Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Outlook: Offensive Line Position
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shift their focus to the offseason, there are question marks at every position on the roster. In this series, we’ll look at each position grouping and see what the Bucs have on the roster who is an impending free agent, and the outlook for the 2024 season.
On The Roster
LT Tristan Wirfs
Wirfs' move from right tackle to left was nearly seamless. There were some hiccups along the way but he settled in and made the Pro Bowl. Wirfs is now on the precipice of re-setting the market at tackle with a likely extension coming on his fifth-year option to keep him with the Bucs for years to come.
RT Luke Goedeke
After struggling at left guard last season, Goedeke broke through with a standout season at right tackle. He rated among the top 25 tackles in the league per Pro Football Focus. With Wirfs locking down the left side and Goedeke on the right, the Bucs have bookend tackles for the foreseeable future.
RG Cody Mauch
Mauch had his fair share of struggles his rookie season making the transition from left tackle in college to right guard. Though he started every game and there was clear improvement throughout the season. With a full season and offseason under his belt, the expectation is Mauch will take another step forward in 2024.
OC Robert Hainsey
It took Hainsey a while to get adjusted to the Bucs' new offensive system. He struggled mightily early on but as the season progressed he seemed to get more comfortable and his play reflected it. He is penciled in as the starting center for now but Tampa Bay should add to the position in terms of an upgrade or the very least competition.
OT Silas Dzansi
Dzansi signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent and was released at final roster cuts. He signed onto the practice squad and remained there throughout the season. He had a stint on the practice squad injured reserve list but was a key member of the scout team and was rewarded with an elevation the week of the Divisional Round. He signed a futures contract with the club in January.
OL Luke Haggard
Another undrafted free agent, Haggard signed with the team after the draft and was with the Bucs through training camp and final cuts. He spent the season on the practice squad and signed a futures contract in January.
OG Logan Stenberg
Stenberg joined the Bucs practice squad in September. The 6'6 guard was originally a fourth-round selection of the Lions in 2020. He spent three years with the team playing in 25 games with four starts but was waived in August of last year. After finishing out the year in Tampa Bay, he signed a futures contract in January.
Impending Free Agents
OG Matt Feiler
Feiler was one of the Bucs' cost-effective free agents they brought in to be the starter at left guard. He won the job out of camp and was decent as a pass blocker but struggled in run blocking. An injury saw him drop out of the starting lineup and he wasn't able to wrestle the job away from Aaron Stinnie. The Bucs will look in another direction next season with Feiler looking for a new home.
OG Aaron Stinnie
Stinnie was thrust into a starting role mid-way through the season when Feiler went down with an injury. The running game saw an immediate boost with his presence but after a string of successful games pass blocking, Stinnie started to regress in that area. It's possible the Bucs could bring Stinnie back next year but there will definitely be competition for the right guard spot.
OT Justin Skule
After spending most of the season on the Bucs practice squad in 2022, the veteran swing tackle made the roster out of training camp this season. He saw action in every one of the Bucs games often acting as a jumbo tight end. He is set to become a free agent and it wouldn't be surprising to see the team bring him back on a veteran minimum deal.
OL Nick Leverett RFA
Leverett went from the starting right guard in 2022 to the backup center this season. It was in no way indicative of his play it was just bad luck. When center Ryan Jensen was ruled out for the year it thrust Hainsey into the starting role and Leverett became his backup as the most experienced center on the roster.
The tender amount for Leverett will equate to $2.8 million for the right of first refusal and may be too rich for what the Bucs want to pay for a backup offensive lineman. Leverett likely wants a chance to compete for a starting job as well, putting a return next year in question.
OL Brandon Walton ERFA
Walton is stuck as an exclusive rights free agent. While he was inactive all last year, he is too valuable as a reserve offensive lineman with the ability to play multiple spots on the line to not tender. The Bucs will likely tender Walton who will make the league minimum next year before becoming a restricted free agent.
2024 Outlook
The Bucs have four of their 2023 starting lineman under contract for next season. They have an opening at starter for their left guard position and could try and upgrade at center as well. Haisney has one year left on his contract so the Bucs could focus on finding a starter at left guard and ride out the final year of his deal. Though are are a few centers in free agency and the draft that could be an upgrade.
Tampa Bay is likely to address one of left guard or center in the draft while bringing in a veteran or two as well to compete. Though with both tackle positions set, a promising right guard, and young depth behind them the Bucs have a good group of offensive linemen going into 2024.
You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.
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