The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite the 6-2 record, have to be more worried than ecstatic about where they are. While they have managed to build a good record through the first half of the season, the injuries on the roster are becoming far too much to overcome.
An MVP-caliber start from Baker Mayfield has been able to offset some of the blows the team has dealt with, particularly to the wide receiver core. However, one analyst believes the team needs to add another offensive piece to ensure that they don’t fall by the wayside over the second half of the year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Could Add Another Weapon for Baker Mayfield
The weapons that Tampa Bay has should give them one of the best offenses in the league. Names like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are proven weapons, while Cade Otton came on strong last season, and rookie Emeka Egbuka has been sensational to begin the year.
Even with Bucky Irving in the backfield and Mayfield holding it all together, the team hasn’t been able to get it together collectively, ranking 19th on PFSN’s Offense Impact. Unfortunately, it is difficult to envision a pathway for significant change anytime soon.
While the unit’s underwhelming start to the season might feel like a regression from certain players, injuries seem to play a bigger role for the most part. Names like Evans and Godwin have missed significant time, playing just four and two games, respectively.
Even Egbuka has been banged up with a hamstring injury, despite pushing through the pain and playing in eight games of the season. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Jacob Infante believes they need an insurance piece to ensure they remain on track.
As a result, he pegged them as a trade candidate for Mark Andrews in his list of targets for every NFL team. A staple of the Baltimore Ravens offense, Infante admitted that it was hard to imagine the franchise parting ways with him.
But rumors circulated during the offseason, and he still hasn’t reached a contract extension on the four-year, $56 million deal he signed in 2021. This year, he has 230 yards and four touchdowns, 29th on PFSN’s TE Impact.
“Should the Ravens deal Andrews at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be a good landing spot. They have Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan on the injured reserve, and Chris Godwin’s injuries have only allowed him to play in one game all year.”
The numbers for Andrews seem more impressive when quarterback Lamar Jackson has been available for five games. As a result, he could be a smart buy for the Bucs, even as a one-year rental, given the expectations the team had for this season.