Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 offseason needs

3. Interior Offensive Line

The Buccaneers would be wise to lock up Ali Marpet to a long-term contract. He is a very good center, but an excellent guard and should be a foundational piece for this organization going forward. The rest of Tampa’s offensive line isn’t in nearly as good of shape with the exception of Demar Dotson at right tackle.

Free agents on Tampa Bay’s offensive line currently include Evan Smith and Kevin Pamphile. These two combined to play nearly 1,500 snaps in 2017, which wasn’t exactly ideal. Of the two, Smith was the better player of the two, but neither was even an above average starter. The Buccaneers have given Donovan Smith every opportunity to succeed as their left tackle, but if he flounders again in 2018, he could be at the end of his rope.

Smith and Dotson will be Tampa’s starting tackle tandem, but this team could really stand to add at least two linemen of note, even with JR Sweezy in the mix. After a very rough season, Sweezy is a candidate for release. Tampa needs to keep Joe Hawley out of the lineup and Pamphile wasn’t any better last year. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, this is a strong draft class for interior offensive linemen.