The NFL season will sometimes show us what we want to see from players; other times, we may see something bad when it isn’t there. For fans and media, it’s essential to have a way to verify and balance information to prevent favoritism or bias from being portrayed in a negative light.
Thanks to PFF, we will always have an extra set of eyes to examine the football game.
The Bucs season has come to a close following Week 18 and them being ruled out of making the playoffs. So, compared to our usual game breakdown with PFF numbers, we are going to digest the best offensive numbers from each position group following the season as a whole.
Here is how they shook out after 18 weeks of the NFL season.
Quarterback
Grade: B-
Baker Mayfield started the season playing the best football of his career. Through the first eight weeks of the season, the former Heisman Trophy winner looked like he would be adding hardware to his house by being the frontrunner for the MVP Award. However, after their 6-2 start, the team fell off a cliff and lost seven of their last nine games, and Baker Mayfield’s play fell off a cliff. That being said, he did seem to be struggling with shoulder and knee issues, so he could be poised for a return to form in 2026.
Running Backs
Grade: C+
Bucky Irving being hurt for a long stretch in the season really affected this grade; it also didn’t help that he never really found his form. However, Rachaad White was a bright spot and should have been used more. Those two could have been the best running back duo in the NFL, but injuries and playcalling held them back. Ironically, the emergence of Sean Tucker was a bright spot, but even then he wasn’t used as much as he could have.
Wide Receivers
Grade: B
This grade is being done on a curve as injuries and quarterback play held this unit back. Rookie Emeka Egbuka emerged as one of the best rookies coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft and nearly hit 1,000 yards on the season. He achieved that while being the guy, while veterans like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missed significant time due to injury. If that trio returns in 2026, after getting healthy and Baker Mayfield bouncing back, they can be an explosive offense once again.
Tight Ends
Grade: D
The use of tight ends in this offense is baffling to me. Cade Otton wasn’t used until Week 18, after all season long he served as nothing more than an extra tackle on the line, or a safety valve in the offense. They need someone who can stretch the field and work the advantages in the middle of the field. The free agent class has sme potential, as does the NFL draft, so perhaps they find that spark this offseason because they need it.
Offensive Line
Grade: B
Speaking of injuries, the offensive line was also beaten up in 2025, but they managed it as well as they could have. Graham Barton played some tackle, backups played meaningful snaps, and oracticwe squad players ended up making an impact. This unit, when healthy, is one of the best in the NFL, but they also proved to be a deep unit as well. Dealing with injuries can set teams back, but Jason Licht and the coaching staff did a great job with the hand they were dealt on the offensive line.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Grading the Bucs offense by position based on the 2025 NFL season
