NFL.com: Luke Goedeke Deserves More “Love”

May 26th, 2025

Right tackle Luke Goedeke.

When Lavonte David is the most underrated for the Bucs, well, that’s a high bar to reach.

But there is a guy on the Bucs’ offensive line that Joe thinks is fair to slap with the label, “underappreciated.”

Many believe the Bucs have the deepest wide receiver room in the game. Is it their strength? Probably.

But Gennaro Filice is not in that camp. The scribe for NFL.com is of the mind that the Bucs’ offensive line is so good, it is the straw that stirs the Bucs’ drink. When looking line, he thinks the most underappreciated lineman is none other than right tackle Luke Goedeke.

…Everyone knows about perennial Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs, but Goedeke deserves more love. …

A second-round pick in 2022, Goedeke struggled as a rookie guard. But the Buccaneers switched him to right tackle for the 2023 campaign and haven’t looked back since. Though he can still cut down on the penalties, Goedeke’s a stout pass protector. And in the run game, he teams up with mauling RG Cody Mauch to blow open holes on the right side. With one year left on his rookie deal, Goedeke’s nearing a major payday.

Joe remembers — boy, does Joe remember — a few years ago how some fans weren’t just hollering, they were screaming for Goedeke to ride the pine. It wasn’t a crazy idea, though harsh for a rookie. Goedeke playing out of position at left guard did not help the ex-MAC right tackle.

Joe spoke with a non-Bucs coach over cocktails one evening at the combine. He told Joe that Goedeke was done a disservice by the Bucs as a rookie.

The coach told Joe that right tackle was Goedeke’s spot. He said small-school offensive linemen often struggle when being put on the opposite side of the ball where they played in college.

Then, the coach said, putting Goedeke at guard compounded Goedeke’s struggles.

So getting flipped back to right tackle not only smart, but the coach told Joe that allowed Goedeke to shine at his most natural position.

And now the Bucs may have the best bookends at tackle in the game.

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25 Responses to “NFL.com: Luke Goedeke Deserves More “Love””

  1. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    Joe Says, “And now the Bucs may have the best bookends at tackle on the offensive line in the game.”

    Not sure about the best but definitely top 3.

  2. Vegasbuc Says:

    🔥 todd

  3. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Exhibit A
    This demonstrates why calling rookies busts or thrashing them for rookie year performance is ridiculous. This may be a special case, but there are always circumstances that can make rookie years challenging. Message — ease up on Chris Braswell.

  4. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Ryan Jensen went through an even more trying experience with the Ravens.

    His rookie year he started only one game, at his natural position Center.

    2nd and 3rd seasons he moved back and forth between the two guard positions.
    The Ravens finally figured it out and started him 16 games at Center his 4th season and he blew up enough for the Bucs to discover their starting Center!

  5. Beeej Says:

    Jason Kelce sucked for his first few years. He seemed to have worked it out

  6. Stpetematt Says:

    Wirfs is as stout as they come. And Goedeke sure looked great out there a lot this past season. #1 is easily defensible. I for one cannot *wait* to see how the line looks this year after another offseason in the Gym. Our rushing attack and pass protection should be absolutely insane this year. Love that everyone is returning!

  7. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Ronde Barber almost didn’t make the team in his rookie year. And he didn’t get much playing time.

  8. Aqualung Says:

    Coaching matters. An idiot moves a right tackle to left guard.

  9. Jeffrey Becker Says:

    alabama – whether they are the best or not, they might be the most coveted. prime USDA choice tackles and they are both 26. Broncos really good though. Lions have De cker and Sewell but “Detroit’s concern this offseason should be that its struggles came against other playoff teams. They graded as a C against the Buccaneers, a C- against the Vikings, a C+ and a D+ against the Green Bay Packers, a C against the Houston Texans, and a D- against the Bills.”

  10. buctoothbucky Says:

    It’s a good thing we have people in the front office who doesn’t listen to the fans, or we would have traded or even bought in a free agent to replace Goedeke. Our O-line is solid and if anybody goes down, I believe we have solid back-ups. I think the fans who were calling for Licht’s head need to come on here and apologize for being backyard GM’S instead of criticizing the now mostly good moves he’s done.

  11. TBChucky Says:

    I honestly wouldn’t trade our OT tandem for anyone else’s. Pay Luke. He’s deserved it. Can’t wait to see how Barton’s progress in year two..

  12. Kenton Smith Says:

    FilthyAnimal, I’ve decided what to do with Braswell. He runs a 4.6 and is considered real athletic for his size. Let’s stick him in at mlb and tell LaVonte to get him ready! Might just work. He needs game reps and he may get as many inside this year. We’ve got some extra dawgs to feed on the outside this year.

  13. FilthyAnimal Says:

    @Kenton,

    Yeah, I mean it’s an idea, but if they thought Braswell had the skillset for inside, they probably would’ve been working him in there. I’d welcome it, if it meant they had found a long term replacement for Lavonte. I tend to believe Licht in his pronouncement that he’s ready to take a big leap forward at his OLB spot.

  14. Vanessa Anne Says:

    Luke has absolutely come into his own these past couple of years.

    I’d put Tristan and him up against any OT tandem in the league.

    Let’s hope Jason and the front office make good on growing the team through the draft and give Luke a well-earned and well-deserved payday.

  15. Travis Says:

    The is finally elite again!

  16. Travis Says:

    The OL is finally elite again!

  17. Rod Munch Says:

    Remember when all the dummies in the comments here were calling Luke a bust, and saying he shouldn’t be playing, and calling it a disaster when the Bucs said he’d move to RT, and demanding the team spend a high pick on a tackle. Maybe you morons should remember this for the future, and stop wanting to cut guys based on their rookie years. Of course you won’t however, because that’s how low IQ lynch mobs work – they just yell and scream when they don’t get what they want, then pretend it never happened when they’re proved wrong.

  18. Bojim Says:

    Could never figure why people on this site expected a rookie playing out of position to excel or else.

  19. Donald G Says:

    Thumbs up Rod Munch. Ps Im stealing the Low IQ lynch mobs thing.Funny and soooo true

  20. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    Somebody on here used to call him GeDonkey.

  21. Cobraboy Says:

    I loved when he described himself as a “glass eater.” Dude is tougher than woodpecker lips.

    The last glass eater I knew was Tim Rossovich (RIP.)

  22. Cobraboy Says:

    @Bojim: Wirfs played out of position and excelled.

    But he”s a freak.

  23. adam from ny Says:

    everyone on here was getting all over luke when he was flopping out as a bucs guard…he was a hot mess for that moment in time…

    but yo…luke is the man at right tackle — as well as the nasty frothy one on the OL…

    the glass eater is a real baller…

    yes he qualifies as the new most underrated player on the bucs

  24. garro Says:

    Luke has overcome that rookie deal he was dealt. That is one tough dude!
    He and Cody get it done. Jason has done an incredible job on our O line.

    Go Bucs!

  25. buctoothbucky Says:

    I see a lot of you guys are now singing praises for Goedeke, but since some of you changed your names, we can’t see how you fair-weather fans felt about him a couple years ago. Only one I see that said give him a chance and stuck up for him somewhat is ROD MUNCH. GB

 

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