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With Tom Brady retired for good this time, the vast majority of the football world seems to be writing off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.
The Bucs were among football’s biggest disappointments in 2022, finishing with a record of 8-9 that was still good enough to capture the NFC South division crown. But the Buccaneers, who entered 2022 as a prime Super Bowl favorite, were crushed by the Dallas Cowboys on Super Wild Card Weekend.
With Brady magic now out of the picture, many fans and prognosticators expect the Bucs to be among the contenders for the first overall pick in next year’s draft. For cornerback Carlton Davis, the challenge is accepted.
Speaking to Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com, Davis promised that “a rude awakening” is coming to those who are already counting out the Bucs in year one of the post-Brady era.
“We’re about to do it to ‘em. Anybody who feels we’ve lost Tom — and lost something — is going to be in for a rude awakening. A rude awakening. Tom was a great addition for us, but obviously it’s a team sport. Obviously, you need components to be successful. We still have those components. And I’m only getting better…Plays will be made. I will say. Plays. Will. Be. Made.”
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With limited cap space, Tampa GM Jason Licht couldn’t make a play for any of the top quarterbacks available via trade or free agency. He settled on veteran Baker Mayfield, adding the No. 1 selection of the 2018 draft on a one-year deal.
Mayfield and 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask (nine career pass attempts) will duke it out for the starting quarterback position in 2023. Mayfield, who spent four years with the Cleveland Browns, will already be on his fourth team in three seasons, having spent 2022 with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
