Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ambitious target in first season without Tom Brady

18 July 2023 , 22:58

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Antoine Winfield Jr. and Devin White are two key players on the talented Tampa Bay Buccaneers defence (Image: Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. wants the NFC South franchise’s defence to be among the best in the NFL in 2023 to help cushion the loss of Tom Brady to retirement.

Back in February, Brady announced he was retiring from the NFL "for good" after a 23-year career with the New England Patriots and Buccaneers. His decision came following a torrid 2022 campaign in which the seven-time Super Bowl champion struggled with issues in his personal life as he went through a divorce with Gisele Bundchen.

The Bucs struggled on the field to finish with a losing record of 8-9 in 2022, although they somehow emerged victorious in the NFC South. Their unlikely trip to the playoffs was fuelled on the back of the strength of their defence as the offense under Brady struggled en route to the wild card loss versus the Dallas Cowboys.

While his final campaign was somewhat forgettable, Brady ultimately altered franchise history since his 2020 signing as he led Tampa Bay to Super Bowl LV glory in his first season with the team. When the Buccaneers triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs back in February 2021, they finished the regular season sixth in total defence and eighth in points allowed.

The Bucs’ triumphant - and defensively resolute - 2020 season came in then-defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ second year with the franchise. Bowles ascended to the role of head coach last season, but the defence finished ninth and 13th for yards and points allowed respectively.

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Regardless, Winfield wants the franchise to return to competing with the best in the NFL and he believes that starts with keeping points off the board. Defence wins championships, after all - and he says they want to be No.1.

“[W]e want to be the No. 1 defence this year,” Winfield said in a recent appearance on Richard Sherman’s podcast. “We’ve got the talent around us to do that, so that’s the No. 1 priority, to be the No. 1 defence.”

Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of the best young safeties in the NFL (Getty Images)

The Bucs last finished with the best defence in terms of yards allowed back in 2005, losing in the Wild Card round. However, when Tampa Bay claimed the best defence in terms of yards and points allowed, the franchise went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII during a stellar 2002 season.

Winfield will hope either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask can replace Brady’s production on the field. Tampa Bay remains loaded with talent despite the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s retirement, with receiving duo Mike Evans and Chris Godwin likely to play key roles.

The Bucs selected defensive tackle Calijah Kancey out of Pitt with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft back in April to boost the unit with some fresh talent. Meanwhile, Winfield Jr., Lavonte David, Devin White and Shaquil Barrett are all set to suit up for the Bucs defence as the franchise defends its NFC South crown in 2023.

Andrew Gamble