A quarterback might be emerging in Tampa Bay’s QB battle. He leads the team’s group of players whose stocks are rising. A former Pro Bowl linebacker, however, is trending in the wrong direction.
Stock up
Baker Mayfield, quarterback: Reading between the lines of head coach Todd Bowles’ comments after practice on Tuesday, Mayfield seems to have an inside track on the starting QB job over Kyle Trask.
“It comes down to moxie… You can see who the team galvanizes around and who’s ready to play the first game and you make a decision from there,” Bowles told the media. If Mayfield is known for anything on the field, it’s that he plays with moxie.
Bowles already knows that, according to ESPN’s Jenna Laine. In April, Bowles discussed the addition of Mayfield and said, “You liked his moxie. You liked his leadership skills. You liked the way he could get out and throw on the run some.”
Cade Otton, tight end: One of two tight ends the Bucs selected during the 2022 NFL Draft, Otton has pulled away as the No. 1 tight end on the team’s depth chart. He was the fifth tight end drafted overall last year and finished first among rookie tight ends with 42 receptions. (h/t Stathead)
Per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com, offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ system should also benefit Otton. After discussing his 2022 numbers, Smith wrote, “Those numbers are likely to go up in Otton’s second season, as the offense being installed by … Canales is considered tight-end friendly.”
Stock down
Nick Leverett, guard: Leverett appears to be the odd man out with Tampa Bay’s selection of Cody Mauch in the second round (48th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. With All-Pro offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs switching to the left side — the position Mauch played in college — it left a question as to where he would play this season.
Leverett started at left guard last season, but the team signed former Chargers guard Matt Feiler to play that position this year. Instead of shifting Leverett to right guard, Mauch is expected to take that role as a rookie. Leverett, a 2020 undrafted free agent, filled in admirably in 10 starts in 2022, allowing no sacks in 481 pressure opportunities, per Pro Football Focus.
Devin White, linebacker: White requested a trade in April and isn’t practicing with the team. The former Pro Bowler doesn’t need to be at voluntary offseason workouts, but his absence allows other linebackers to emerge. White drastically underperformed in 2022, so the organization would be wise to look toward the future at linebacker anyway. Per PFF, White had a bad 2022, grading 74th of 81 linebackers.
Data from PFF charges him with 16 missed tackles last season. He was also a liability in coverage, allowing 43 receptions of 57 targets (75.4 percent) for 440 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. During his four-year NFL career, QBs have completed 82.4 percent of attempts thrown in White’s direction
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