Somehow I get the feeling Al Davis would love this Buccaneers team.

Baker Mayfield as the starting quarterback is such a Davis move. Discarded by other teams, he just steps on the field full of confidence and swagger and makes plays all over the field. They have the receivers to make the vertical passing game work and just need the power running game to balance it out.

But also, much like most of Al Davis’ teams through the years, these Buccaneers are terribly inconsistent. Last year they came out of nowhere to win the division, and I don’t think teams are going to take them as lightly this year.

With an offense and defense rated in the bottom third of the league in total yards, it’s really hard to see how they made the playoffs last year. The rushing offense was atrocious last year and unless they find a way to fix that, this year is not going to have a happy ending. In the draft they got a great young offensive lineman to help shore that up. Maybe rookie Bucky Irving will be able to add a new dimension to the run game.

Maybe I’m undervaluing the Buccaneers this year just like everyone did last year. But I’m just not seeing a team that has improved very much this offseason and their schedule is much more difficult this year. This feels like a team that struggles, but is still able to get a couple of surprise wins and be competing for a playoff spot at the end of the year.

2024 Prediction: 8-9 2nd NFC South