It's the worst kept secret that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive line play was nothing short of disastrous last season. Jason Licht is hoping that one of his more experienced acquisitions of this offseason will help change that.  

The Bucs signed G Matt Feiler in April to a one-year contract for $2.5 million, with $1.29 million of that guaranteed as a signing bonus.  

Feiler signed as an undrafted free agent out of Bloomsberg University with the Texans in 2014, where he served as a member of the practice squad. The Steelers added him off waivers in September 2015, where he would remain through the 2020 season.  

In Pittsburgh, Feiler saw substantial time at both left guard and right tackle. Feiler took over as the starter at right tackle during the 2018 season, drawing 10 starts. He started all 16 games in 2019 at right tackle before shifting over to left guard before the 2020 season. He started 13 games there before suffering a pectoral injury.  

Feiler went on to sign with the LA Chargers in the 2021 offseason. He manned the left guard position, starting 16 and 17 games there in 2021 and 2022, respectively. 

For his career, Feiler has accumulated 3,234 snaps at left guard and 1,599 snaps at right tackle. That's a lot of experience at two spots where the Bucs are currently searching for answers. 

For now, according to the Bucs' coaching staff, it appears Feiler is being viewed as the leading candidate for the left guard position.  

"Adding Matt Feiler – when you see Tristan [Wirfs] and Matt lined up on the left side and when [Ryan] Jensen was here… those three guys next to each other is pretty impressive," said Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales on Wednesday. 

Offensive line coach Joe Gilbert echoed Canales' sentiments, adding "you put [Tristan Wirfs] and Matt Feiler over at left guard, when you line those guys up, and [center Ryan] Jensen, it looks pretty good. It looks the way it's supposed to look, that's for sure. So, it's good."

Gilbert continued on Feiler: 

"Number one Matt's been in this system before coming from San Diego, there's some carry over there. He's strong, he's athletic, he's a man of few words but he goes out and [shows] his work ethic. That's the one thing, [I'm] just really impressed with the entire group right now. This is voluntary and these guys come to work and [are] really working on their craft. Every day, that part has been really great. Sometimes guys get out there and kind of go through the motions and that has not been the case at all."

Accordingly, it looks like the Bucs' plans will include Feiler as the team's left guard – at least for now. And there's plenty to like about Feiler at that spot. In 2021, Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 74.0, fourth-best in the NFL among all left guards with at least 1,000 snaps. His run blocking grade that year was 78.5, the second-best mark in the league among candidates with at least 1,000 snaps. The best that year? Former Bucs guard Ali Marpet.  

If Feiler can provide a spark in the run game between Wirfs and Jensen, then the Bucs could have a great start to building what they hope is a far better offensive line in 2023.