There’s uncertainty surrounding what form the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense will take moving forward, especially with the loss of key wide receivers Chris Godwin, out for the season with a dislocated ankle, and Mike Evans, sidelined until at least Week 11 after the bye.
What is clear, however, is that the Buccaneers will need to keep throwing the ball, even if it’s unclear who the primary targets will be.
Another certainty is the struggling pass protection from the interior offensive line. ESPN’s Seth Walder suggests that the Buccaneers should consider upgrading their offensive line by trading for Las Vegas Raiders’ veteran lineman Cody Whitehair.
“Bucs guards Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch rank 58th and 61st out of 64 qualifiers at guard in pass block win rate, respectively, and the team could use Whitehair to step in for one of them and improve pass protection,” Walder wrote. “Whitehair, who started the season, is now a backup in Las Vegas. But he’s consistently performed well in pass block win rates, finishing in the top 10 at guard in both 2022 and 2023.”
Kansas High School and Kansas State Standout, NFL Veteran
Whitehair made a name for himself as one of the greatest high school football players in Kansas at Abilene High School. He further solidified his reputation in the Sunflower State by playing for some of the best teams in Kansas State history under head coach Bill Snyder, including the 2012 Big 12 championship squad that reached the Fiesta Bowl.
The Chicago Bears selected Whitehair in the second round (56th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He started every game for four consecutive seasons and missed only two games in his first five years. Whitehair made the All-Rookie Team in 2016 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018.
In September 2019, after his Pro Bowl season, Whitehair secured a five-year, $51.25 million contract extension with the Bears. Following eight seasons in Chicago, Whitehair signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Raiders in April 2024.
Over his career, Whitehair has played in 131 games, starting 120.
Buccaneers May Lean on the Running Game
What once seemed a weakness for the Buccaneers might now become the focal point of their offense, as their running game has resurged.
With a backfield led by veterans Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, alongside rookie standout Bucky Irving—who leads all NFL rookies in rushing yards—Tampa Bay might need to rely on the ground game more than ever.
Despite ranking No. 5 in total offense at 383.4 yards per game and No. 8 in rushing with 135.1 yards per game, the Buccaneers have only managed six rushing touchdowns this season.
This marks a significant change from 2023, when Tampa Bay finished last in rushing among all 32 NFL teams, yet still claimed their third consecutive NFC South Division title.
