Jason Licht Says Bucs’ Offensive Line (When Healthy) Is Best Unit On The Team
February 25th, 2026
Baker Mayfield scans the field for an open receiver in Seattle behind a perfect pocket from Bucs offensive line.
Joe said it then and will say it now, without any hesitation or guilt:
In 2024, at worst, the Bucs had the third-best offensive line in the NFL.
The starting five of Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke simply got the job done. Run blocking, pass blocking, it didn’t matter.
Last year, the line was fully decimated by injuries (only Barton didn’t miss time with an injury) and was a shell of itself from the previous season. And this is likely a big reason why Josh Grizzard is now a former Bucs offensive coordinator.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht agrees with Joe’s assessment, it seems. Yesterday at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, the beehive of the combine, Licht stuck his neck out, spreading love for his offensive line.
“The continuity that we had envisioned and hoped for [with the offensive line], wasn’t there,” Licht said about the Bucs’ offensive line last season. “So I would say that we’re looking forward to getting back to that.
“We have an offensive line who I think, we think, is very, very good. It’s one of our strongest rooms in the in the building, if not the strongest.”
Whoa! That’s quite an endorsement.
When you consider how loaded the Bucs’ wide receiver room is — hell, No. 5 receiver Tez Johnson might be able to start for some team like Arizona or Las Vegas — that is an incredible statement from Licht about his offensive line.
Think about it: the Bucs’ wide receivers are so damn good and so damn deep they may be the envy of the NFL. And yet Licht thinks his offensive line as a whole is better than his wide receivers? That’s one helluva affirmation.
(Later today, Joe will type up Licht’s response when Joe questioned him on his over-the-top lauding of his offensive line. This, folks, is what you call a “tease.”)
February 25th, 2026 at 7:13 am
need to draft OG in the 1st round in May….
Cody Mauch wont be 100% when the season starts, plus i’d rather have him as a back up vs michael jordan or haggard….
flip bredenson to Center and Barton to LG…
if a OG goes down, cody is next man up….
if bredenson goes down, Barton is next man up…
if Wirfs goes down, Chews is next man up…
strengthen the OLINE and create quality depth by drafting OG in the 1st round in May!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2026 at 7:26 am
Not seeing it. The guards are just average. Both get bull rushed, a lot. But still having an offensive line that is at least in the top half of the league has always been rare for the Bucs so I will enjoy this while I can.
February 25th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Number two reason we fell apart is the fractured O line. When healthy? Absolute beasts. We all know the number one reason we fell apart. Also, that’s a really cool picture.
February 25th, 2026 at 7:47 am
This team couldn’t stay healthy if their lives depended on it.
February 25th, 2026 at 7:49 am
Jason Licht Says Bucs’ Offensive Line (When Healthy) Is Best Unit On The Team”
Licht also said Chris Braswell is going to shock the world last season. His credibility is dwindling by the day.
February 25th, 2026 at 7:53 am
@813: If the Bucs wait until May to draft a guard they will all be off the board.
February 25th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Lt. Dan Says:
February 25th, 2026 at 7:53 am
@813: If the Bucs wait until May to draft a guard they will all be off the board.
LOL…APRIL!!!
you know what i mean lol…i thought the draft was the 1st week of May lol
GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2026 at 7:57 am
This is a humble brag of sorts by Licht. He spent 2 1sts, 2 2nd rounders while paying the 5th player top dollar. There’s a good amount of draft capital/money spent there…they should be good.
February 25th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Licht must be encouraged by the medical reports on Mauch and Bredeson.
February 25th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Mauch got hurt in the SECOND game, he’ll be fine
February 25th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Good now get some more.
February 25th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Mauch will be ready for Training Camp.
The rest is just getting in shape.
If he is good to go, you can’t think of him like a wounded duck.
Otherwise, he isn’t good to go!
February 25th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Still need to find a swing interior OLmen and keep on developing Chukwama
February 25th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Without a good offensive line due to injuries we witnessed a promising season turn sideways.
That’s a priority for Jason Licht to address through the draft and free agency. Luck helps like fewer injuries. Perhaps our expectations were too optimistic. That’s all behind us now. Luck helps some too. Hopefully coaching 🙏 makes a difference in 2026.
February 25th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Imagine that beast IOANE lining up at one of the two Guards positions…put whose healing slowest on reserve and let them be a backup to him when they come back…that would be great depth…..if Styles isnt there, we could probably trade down 2 or 3 spots and still grab him.