How will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look in 2024?
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his latest mock draft this afternoon, and according to Kiper, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to continue to build around what looks to be the club’s franchise signal caller, Baker Mayfield. Kiper has the Bucs selecting Florida State wideout, Keon Coleman with the 26th overall pick in this coming April’s draft.
“Sure, Tampa Bay won the NFC South and beat the Eagles in the playoffs, but it had some issues on both sides of the ball. On offense, it ranked 32nd in yards per rush attempt (3.4) and run block win rate (67.3%). On defense, it ranked 29th in passing yards allowed per game (248.9) and could lose free agent safety Antoine Winfield Jr.. So although I could have gone with offensive line or the secondary with this pick, I’m instead thinking toward the future at wideout.
Mike Evans, another free agent for the Bucs, will turn 31 before the season. Even if they bring him back, how much longer will he be at the top of his game? In Keon Coleman, they could get a successor, a 6-4 big body who excels in contested catch situations. He had 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Michigan State and Florida State. He’s one of the most intriguing prospects at the combine, because I want to see how he tests in the on-field workouts.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield Had Career Season in 2023
Following being made the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, Baker Mayfield has seen up-and-down times as a starting NFL quarterback. After being let go by the Browns in 2021, Mayfield signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he’d start just seven games before being cast aside and headed to the Los Angeles Rams. Mayfield would make five spot starts in LA and after a solid few outings, Mayfield signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the start of the 2023 season.
Mayfield had the best year of his seven-year career in Tampa as the former first overall selection threw for over 4,000 yards for the first-time in his career while tossing a career-high 28 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. Mayfield led the Bucs to an NFC South division title as well as a victory over the reigning NFC Champion, Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round.
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