Bucs Nation

1 week ago | bucsnation.com | Mike Kiwak

Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images The Buccaneers’ linebacker corps got consistently abused all last season, and the long-term outlook remains grim heading into 2025. While Lavonte David is still good, being in year 14 at 35 years old sets a clear need for expectations on his play moving forward. K.J. Britt, one of the league’s worst at the position, is long gone, while third-year player SirVocea Dennis is talented but needs to stay healthy.

2 weeks ago | bucsnation.com | Mike Kiwak

Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The defensive line could be considered the Buccaneers’ strength on defense from 2024, relatively speaking. Despite missing time with injuries, Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea both played at high levels to be among the team’s individual sack leaders, with Kancey leading everyone (7.5) and Vea not far behind (7). Logan Hall, while still leaving something to be desired, did improve and aims to make a leap in the final year of his rookie deal.

2 weeks ago | bucsnation.com | Mike Kiwak

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Buccaneers took their usual approach to free agency again, focusing on retaining their own guys while making strategic outside additions. It’s largely led them to success this decade, so it’s hard to fault them for maintaining the status quo. With the biggest additions being the retention of Chris Godwin and the requisition of pass rusher Haason Reddick, Tampa largely stuck to filling in the margins with small contracts.

3 weeks ago | bucsnation.com | Mike Kiwak

John Reed-Imagn Images It could be argued the biggest downfall of the Buccaneers’ 2024 season came at the hands of secondary injuries – particularly at cornerback. The Bucs lost primary outside backup Bryce Hall to a broken ankle in the first game of the season, and it cascaded from there with additional injuries to Zyon McCollum, which derailed a promising breakout campaign, and Jamel Dean, which everyone expects by now.

1 month ago | bucsnation.com | Mike Kiwak

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Buccaneers endured crippling injuries throughout their entire secondary in 2024, which both exposed lack of depth and created an open starting spot once again. Jordan Whitehead returned on a 2-year deal but played ineffectively and then sustained serious injuries in a car accident, which led to his release and unlikely return.