The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still recovering from a heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Costly mistakes by the Buccaneers allowed the Commanders to set up a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.
Though the sting of this defeat will linger, Tampa Bay must soon shift its focus to the future. ESPN’s Jenna Laine shared some promising news about the team’s plans for 2025.
“The Bucs will officially pick 19th in the 2025 NFL Draft,” Laine announced on her official X account on January 13. “This is confirmed by the team, despite some confusion: Denver, Pittsburgh, and Tampa Bay all have the same record and strength of schedule. To break the three-team interconference tie, divisional or conference tiebreakers are applied first. Since Denver lost to Pittsburgh, the Broncos pick ahead of the Steelers based on their head-to-head record. Then, interconference tiebreakers come into play. Because Tampa Bay lost to Denver, the Buccaneers will select ahead of the Broncos.”
Tampa Bay has a strong draft record, landing three key contributors in 2024: starting center Graham Barton, running back Bucky Irving, and wide receiver Jalen McMillan.
Irving Emerging as a Star Running Back
While Barton and McMillan made significant contributions in 2024, Irving was the standout. Drafted in the fourth round (No. 125 overall) out of Oregon, Irving exceeded expectations, finishing his rookie season with 1,122 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns, and an average of 5.4 yards per carry. He also recorded 47 receptions for 392 yards, all while sharing the backfield with veteran Rachaad White.
In the playoff loss to Washington, Irving delivered another solid performance with 17 carries for 77 yards and a receiving touchdown. The 33rd Team’s Jeff Diamond praised Irving as one of the biggest steals of the 2024 draft, citing his immediate impact as a dual-threat running back.
Salary Cap Challenges Loom in 2025
With limited salary cap flexibility—estimated at $11.7 million, per Over the Cap—the Buccaneers will rely heavily on the draft to strengthen their roster. Their cap situation makes pursuing high-profile free agents unlikely, though budget-friendly deals, such as the Eagles’ 2024 signing of All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun for $1.6 million, could still be an option.
A recent CBS Sports mock draft projects Tampa Bay selecting Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III with the 20th overall pick. However, this move seems unnecessary given McMillan’s late-season emergence as a reliable target.