How Do The Bucs Stack Up?
August 16th, 2025
Ranking Bucs positions.
It’s one thing to be a spreadsheeter. It’s quite another to pretend you’re some sort of football Nostradamus.
But that’s just what Mike Clay of BSPN did. Clay, a spreadsheeter, claims in his voodoo economics of stat crunching and wishful thinking, he predicted the Bucs 2020 team to go from rotten to damn good.
Gee, that year the Bucs signed Tom Brady. Who could have ever guessed having Brady might just make you a playoff team? Who’d a thunk?
Clay revealed this ephiphany he had five years ago as he ranked every position group in the NFL. For the Bucs, here are the 2025 position groups and where Clay has them ranked.
Quarterback (9), running backs (12), receivers (3), tight end (not ranked), offensive line (8), interior defensive line (not ranked), outside linebacker (not ranked), off-ball linebacker (not ranked), cornerback (14), safety (not ranked). Overall: 9th.
Clay confessed that had Godwin been healthy, he would have been hard-pressed not to rank the Bucs as having the No. 1 wide receiver room.
Naturally, Joe has thoughts.
* Quarterbacks: Nine is about right.
* Running backs: It seems No. 12 is awfully low. Given how Rachaad White is a weapon in the passing game, and Sean Tucker could likely start for some teams, Joe would have Bucs running backs no lower than No. 10. Maybe as high as No. 6.
* Receivers: No quibble at No. 3 without Godwin.
* Tight ends: Clay only ranked the top-16 at each position. No, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs’ tight end room is in the top half of the league.
* So Clay used to work for the PFF tribe doesn’t know his head from a hole in the ground when it comes to an offensive line. Figures. The Bucs had a top-five line last year and the entire line returns. Now if you are factoring in no Tristan Wirfs, well, OK. With Wirfs the Bucs might be top-three at worst.
* Defensive interior: Remember that this Clay once worked for the PFF tribe. The tribe brainwashes anyone connected with them that their dumbass grades are Gospel and that anyone who doesn’t sing the same hymns is beneath them and their dumbass grades. So Joe guesses Clay dinged the Bucs for not cutting Calijah Kancey. And yeah, that’s a stupid thought. Joe is pretty confident the defensive interior line is the strongest group of the defense.
* Outside linebackers: No way Joe can have this unit in the top half of the league. No, not even with Haasson Reddick.
* Off-ball linebacker: Not even a unit led by Lavonte David can bring Bucs inside linebackers to No. 16? #Fail
* Cornerbacks: No. 14 seems awfully generous for corners on a team that had the bottom-five pass defense the past two years running.
* Safeties: Joe cannot argue with the Bucs not being ranked. The entire Bucs pass defense stunk, including the safeties, last year.
Joe is beginning to sweat injuries. First it was Chris Godwin. Then Tristan Wirfs. Now Antoine Winfield. Bucs can’t have any more injuries to star players.
August 16th, 2025 at 8:09 am
O line with Wirfs #2. Eagles #1.
August 16th, 2025 at 8:11 am
All of those numbers are fully based on last year. We’ve improved in every area that’s not ranked. How much are you like Nostradamus when you’re just basing all of your numbers on the previous year and not really taking any kind of educated guess on the upcoming year. I’m guessing if you look at the top five teams from 2024 they all have great rank numbers and you look at the bottom five teams they’ll have mediocre rankings. So many writers to this same thing… but it’s why ranking anything before the season starts is terrible. Power rankings also. They change ridiculously throughout the season
No special teams? Special teams are more important and given credit for. Getting a punter who can punt is going to make a bigger difference for us than people think. Now if we can just find a punt returner that can punt return.
August 16th, 2025 at 8:12 am
if he looks like the guy in the picture, no worries
August 16th, 2025 at 8:26 am
IMO Baker is a top 5 QB. He’s led the league in TD passes the last 2 seasons. Offensive line, top 3, no question. Running backs, easy top 3.
August 16th, 2025 at 8:40 am
I have no problem with this ranking
In fact l think it’s 100% accurate for us
We have a ways to go,
We’re far from a complete, dominant roster
August 16th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Kinda feel that the only rankings that really show team performance differentiations are the rankings for Points Scored and Points Allowed … at the end of the year. Until then, rankings for just about anything are just wildass prognostications.
Some ‘experts’ seem to know individual teams quite well because they follow them closely (like Ronde with the Bucs), but few if any seem to know all 32 teams well enough to effectively rank them against each other. And especially in the various position groups.
August 16th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Off-ball LB — L. David doesn’t make a whole set. We all saw last year how other teams attacked the mid-field even with Lavonte around. ILB was the weakest part of the defense until injuries brought the DB room down, too. We have hope that the problem is fixed.
Until then, bottom half is reasonable. And doesn’t Joe have bad words for hope?
August 16th, 2025 at 9:01 am
It’s quite obvious we are far weaker on defense….is it players or coaching or both?
August 16th, 2025 at 9:19 am
If you asked these expects to wager their life savings on what they write
about teams, players and you would find many financially destroyed sports Journalists.
I find it baffling how they find jobs as sports writers based on their misinformed analysis of teams and players.
I guess misinformation Journalists are the “in thing” because everything is about money. And it’s not limited in sports, you see it everywhere.
