What's next for the Buccaneers after their wild card collapse?

christian d'andrea

Mon, 13 Jan 2025, 12:13 am·6-min read

Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown (2) celebrates after a play in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tykee Smith (23) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) during the fourth quarter of a NFC wild card playoff at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

In the end, the little things sunk the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A botched handoff and a too-early snap gave the Washington Commanders all the opportunities they needed to pull off a comeback win Sunday night, ousting Tampa Bay from the playoffs in a 23-20 wild card win. Baker Mayfield, coming off a season that cemented his comeback as more than just an outlier, couldn't fend off Jayden Daniels and the Bucs lost a home playoff game for the third time in four years.

Tampa isn't quite at a crossroad, but changes have to be made and there's a dearth of salary cap space with which to make them this offseason. So what comes next for the Buccaneers in 2025?

1. What do the Buccaneers have to build around in 2025?

A suddenly prolific Baker Mayfield can keep this offense churning, though it's unclear who'll be calling plays for him. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen helped spur the best season of Mayfield's career, but that's made him a hot coaching candidate. He could leave for one of the league's five open head coach positions this spring.

If he departs plenty of talent remains. Upgrades to the offensive line and the arrival of Bucky Irving turned the league's 32nd-ranked rushing attack into a top-three unit in 2024. Mike Evans remains under contract and is capable of racking up 1,000 yard seasons until the heat death of the universe. Tristan Wirfs is one of the best blockers in the universe and Cody Mauch has arrived as a plus-plus interior lineman. Cade Otton? Sure, he's pretty good too.

The defense, which backslide from seventh in points allowed to 16th this season, is a bit shakier. Antoine Winfield Jr. is a star. Lavonte David refuses to age (he's a free agent, but if he's not retiring I doubt he's going anywhere else). Vita Vea is a sentient, angry boulder and Calijah Kancey and YaYa Diaby are exciting front-seven presences who could grow into perennial Pro Bowlers. It's not quite a constellation, but there are a few stars lingering in Tampa.

Sunday night's loss leaves the Bucs with the 20th pick in this spring's NFL Draft. They have all their own picks through the first five rounds. Tampa Bay will have an estimated $11.7 million in salary cap space for 2025, per Over the Cap — 23rd-most in the NFL.

2. What players could leave the Buccaneers in 2025?

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) cruises for a touchdown during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

The following players played at least 50 percent of Tampa Bay’s offensive or defensive snaps and will be free agents in 2025:

G Ben Bredeson

LB Lavonte David

LB KJ Britt

EDGE Anthony Nelson

Additionally, edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, wideout Chris Godwin and defensive tackle Greg Gaines are also set to hit the open market.

3. Offseason priority No. 1: Secondary reinforcements

Jan 5, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Treyton Welch (82) receives a pass defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Commanders roasted Tampa's secondary with Terry McLaurin. When the time came to double him it created space for Dyami Brown -- a player who's had more than 57 receiving yards just once in three seasons -- to thrive (five catches, 89 yards and a touchdown).

Zyon McCollum had a frustrating season finale, getting flagged for holding and pass interference on two long Washington drives (one ended in a field goal, the other on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard-line). His fellow sideline corner, Jamel Dean, left the game due to injury but wasn't especially great when he was on the field.

While Tampa's run defense ranked seventh when it came to expected points added (EPA) this fall the pass defense fell to 19th beyond non-playoff teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders. The Bucs' 96.6 passer rating allowed was eighth-worst in the league, which feels even worse when you consider they faced Kirk Cousins and Bryce Young twice along with luminaries like Spencer Rattler, Cooper Rush, Desmond Ridder and Tommy DeVito in 2024.

There are several veteran cornerbacks the Buccaneers could pursue, though that meager cap space may make it difficult. Could a young defensive back like Paulson Adebo or Nate Hobbs thrive in a change of scenery under Todd Bowles? Or will this need have to be met at the draft, where corners like Shavon Revel Jr., Benjamin Morrison or Trey Knox could be waiting on Day 1?

(The safety slot next to Winfield Jr. isn't ideal either, but that's less pressing.)

4. Offseason priority No. 2: Linebacker help

Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the first quarter of a NFC wild card playoff at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Lavonte David is a free agent, and while it's difficult to see him playing anywhere else it's not hard to envision his retirement after 13 seasons in the league (and only one Pro Bowl invitation. The Pro Bowl is a joke). Even if he returns, this is a Tampa Bay team that had to give Deion Jones important playoff snaps at linebacker in a playoff game (it worked out, but phewwww).

J.J. Russell (three starts) and K.J. Britt (11) are both free agents, leaving a gaping hole to be exploited over the middle of the field -- the area where Jayden Daniels tossed both his touchdown passes Sunday night.

Bringing back David makes sense, particularly if he's inexpensive. This year's crop of off-ball linebacker help is dotted with big names on the downswing of their careers (David, Bobby Wagner), some younger guys who might thrive in a new environment (Tyrel Dodson, Jamien Sherwood) and guys Tampa probably can't afford (Nick Bolton, Zack Baun). This feels like a problem that will be addressed with a moderate veteran signing and a rookie drafted in the middle rounds.

5. Offseason priority No. 3: A reliable wideout

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) runs in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

This could be as simple as re-signing Chris Godwin, depending on how his injury rehab is going. While Evans continued to churn out hits, Godwin's dislocated ankle gave the rest of Tampa's wideouts to step up. But even with the team's WR2 missing 10 games, no Buccaneer receiver had more than 500 yards outside of the team's top two vets.

Tampa could hand Godwin's role to Jalen McMillan. The third round rookie had 24 catches for 316 yards and a whopping seven touchdowns over the final five games of the season. But that still leaves this receiving corps thin with a quarterback who just threw for a career-best 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.

There's some capacity to bring all Godwin back into the fold while drafting a big-bodied developmental pick to eventually take the reins from Evans. Either way, while it's not as pressing as the team's defensive needs the Buccaneers have to begin formulating a contingency plan should their dynamic, but aging receiving corps begin to slow.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: What's next for the Buccaneers after their wild card collapse?