Who could be Tampa Bay’s breakout players in 2018?

Tampa Bay is loaded on offense. Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, and DeSean Jackson are all names familiar with the average NFL fan. Likewise on defense with Gerald McCoy, Brent Grimes, and newcomer Jason Pierre-Paul. I am tempted to put the annually criminally underrated Lavonte David, but we already know he’s good. But whom among Tampa’s younger and lesser-known players could break out and have a big year?

Chris Godwin

The obvious immediate choice here is Godwin. Go read this excellent article on how Godwin is primed for a big year in 2018.

Ronald Jones

Running backs are devalued in today’s game but are more primed than ever to make immediate impacts, like the ones Kareem Hunt and Alvin Kamara made recently. Jones could immediately add explosiveness to the Bucs’ offense and with no established starter ahead of him he should get plenty of touches.

O.J. Howard

Howard had a good rookie campaign in 2017, racking up 432 yards and six touchdowns, in addition to his solid blocking. It wasn’t a lot per-game but it was fourth among all tight ends in yards per target and third in yards per reception.

Howard should become a bigger part of the offense going forward and if he is he could have a breakout season.

Noah Spence

Spence has the talent and has flashed when healthy, but he’s been unable to stay healthy. Adding multiple players to the defensive line this offseason has pushed Spence down the depth chart and has perhaps altered his usage. If he comes off the bench on passing downs and rushes from a two point stance and is not asked as much to play the run, Spence could rack up good numbers.

Whoever wins the outside cornerback spot opposite Grimes

Vernon Hargreaves III has not lived up to his 11th overall selection to this point, but he’s going to get another shot at starting outside in fall camp. The Bucs also drafted Auburn corner Carlton Davis and North Carolina product M.J. Stewart in the second and third rounds of the 2018 draft, respectively. Whoever emerges from this battle the winner will play a ton of snaps this season.