The Bucs for years were the bottom feeders in the NFL The Bucs are changing this perception since Brady arrived. The owners, Management, coaches and players are putting past performance history behind them.
The Bucs are in a new era. Sport writers and commentators are waiting for the Bucs to make a statement. It won’t be coming from sports media to change the perception. It will come by the Bucs winning another Super Bowl 🏈 and winning over the sports media.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:34 am
If I wanted his opinion I’d give it to him.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:39 am
Bucs have been a running joke with the national sports airheads since forever. Some bad habits are just too hard to change. Fine with this fan. I know how good Tampa Bay is.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Joe….. This will keep key players FRESH for the playoff push, Blessing in disguise.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Action.com has Buccaneers offensive line #5 without Wirfs and tied for first with Wirfs.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:24 am
Joe, Clay did rank 1-32 at every position grouping, not sure how you didn’t see it. Going off memory TE was 23, Int DL 20, Edge 20 something and Safety 18ish. His o-line ranking was a joke. Another observation was Chicago seemed to be overranked in many groups.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Injuries to key Bucs might reverse the prior trend this season with a rough start followed by mid-season surge. You don’t need to lose a lot of players to drop off performance enough to lose games. Just a few good ones can put a team under siege. Here’s hoping Wirfs, Godwin and Winfield get back soon.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Analysis and prognostication are two separate animals that frequently get conflated in these discussions.
One relies on the past while the other considers the past, the present, and the future.
Most of these “predictions” are far closer to analysis than predicitions. They do not condider much of the “presents”…IE have the Bucs improved themselves with Reddick and their draft picks? What is the Bucs PRESENT injury situation and what does the future diagnosis of injuries look like going forward. And they neglect the future almost totally. In addition to the draft what will another year of experience together mean for an already talente group? What about the infusion of young blood in the Bucs defensive backfield. Will Reddick return to form, if he gets ten sack you can bet the rest of the Bucs D will also be feasting.
If their health holds up IMHO you gotta really like the Bucs chances.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Just think how bad it will be on here, if we lose that first game to ATL. It’s such a huge game to kickoff the season with… Especially, after losing to them twice last season. I’m really starting to worry now! ATL could be ‘really good’ this season as long as the “Big-Penix” stays healthy. He looked REALLY GOOD in those last 3-games to end the last season with. Plus, I’ve heard several people lately, say that he is looking ELITE this preseason. They do have weapons as long as everyone stays healthy… Mooney is back, and IF Pitts finally ‘steps-up’ then they’re going to be awfully TOUGH. I think they’re a Playoff Team 💯 in this current NFC (with the injuries piling up in TB, LA, and San Fran). They’ll definitely, be A LOT more ‘athletic’ on Defense with their two ‘first-round’ draft-picks, in Walker and Pearce… I think they’re BOTH going to be really good (if Pearce keeps his head on straight). Just ridiculous athletes. Then, factor in Wirfs, Godwin, AND Winfield Junior, & we are in ‘BIG’ trouble. I’m really worried. This Winfield Junior ordeal, is VERY frustrating and concerning, now!!!! Baker HAS TO cutdown big-time, on the INT’s and SACKS. He HAS TO get rid of the ball quicker, and just step up and take his 5-6-7 yards and SLIDE, if it’s not in the 4th-Quarter (etc.)… Or, HE will be next. Bowles HAS TO BE much better, cause there is ZERO room for error. Maybe, his ‘luck’ is about to runout!? It’s going to be another ‘Dog-Fight’ IF Penix stays healthy. LOTS of reasons for concern.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:17 am
Yeah, I have zero issues with these rankings, “LakelandBuc.” I think they are very accurate given our current injuries.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:29 am
WTF OLine ranked 8
August 16th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Cade Otton is a beast. I could see him getting 8 TD’s this year
August 16th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
MelvinJunior,
That’s the thing,
These ranking are based on each position as a unit
They are not based on one individual ( for example)
Baker might be a Top -5 QB, but his backups might not be as good as other teams backup QB. The same goes for the O-Line, TE, RB, etc. This ranking is based more on DEPTH than starters. Also, we have to look at the injuries, they are important, because we rely on our backups a lot.
Like l said, we have a ways to go to have a complete roster. We are getting there, but it takes time ,
August 16th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Two Columns Left is 1 – 16 and right is 17 – 32
All teams are ranked at every position.
Interior Defensive Line is 20
TE group is 23
Edge Rush 26
Off ball LB 20
Safety 17
August 16th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Bucs safeties could go from unranked to number one this season.
August 16th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Regardless of everything that’s been written –
Here is why Clay’s rankings have ZERO credibility: He ranked the Bears 8th best overall. Over the Bucs, Broncos, Texans, Packers and Chargers. That’s quite possibly the dumbest analysis of a team in the history of football. Anyone that would do that is on a mission to make the world stupid. May God have mercy on his soul.
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August 16th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
All teams are subject to injuries hurting them . Atl is gonna be tough & they beat us 2x last season or we actually beat ourselves in 1 of the games. The BUCS coach has got to prove he can lead a top tier TEAM & they made moves to get better in off season. If our starters come back & we stay healthy we gonna be hard to BEAT the BUCS got better too. GOOOOO BUCS!! RAISE THE FLAG!!!!