When it comes to expectations surrounding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offseason, well, there weren't many.

Not many positive ones, at least. The main line of thinking centered around the thought that the team was about to see a ton of roster turnover that included homegrown, beloved veterans who helped the franchise win its second Super Bowl. 

It was a logical thought process, as well. No one was being negative. The Buccaneers came into the 2023 offseason with an awful salary cap situation and 20+ impending free agents. There's not much you can really do in that context.

But still, the Buccaneers found ways to make significant moves that should help keep the team competitive in what is a slowly improving, yet still dreadful NFC South.

Let's break down those moves and what they mean.

Re-signings

G Aaron Stinnie

Contract: 1yr/$1.4 million (worth up to $2.5 million after incentives)

Stinnie is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered during the 2022 preseason. He'll compete for a starting guard position once he's fully recovered, but it's unclear when that moment is supposed to come.

In all, it's close to a vet minimum deal and it the Buccaneers have a pre-2023 out in case things don't work.

Grade: C+

OLB Anthony Nelson

Contract: 2yrs/$10 million

Nelson has improved his game over the last two seasons, racking up 10.5 sacks, 11 TFLs, and 16 QB hits as the Buccaneers' third pass-rusher, primarily. He's going to be needed in 2023 as Shaq Barrett recovers from his Achilles injury and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka continues his development.

It's a solid deal that also includes an out after 2023 in case things go horribly wrong.

Grade: B+

CB Dee Delaney

Contract: 1yr/$940k

Delaney is a depth player and is a big part of the Buccaneers' special teams, which is evidenced by his team-leading 604 special teams snaps in 2022.

Delaney has provided OK play at his position when called upon and he knows the system. It'll be interesting to see if he can grow with another year in Todd Bowles' defense.

Grade: B

CB Jamel Dean

Contract: 4yrs/$52 million

Easily the Buccaneers' most surprising re-signing, Dean is also the most important. 

Not only do the Bucs keep a homegrown talent, they get to do it at a very cheap price. $13 million per year is a bargain for what Dean provides at cornerback. 

Grade: A+

LB Lavonte David

Contract: 1yr/$7 million

Re-signing David means the Buccaneers are keeping their most important players on defense for the 2023 season. Vita Vea, Devin White, David, Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis III, and Antoine Winfield Jr. will comprise what is going to be the backbone of the 2023 Buccaneers.

The deal also gets David one step closer to retiring as a Buc for life, which is always a good thing.

Grade: A+

G Nick Leverett

Contract: 1yr/$940k

This was a no-brainer. Leverett stepped up in a big way by not just starting at left guard for 10 games, but improving the play at the position. He also managed to do this with a first-year starter in C Robert Hainsey and a struggling Donovan Smith.

Leverett is almost a lock to win the starting left guard position in 2023. It'll be fun to monitor his offseason.

Grade: B+

Final word: The Buccaneers' ability to re-sign both Dean and David is easily the highlight of the offseason, thus far. And it's not just about what happens on the field: Both moves are going to keep fan morale high as we continue the march toward September.

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Free agent additions

QB Baker Mayfield

Contract: 1yr/$4 million (up to $8.5 million after incentives)

Mayfield is going to have to win the starting job and there's a world in which he doesn't. But, if he does, there's a chance he could become the Buccaneers' starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. 

That's how volatile Mayfield is. What's key in all of this, however, is the Buccaneers are set up to benefit the most in any situation. There's very little to lose and so much to gain on their side of the aisle.

Grade: B

RB Chase Edmonds

Contract: 1yr/$1.080 million

Edmonds can be a dynamic playmaker when healthy, but that's the operative phrase: when healthy. He signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, but quickly fell out of favor before becoming more involved over the last few weeks of the season.

Edmonds is best suited for a zone scheme and that's exactly what the Buccaneers will run under Dave Canales. How effective he is remains to be seen, however. 

Regardless, he should be a solid complementary piece that has the ability to break a big play every now and then.

Grade: B

Final word: The Buccaneers have only brought in two "outsiders", per se, but they weren't expected to make many outside moves in free agency. However, the two guys they did bring in are very intriguing and could very well become big contributors in 2023 and in the case of Mayfield – possibly beyond.

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The Buccaneers still need to nail the 2023 NFL Draft and the last few draftees really need to step their game up, but right now, the arrow is certainly pointing up.

And this isn't a case of "well there was a low bar of expectations coming in, so any news is good news" or anything like that. The Buccaneers made solid, strategic moves that could define how their 2023 season goes.

The biggest move in question is the decision to trade Shaq Mason to the Houston Texans. Yes, the Buccaneers needed the cap space, but Mason certainly wasn't a problem in 2022, his lone year with the team. The offense stunk primarily because of offensive line woes, so it doesn't make much sense for the team to ship off one of the best players on the front five. 

Overall, it seems more like a scheme fit, than anything. If that's the case, then it's completely understandable why the Buccaneers moved on.

In the grand scheme of things, it's so far, so good for the Bucs. And the best part is there is still plenty of time to continue to add to the roster.