Story by
Analyst Ranks Buccaneers Offensive Line Tops in NFL
- Story by
- Analyst Ranks Buccaneers Offensive Line Tops in NFL
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
If they can stay healthy, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL this season.
Led by All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs , who may be the league's best and is one of the top-ranked franchise players at any position, Tampa 's line has the talent and experience to be dominant.
Advertisement
Wirfs was the NFL's best left tackle until injuries cost him five games last season and caused a slight dip in his play. He was still outstanding, with PFF grading him second among 89 qualified tackles. Wirfs, unlike many other top tackles, is equally dominant as a run or pass blocker, grading in the top four of each.
At right tackle, the Bucs have Luke Goedeke . He is ranked by PFF as the league's 25th-best tackle for this season. Having two of the league's top 25 tackles is not something many teams can boast.
The interior of the line features Graham Barton at center with Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson flanking him at the two guard spots.
After being one of the league's best lines in 2024, four of the five Tampa starters missed at least five games last season, with Mauch losing the rest of his season after tearing his meniscus in Week 2.
Advertisement
Mauch is healthy now , as is the rest of the line. If they stay that way, they are expected to return to their dominant form.
In fact, Nate Tice of Yahoo! Sports ranks the Bucs' offensive line as the very best in the NFL.
Tampa's Line Has Both Talent And Continuity
Tice placed all 32 teams' offensive lines into tiers and put the Bucs' in a tier of their own at the top. One of Tampa's biggest strengths is that the line is not only strong at all five positions, but it also has the continuity so vital to success. As Tice mentions, this will be the third consecutive season with the same starting five.
Advertisement
"The Bucs are spearheaded by one of, if not the best, offensive lineman in the game in Tristan Wirfs at left tackle (he's at the very least on the podium for me). Cody Mauch also starts the season healthy at right guard. Graham Barton is a quality center who flashes Pro Bowl stretches, and Luke Goedeke is one of the league's better right tackles. The weakest starter is Ben Bredeson at left guard, but he is still a solid starter who can handle himself in both pass protection and as a run blocker.
"After injuries ravaged this unit last season, the Bucs' line looks to make a claim at the top spot. The Bucs return their same starters for the third season in a row, this time seemingly healthy. Also returning is offensive line coach/run game coordinator Kevin Carberry. Zac Robinson was hired as offensive coordinator, and he employed a zone-heavy scheme in Atlanta . Whether he molds his preferred attack to something else to adapt to the Bucs' personnel remains to be seen, but at the very least his scheme stays offensive line-friendly. Not many, if any, offensive lines have five above-average-or-better starters for Week 1 in any given year, but the Bucs have enough high-end talent with Wirfs and even Barton and Goedeke at times that it puts this unit at the top."
With Wirfs leading the charge, the Bucs' line is the engine for what could be a very good offense this season.
Final Thoughts
Most quarterbacks would kill to play behind the kind of line that Baker Mayfield has in front of him.
Advertisement
As long as the starters stay healthy, the line should not only keep Mayfield upright all season, but also open huge holes for running backs Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell .
Mauch's return should go a long way toward stabilizing the unit, and a healthy Wirfs should be able to reclaim his throne as the league's best tackle.
Tampa's offensive line returning to its previous form will make it much easier for the Bucs to achieve their goals of winning the NFC South and returning to the postseason.
