Tampa Bay Buccaneers mock draft 2023: Pick-by-pick predictions
TAMPA (BVM) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering life after Tom Brady but they do have some options at quarterback that could hold them over until the team finds its franchise guy. The Buccaneers signed Baker Mayfield to a one-year deal and the former No. 1 overall pick is set to compete with 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask for the starting spot.
Tampa Bay limped into the playoffs last year with an 8-9 record in an NFC South division that still doesn’t have a clear-cut frontrunner. The Buccaneers have many of the same players that played a huge role in their Super Bowl run three years ago, but the team is aging. This draft will be important for general manager Jon Licht to add depth to the roster while also getting guys that can step up in the future to take over for aging starters.
Improving the run game and finding a replacement for Donovan Smith at left tackle should be the main focus on offense. There is a chance Tampa looks for another quarterback to add to the mix but signing Mayfield means they shouldn’t be desperate to answer the quarterback question in this draft.
On defense, depth is the most important goal for Licht in the draft. Shaquil Barrett is recovering from a torn achilles and Vita Vea was the only notable interior defensive lineman for the Buccaneers last season. Tampa Bay did sign Ryan Neal and re-signed Jamel Dean to help a secondary that just lost Sean Murphy-Bunting, Keanu Neal and Mike Edwards.
The NFC South is wide open. The New Orleans Saints brought in Derek Carr, the Carolina Panthers will be drafting a quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft and the Falcons are still trying to figure out what they have at quarterback. Tampa Bay has the opportunity to win the division again for the third straight year while still building towards the future.
