After fizzling out in the Wildcard round of the playoffs, the end of the season left more questions than answers. Which Bucs will need to step up to take the next step in their career, and for this team to have something other than an early playoff exit?

Who in the secondary will step up and take the ball away?

All offseason, coach Todd Bowles has harped on one thing: takeaways. Injuries decimated the Buccaneers‘ secondary, and without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr, it felt as if no one else in the back end could get the ball back for the Bucs offense. Tampa Bay’s two starting corners, Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum, combined for only three interceptions in 2024. Adding two additional corners within the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft should flush more talent into the secondary.

Still, the question remains: Can the Buccaneers’ secondary take the ball away?

Can Baker Mayfield thrive with his third coordinator in three years?

When Baker Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers in free agency, he was paired with first-time play caller Dave Canales. Canales is credited with helping turn Baker’s career around by unlocking his potential, but left after just one season in Tampa to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Next was Liam Coen, who transformed the Buccaneers’ run game and infused creative plays to scheme the team’s stars open. While it was highly anticipated that Coen would return, he would ghost the Buccaneers to become the Jaguars’ head coach at the last moment. Now? Third-down correspondent Josh Grizzard will take the reins of a Buccaneers offense that added even more firepower in Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson.

Can magic happen for a third straight time with Mayfield and his playcaller?

Will the Bucs be able to create consistent pressure without blitzing?

While the Bucs’ defensive line hosts names such as Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, Tampa Bay struggled to create pressure without blitzing. While Yaya Diaby was in the top 10 in pressures created, Joe Tryon Shoyinka saw most of the starting reps over Chris Braswell and struggled to finish sacks or build pressure. Tampa expressed displeasure with signing Haason Reddick in free agency and then drafting edge David Walker and defensive lineman Elijah Roberts to bolster the line.

The Bucs must get pressure without blitzing to take pressure off the secondary.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What questions do the Bucs need answered for 2025 to be successful?