing their ability to disrupt opposing offenses.

Who should the Bucs be all in on?​

If the Buccaneers were looking to add one Super Bowl champion to their roster, Josh Sweat would add a viable threat to rush the passer across from Yaya Diaby, who had 65 pressures this season. Sweat capped off his Super Bowl victory with a coming-out party, notching 2.5 sacks and nearly adding two more.

With Philly having quite a few free agents, Sweat may be a top target for Jason Licht

Source: https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/10/super-bowl-59-showcases-potential-bucs-free-agency-targets/

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Where do the Bucs rank in ESPN's way-too-early 2025 power rankings?

Power rankings are always a topic for discussion, and hot off the Super Bowl coming to a close, we are already looking ahead to next season. ESPN published some way-too-early power rankings, and the Bucs are already in the thick of them as we turn the page to next year.

Jenna Laine of ESPN discussed within the rankings what the team needs to focus on this offseason to improve. She said it all boils down to improving the defense as this team takes the next step.

“With the offensive coordinator situation solidified (Josh Grizzard), the Bucs really need to shore up their defense. They’ve had only three double-digit sack edge rushers since 2005 and none since 2021. They also had only seven interceptions in 2024 after almost double that in 2024 (13). They gave up an average of 22.6 points in 2024. . .”

The defense is expected to be addressed heavily in the NFL draft as free agency may be tough to do so. The team is epxetced to only have $11 million in cap space and they have some holes to address.

Bringing back Lavonte David is one major domino, but they need a handful more to contend.

Source: https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2025/...k-in-espns-way-too-early-2025-power-rankings/

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

The Bucs re-signing Chris Godwin may be harder than initially thought

For good reason, Chris Godwin is a fan favorite in Tampa Bay for Bucs fans. He is great on the field for the team, helping them get a Super Bowl during his tenure, but he may be even better off the field. From his production for Baker Mayfield to his charity work int he community, Godwin is a player every team could use as a building block.

Bucs fans and the team may have to prepare for the possibility of losing Chris Godwin in free agency, though.

In their free agency primer, Spotrac published each team’s biggest free agency decision and player to monitor. They add a wrinkle that many people have overlooked when it comes to bringing him back to Tampa Bay: money.

“Godwin was on pace for another Godwin-like campaign in 2024 before an ankle injury derailed his season. Teams will have some pause when assessing the 28-year-old coming back from his second major injury, but a weak WR market will help sustain his ability to cash in. The former 3rd round pick carries a 3 year, $66M valuation in our system.”

With the team’s projected salary cap space at only $11 million, spending that much on Godwin would require other players to rework their deals or be cut altogether.

There are a lot of dominos left to fall in Tampa Bay this offseason.

Source: https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2025/...-godwin-may-be-harder-than-initially-thought/

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Where did PFF rank Tristan Wirfs among the offensive tackles in the NFL?

Everyone who is a fan of the NFL knows Tristan Wirfs is among the best players in the entire league. Bucs fans know him as the foundation of their franchise and the reason the offense has developed as well as it has in recent years.

Bucs fans know how good Tristan Wirfs is, but how good is he in the eyes of PFF?

Pro Football Focus announced their top 101 players in the NFL and Wirfs made the rankings at the 21 spot. They wrote about the Bucs franchise tackle saying, “In today’s NFL, a tackle’s most valuable trait is the ability to withstand the relentless pressure packages deployed by modern defenses and keep their quarterback clean. Wirfs exemplified that skill in 2024, earning a league-best 94.1 PFF pass-blocking grade. Not only did that lead all tackles this season, but it also ranks as the second-highest ever recorded at the position in the PFF era (since 2006).”

For what it is worth, and this is where the discussion is interesting, Wirfs was the third-ranked tackle in the league by PFF.

PFF ranked both Eagles offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata ahead of him. They were ranked 18th and 3rd overall, respectively.

Source: https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2025/...wirfs-among-the-offensive-tackles-in-the-nfl/