Without Tom Brady, Will Buccaneers Have to rediscover their identity?

This was always going to be the reality when Tom Brady’s time in Tampa came to an end. The Buccaneers are now left to pick up the pieces and figure out their identity without the greatest quarterback of all time.

The truth we need to get out of the way is that the Bucs’ roster is still stacked with top-tier talent and a few stars. The point of this isn’t to throw in the towel on the future or eulogize the franchise. There’s still a lot to work with, and no one can debate that. How the Bucs move forward and establish a new identity, though, will mean everything.

It doesn’t take a genius to realize that Tampa Bay needs a new identity. As much as the rest of the team had its profile raised in the last two seasons, the Bucs’ identity from March 2020 until recently was Tom Brady.

Brady’s retirement obviously leaves a void at the quarterback position, and in the current state of the NFL, good quarterback play is a necessity, not a luxury. Tampa Bay definitely has its work cut out in finding Brady’s successor.

By re-signing Godwin, the Bucs can lock in one of the league’s best wide receiver duos. That will be a help to whoever steps in at quarterback. What the Bucs do with their backfield—and behind Evans and Godwin at the receiver position—will largely determine whether or not the offense can still carry the torch as the team’s identity.

The other side of the ball is an equally interesting part of this conversation. Bringing back Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead would go a long way in solidifying the secondary, as those two and Antoine Winfield Jr. are all elite talents. Jamel Dean is solid in his own right, but the cornerback position needs some addressing this offseason.

Reinforcements are needed if that group wants to help the defense live up to its “Grave Diggers” moniker. As it stands right now, it’s hard to imagine the Buccaneer defense being deep enough and good enough to become what the franchise is known for.

One thing is for sure: It will be extremely interesting to see how the Buccaneers go about refreshing their roster and rediscovering their identity in the post-Brady era. The answers they settle on will determine whether or not the organization can carry on the standard set by the G.O.A.T. Era in Tampa Bay.