BSPN: Bucs Have No. 12 Roster
July 22nd, 2025
Toys to play with.
This story isn’t about power rankings or Super Bowl odds. Instead, it is about talent.
And Mike Clay, a spreadsheeter, thinks talent-wise, the Bucs are a barely above average team. That’s why he has the Bucs as his No. 12 most talented team in the league.
Clay seems to love the Bucs’ receivers.
Biggest strength: Wide receiver. The Buccaneers have had one of the league’s top WR duos for a while in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Evans (1,000-plus receiving yards all 11 NFL seasons) is entering his age-32 campaign but seemingly hasn’t lost a step. Godwin led the NFL in receptions prior to a season-ending injury and though his status is in doubt for the beginning of 2025, Tampa Bay is well stocked with depth. Jalen McMillan (a 2024 third-round pick) scored eight TDs in his final five games of 2024, and the team spent its first-round pick on Emeka Egbuka.
It is interesting to Joe that for Clay, Emeka Egbuka is an afterthought. Joe thinks by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, Egbuka is going to be a major factor in the Bucs’ passing attack, if not much sooner.
If Jalen McMillan can carry over his final five-game production from last year (Joe fears he’s now on defenses’ radars), the Bucs may have the most fearsome foursome at receivers in the league.
Line up Rachaad White in the slot with five-wide and watch this offense cook!
July 22nd, 2025 at 10:35 am
this has gotten my peter excited
July 22nd, 2025 at 10:37 am
Ready for game 1 in Atlanta…..all else is interesting but meaningless…..especially pre season rankings…..total unadulterated BS.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:04 am
#12??? WTF??? You better look over that roster again Mike Clay….
Bucs are easily among the 10 best in the league with top to bottom talent – likely closer to top 5….
Just another example of good bulletin board material to help get the team fired up to prove all these naysayers wrong……
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:06 am
The Bucs overachieved last season,
No one predicted them to win ten games, even before the injuries
They have one of the youngest roster in the NFL
But also one of the most talented rosters in the NFL
The future is bright for the Tampa Bay Bucs
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:10 am
Agree 100% Pickgrin … Bucs are closer to Top-5 talent-wise, at least for our starters
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:18 am
I think the #12 is fair. As fans I think we know the potential of some of the less heralded players more than the national media, but I do question some of the teams above us like the Rams.
I haven’t done a production comparison, but I do think our defense overall can be better and they have the same question at ILB as we do w/o a player like David in the same room.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:20 am
So we have a decent chance to win the division again.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:21 am
Lakeland Buc … The Bucs overachieved last season. No one predicted them to win ten games, even before the injuries’.
Maybe it was more-so that so many prognosticators underachieved. Bucs could’ve won as many as 12 games with just a tad more luck or a smidgeon better decision-making or 1 or 2 fewer injuries.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:22 am
Joe says, “Line up Rachaad White in the slot with five-wide and watch this offense cook!”
I’m aroused!
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:23 am
My C note at +1700 for Bucs to win the NFC told me that the Bucs have a top 2 roster.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:26 am
I wont argue for the Bucs being higher or lower on this ranking.
Say this guy is spot on across the board.
With the Falcons at 26, Panthers at 30 and the Saints at 32 there is no reason for the Bucs not to win the Division and the ultimate embarrassment if they don’t.
Would have been nice in the 50th season to see them compete against their two old Divisions the AFCW and the NFCN.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:26 am
Top 5 talent should equal a top 5 record…no?
Otherwise, who cares? Results are all that matters and if anyone thinks we have a top 5 roster then Bowles is seriously underachieving.
Can’t have it both ways.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:46 am
If Kancey and Diaby take further steps this year and one of those corners pans out I think the roster respect will increase.
It’s already a top 2 oline and the best wr group.
We just need some defensive talent to emerge.
July 22nd, 2025 at 11:50 am
Athletic has the Bucs at 16 in the power rankings.
These media people do not know more about the Bucs than us. Lakeland says we overachieved last year. How’s that? Cause media folks pegged us for 2-7 wins? I’d say with the injuries the Bucs won about as many games as they should.
Ask me, I say they underachieved and should have won a playoff game. If the Bucs aren’t a final 8 team this season, making the divisional round at least.. this season was a failure. The expectations at One Buc won’t be less than that, us fans can’t accept less either.
Media undersells the Bucs and us fans oversell them, but in recent years our overselling has been much closer to reality.
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:04 pm
This defense has to play significantly better to be remotely considered top-five. The Bucs have no edge rush. What’s new? (This of course is pending what Haason Reddick can do — and no, Joe doesn’t give a damn about pressures).
