Three hottest seats on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can step out of the retired Tom Brady’s shadow or get swallowed by it.
Per Spotrac, the Buccaneers are nearly $49 million over the salary cap, and as the release of starting offensive tackle Donovan Smith shows, several seats are already hot in Tampa.
Here’s who occupies the three hottest seats for Tampa Bay:
Head coach Todd Bowles
The Bucs and division-rival Saints are in eerily similar positions. Both saw their Super Bowl-winning head coaches retire followed by them promoting their defensive coordinators to the head job. Both HCs have not fared well in their second head-coaching roles after their first gigs ended poorly.
Saints coach Dennis Allen was fired four games into his third year with the Raiders, while Bowles went 24-40 in four years as Jets head coach, failing to build on a solid turnaround his first year in New York when the team improved by six games.
His first year didn’t go nearly as well in Tampa Bay, Brady’s last with the organization. The Bucs went 8-9 and were blown out by the Cowboys in the wild-card round. The front office might not have much patience if things continue to head south.
Quarterback Kyle Trask
General manager Jason Licht told reporters in February that he has confidence in Trask taking the starting role, but the second-round pick in 2021 has thrown only nine passes in the NFL.
New offensive coordinator Dave Canales worked wonders alongside Geno Smith last year in Seattle, and should Trask outperform expectations, he’ll be a viable long-term option for the Bucs.
If the team struggles and Trask doesn’t win the starting role during training camp, his stint as the heir apparent to Brady will be short-lived.
Running back Rachaad White
White is penciled in as Bucs starter with the team moving on from Leonard Fournette, but that could change well before organized team activities begin.
The former Arizona State running back recently said he isn’t worried if Tampa Bay drafts Bijan Robinson out of Texas at 19th overall.
“I’m going to win that job,” White said.
Robinson, a rare talent, should be the starting running back in Week 1 wherever he lands. White didn’t wow anyone as a rookie, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and scoring one touchdown. He was effective in the passing game, hauling in 50 receptions on 58 targets, but he had the benefit of working alongside Brady.
With the inexperienced Trask, his impact in the passing game might take a hit.
