Ranking every NFL team’s offensive supporting cast post-draft
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Ronald Jones, Dare Ogunbawale (20/25)
The backfield is the weakest group for Tampa Bay, but they have some talented options in the running back room. Vaughn was an electric player at Vanderbilt, excelling in pass-catching and pass-blocking at the collegiate level. Jones displayed solid production last season, accumulating 1,000 total yards despite splitting time with Peyton Barber. Even Ogunbawale had his moments as a pass-catching specialist. This backfield is unproven, but they have a lot of talent.
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson, Justin Watson (24/25)
I struggled not to give this group a perfect score. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin each ranked in the top-twelve in terms of yards and touchdowns last season; they were the focal points on the best passing offense in the league.
While Breshad Perriman’s departure hurts the overall depth of this unit, Tyler Johnson has a solid shot of taking his role after falling to the fifth round. Given Watson also had some solid production towards the end of last season, this will likely be the best wide receiver core in the NFL this year.
TE: Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate (24/25)
This high score does not reflect Rob Gronkowski returning to form. I actually think his injury history takes its toll and he won’t be as effective. Instead, this represents that all three of these tight ends could start for this team and the offense would progress without missing a beat. While Howard disappointed last year, his measurables and athletic ability are undeniable. I believe he could have a breakout season with Tom Brady, even if he sees less playing time. This group will be a nightmare to defend regardless of the personnel on the field.
Offensive Line: Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa, Tristan Wirfs (22/25)
The Buccaneers’ offensive line was a work in progress last year, but Jameis Winston’s proclivity for poor decisions made them look worse than they are. They’ve gotten better with the addition of Tristan Wirfs on the right side of the line, but they are still far from a top unit in the league. They should be able to provide Brady adequate protection this year, especially given they won’t be in obvious pass situations for most of the game.
Total Score: 90/100
Summary: One thing is for sure, this supporting cast is a tremendous upgrade compared to Tom Brady’s offense with the Patriots. We will definitely see poorer statistics this year, as Brady won’t need to throw 626 times a game to dig himself out of a hole.
Yet, this could be one of the most efficient and talented offenses we’ve seen Brady lead since his near-perfect season in 2007. With Vaughn, Evans, Godwin, Gronk, and Howard as the base personnel, this offensive supporting cast is by far the best in the NFC.