The Bucs pass defense has been bottom-four the past two years. Teams with top-five talent don’t do that.
No pass defense + no sacks in a passing league = no chance.
Sorry that may be painful for some to swallow, but it’s the damn Lord’s truth.
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:26 pm
these people that joe prints as having rated the bucs as average are wannabes making decisions on perception and bias instead of facts.
we have 3 hof starters that played on a inning super bowl team, and a number of solid professionals to complement them. we’ve won 2 super bowls in the last 25 years.
punishing us for culverhouse has to end. he was a backup owner anyway, an embarrassment more often than not.
you whiners about areas where we are underfunded due to cap limitations are welcome to put your energy into another franchise to be blunt., except every other franchise has similar situations if not worse, so youve got no where else to go.
e are good because we give the glazers a good deal and we have a good tax structure. the bigger cities arent doing that these days but that is being ignored
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:30 pm
NFL vs NFC
It’s pointless to rank the entire NFL together, as only one team from each division makes the Super Bowl.
Philly, Detroit, Washington all deserve to rank above the Bucs. SFO and LAR routinely outcoach Bowles so I accept that, too. Tampa would be 4th.
July 22nd, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Edge is the only suspect position group if health isn’t an issue. Dean and Dennis are both solid players but can’t stay on the field. Not sure how Den, SF, LAR and Minn are ranked higher than the Bucs.
July 22nd, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Joe … ‘This defense has to play significantly better to be remotely considered top-five. ‘
The 2024 Bucs’ defense was a middle-of-the-pack defense. That’s where we ended up, and that’s IMO where we deserved to be. But the 2025 Bucs’ defense has added some potentially very nice pieces (Haason Reddick, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, David Walker, Elijah Roberts, Anthony Walker) AND we’ve gotten several guys back from a very bad year of injuries (Bryce Hall, SirVocea Dennis, Antoine Winfield).
This year’s defense SHOULD be radically different from our 2024 defense. And if last year’s was Top-half, there’s no reason this year’s defense, with the upgrades, shouldn’t perform in the Top-10. And far as I’m concerned Joe, our offense is clearly a Top-5 offense.
Personally I believe that our Pass Defense will be better this season. Yes our ‘Bucs pass defense has been bottom-four the past two years’ in terms of Passing Yards Allowed. But the relationship between Passing Yards Allowed and Overall Ranking isn’t as clear-cut IMO as ‘Teams with top-five talent don’t do that’. The Vikings ranked #28 in 2024 in Passing Yards Allowed, and #24 in 2023. Yet last season they ranked #5 in Points Allowed. They did a lot of OTHER good things IOW.
Personally I think that ‘TDs Allowed’ and ‘3rd/4th Down Allowed’ rankings are better indicators of defensive performance, as well as Takeaways. Vikings had the #28 Pass Defense, but they ranked #12 in Passing TDs Allowed. Big difference. And they ranked #7 in Rushing TDs Allowed. And oh ya, they ranked #4 in 3rd Down Allowed Percentage (35.6%) and #1 in 4th Down Allowed Percentage (37.1%). Vikings also created 33 Takeaways last year to rank #1. Gotta think that their defense contributed greatly to their 14-3 record, even with their #28 Pass Defense.
July 22nd, 2025 at 1:30 pm
This year l expect 12 wins from the Bucs
But last season l didn’t expect much from them
There were too many question marks going into the season
This off-season l see a lot of improvements on both sides of the ball
Last season I didn’t see that, we have more depth than last season
In my opinion
We overachieved last season by winning 10 games
July 22nd, 2025 at 1:38 pm
As our defense hasn’t done that well in recent years, I think 12 is pretty decent. If the defense improves some they could be in the top 10 easily. When’s camp starting?
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:16 pm
He has “non-starter to know” as SirVocea Dennis. That’s all I need to read. This guy knows very little about the Bucs. We all know Dennis is slated to be a starter.
The five teams ranked above them aren’t better. Even the weakness of the Chiefs is tackle. That’s a pretty stinking big weakness and they have a bunch of unknowns playing receiver. The chief’s record is dragging them upward but they just know how to win close games. It doesn’t mean their entire roster is all that great. One good quarterback can fix a lot of week spots.
The 49ers will be middle of the pack by the end of 2025. Too much being put on what they did two years ago. Not saying they’re a bottom feeder, but definitely average. They lost too much talent.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:16 pm
And they report to camp today and tomorrow… it starts up Thursday. Underwear football at first.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:27 pm
We have plenty of “Bucs fans” right here who love to rip on the Bucs and in particular their HC and sometimes they’ll throw a cheap shot at Baker.
