No Bucs Make ESPN League Poll Of Best IOL In NFL

After having Bucs offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs place admirably at number three, no Bucs make ESPN’s list of top-10 interior offensive linemen in their ongoing poll of league players, coaches executives and scouts. This makes sense as the team’s current build out calls for the recently released Matt Feiler and just-drafted Cody Mauch to man the guard spots while Ryan Jensen returns to the starting center position for 2023.

Bucs Center Misses List Due To Injury

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jensen, 32, was the lone candidate to possibly place on the list. And the Bucs veteran did garner some votes. But he understandably missed the cut following a devastating knee injury suffered in training camp last year that precluded him from playing in the regular season.

Faced with a rehab that typically takes a year, Jensen was able to return for the Bucs Wild Card game via a Herculean effort. Prior to the injury, Jensen was considered one of the best centers in the game, with noted lineman analyst Brandon Thorn going as far as to say he was the best center in the game on the Pewter Report Podcast.

Jensen’s effort in that Wild Card game, while inspirational, showed clear rust and limitations. With an additional offseason of rehab, he and Tampa Bay hope he can return to his 2019-2021 form that helped him earn a coveted third contract which made him one of the highest-paid centers in the league.

New Bucs Additions Not Considered

Neither Feiler nor Mauch received any votes. Mauch being a rookie would not have been considered as he has yet to show what he is capable of against NFL competition. Feiler, while a solid veteran signing for the Bucs that gives them both flexibility and improved depth, has never been considered one of the elite players in the game. Still, his journey from undrafted free agent, to practice squad player, to making a roster, to starter, to second contract is an inspiring one. But there is some evidence that he may already be on the decline.

Bucs Hope Mauch Can Join The List In The Near Future

Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With glaring holes at offensive tackle and cornerback, Tampa Bay still used a premium draft pick on Mauch, selecting him 49th overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Mauch brings premium athleticism to an offensive line transitioning to a scheme that demands it of its players.

But Mauch will be following in the footsteps of his teammate Luke Goedeke, who tried to switch sides, positions, and levels of competition last year. While Goedeke went from playing right tackle in the Mid-Atlantic Conference to starting at left guard for the Bucs in the NFL, Mauch will be moving from playing left tackle in the Missouri Valley Conference to playing right guard.

The transition was a difficult one for Goedeke. And Tampa Bay has now abandoned it by returning him to his natural position of right tackle. The team hopes Mauch can have a much better experience more similar to that of former Bucs guard Alex Cappa.