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BY IRA KAUFMAN

In football, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. It breeds success.

That’s never more true than up front, where offensive linemen develop a sense of kinship when there’s continuity. Such was the case for the 2024 Buccaneers, who ranked fourth in scoring average and third in total yards while winning 10 games.

Cody Mauch (left) and Luke Goedeke.

Liam Coen played his part superbly as offensive coordinator, but the biggest factor was the health of an offensive line anchored by Tristan Wirfs. Guards Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch played all 17 games that season while Wirfs and center Graham Barton missed only one game apiece. Even with right tackle Like Goedeke out four weeks, the starting wall in front of Baker Mayfield combined for 79 of a possible 85 starts.

That’s rare continuity, but few teams were hit harder up front than the 2025 Bucs.

Although Barton didn’t miss a start, Wirfs (12 games), Bredeson (11), Goedeke (11) and Mauch (2) were each out for significant stretches. The impact was undeniable as Tampa Bay averaged 7.1 fewer points per game.

That’s why you shouldn’t quibble when Jason Licht singles out a healthy offensive line as the strength of the team.

Baker Mayfield didn’t have the same season last fall and the ground game suffered dramatically, in large part because the dropoff was so telling when starters went down up front. Dirty Harry once told us, “Man’s got to know his limitations.” The opposite is also true — football teams have to know what they do well.

While it’s clear this roster needs some better reserves along the line, we’re talking about backups. That’s why it would make no sense for Licht to pull the trigger on an offensive lineman with the 15th overall pick in the draft.

Yes, Dan Feeney, Charlie Heck and Michael Jordan are free agents. And yes, former sixth-round pick Elijah Klein has done nothing to inspire confidence he can fill in at guard. Depth is a concern, but you can find a cheap veteran backup in free agency. Given the other holes on this roster, it’s not a top priority.

One mock draft from CBS Sports has the Bucs selecting an offensive lineman from Utah in the opening round. If that happens, I’ll wear a clown outfit on my next visit to One Buc Place.

The biggest offensive falloff came in the running game, where Tampa Bay’s average yards per carry plunged from 5.3 to 4.1. Bucky Irving looked like a shell of himself, both before and after his injuries.

The transition from Coen to Josh Grizzard was a factor in the dropoff. Coen is particularly adept at scheming for the ground game and only three teams scored more rushing touchdowns than Coen’s Jaguars in 2025.But the Bucs have every reason to believe Zac Robinson can revitalize this ground game if a young and skilled offensive line stays relatively healthy.

A powerful line is the key to a powerful offense. Wirfs, hobbled much of the season, should rebound to his All-Pro level. Bredeson is so versatile, the Bucs should consider sliding him to center and moving Barton to left guard.

The Bucs sorely missed Mauch’s nasty demeanor for the final 15 games. He’s a tone-setter up front for physicality. Like Wirfs, Goedeke needs a return to form.
Few teams can match Tampa Bay’s starting five, when healthy. Only two years ago, they proved they can expose the limitations of their opponents.

Give Licht his due.

He drafted four of these studs and signed Bredeson as a free agent in 2024 before granting him a contract extension last March. And while no team can control injuries, this group is eager to once again control the line of scrimmage and light up the scoreboard.


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