IF Bucfans post like that why should we be surprised that out of market guys with limited knowledge of the Bucs do likewise?
I’m like TBBF. It’s all OPINIONS now, let’s wait until the Falcon’s game to see what the Bucs MIGHT have.
One thing is certain for me at least. I’m really excited and entertained by the prospects of the upcoming season.
July 22nd, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Thank you @DR for pointing out, again, that pass yards allowed is NOT indicative of w/l success. At least it’s not as important as other stats like turnover differential, passing TDs and red zone D etc
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:00 pm
As far as I’m concerned the talking heads underperformed far more than the BUCS over performed. (Like DR already said).
Now Joe brought up our laughingstock edge pass rush and I’m not going to argue about that. Really, the whole defense stunk save for the interior defensive line and Lavonte David. Well, Dean and McCollum were pretty good too. Yeah, Dean misses a few games every year. Considering JBFers who were clamouring for Jalen Ramsey I realize the reliability issues could be worse.
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:04 pm
What Stpetebucsfan said. I’m looking forward to at least 11 wins.
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Bucs are definitely top 10 talent. In addition to our receivers, we have arguably the best tackle in football in Wirfs, Baker is a top 10 quarterback and possibly top 5. We have Bucky and Goedke who are borderline Pro Bowlers. Defensively we have Vita, LaVonte and Winfield. Definitely a strong roster.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:16 pm
I’m ok with the #12 ranking.
I think we’re going to have a much better season than a 12 would suggest.
It’s our defense.
Our offense is fine, and all the national pundits acknowledge that.
Our D held us back last year. Injuries and coaching style and decisions.
And we’ve got more unknowns on D this year.
As I said, I’m ok with the #12 spot right now, but I think we’re going to have a much better season than the pundits are predicting.
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:36 pm
Buc strengths: WR, OL (starting; depth questionable); RB (high, but not elite as #1 and #3 are inexperienced); IDL (starters, not depth, and above average, not elite).
Buc mediocre areas: QB (we love Baker but the rest of the world is still skeptical); TE (you know it); CBs (starters ok to good; depth and rookies questionable).
Buc weaknesses: EDGE (our team’s production sucked; FA production sucked; rookie additions unreliable); ILB (you know it: LD is facing Father Time; SVD is unproven; hope is not a strategy); S (poor performance last season; poor depth; unproven second-year player changing pro position).
Looking at that you can see how national media looks at the roster. Their viewpoint is not wrong: Buc fams actually agree with most of those points. We WANT SvD to be good and we WANT LvD to stay great and we WANT Baker to be top 5 and we WANT the DBs to be kick-ass. We can excuse the media for looking at things as they are, not as what we want.
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Joe thinks by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, Egbuka is going to be a major factor in the Bucs’ passing attack, if not much sooner.
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I’ve thought all offseason that Godwin isn’t likely to be back until probably midseason – would love to be wrong about that. But considering that McMillan played outside, and obviously Mike plays outside, it means Double-E will be in that Godwin role, and as pretty much everyone said going into the draft, he’s the most pro-ready available and it wouldn’t shock me if he has some big time production starting week 1. If he does start that week 1 game in Godwin’s spot, I know for certain I’m dropping $20 on him going over 100-yards.
July 22nd, 2025 at 10:05 pm
A real head coach with a full time defensive coordinator and this roster would be considered top 6.
July 23rd, 2025 at 6:37 am
Sorry Joe but I stopped reading at BSPN. That whole crowd is an embarasment. Had the world by the tail and little by little they have pissed it away. Shame
Go Bucs!
July 23rd, 2025 at 6:49 am
You take Tristan Wirfs out of this lineup and this offense will suffer greatly. Baker will no longer have the time to look at the 2nd or 3rd read. Wirfs is the very last player you want unavailable for an extended time. The way the Bucs medical staff handled this latest injury with him is a crime.
July 23rd, 2025 at 7:34 am
I am guessing that our defense will be much improved over last year. We will get more sacks from the edge. We will have fewer injuries. This would mean we would have a better record overall and we could make a run for the Super Bowl. This cannot be demonstrated at this time based on last year’s stats. My gut tells me these things.
Go Bucs!
July 23rd, 2025 at 9:03 am
Hey BucU. The Bucs Medical staff is the team’s second greatest weakness. Bucs consistently lead the league in non contact injuries.
The teams greatest weakness, you ask? What the defensive coordinator, of course.