The Buccaneers’ best newcomer is not DeSean Jackson

Prior to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the 2017 season, the best newcomer looked like DeSean Jackson: finally a speedster, an explosive force on offense, the first receiver who could rival Joey Galloway. Yes, Galloway is the Bucs’ reference for fast guys. Such is life.

Three games into the season, though, and Jackson is mostly an afterthought. With nine catches for 143 catches and one touchdown, he hasn’t made a massive impact. Mostly that hasn’t been his fault: he’s gotten open and especially behind the defense, but he just hasn’t gotten good passes. That’s part of what it means to be a deep threat, of course.

It also means that we can’t call him the best newcomer, though. Not yet. Instead, I’m going with someone who the Bucs signed in 2016: right guard J.R. Sweezy. He missed his first season with the Bucs with a back injury, but has been awesome in the past three games.

Sweezy is one of three players to play every single snap on his side of the ball, and the only player who could realistically be called a newcomer. He’s been good in the run game, but he’s been surprisingly great in the passing game. That was his weak point in Seattle, and one reason why he hit the free agent market last year. No such problem so far, though.

And largely thanks to his addition, the Bucs now have an actual, honest-to-goodness, quality offensive line. And that’s something they can build on.