The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot of questions on the offensive line as the team heads into the 2023 season.

Three of the five starting positions are solidified, with a fourth seemingly-so. However, there are still major questions at each one of those positions: Can Tristan Wirfs succeed at left tackle? How does Matt Feiler adjust in Tampa Bay? Will Ryan Jensen return to his old form after the knee injury and a scheme change? Is Luke Goedeke the guy at right tackle?

Only the starting right guard position appears to be up for grabs, at this point. And, there are plenty of capable bodies vying for that spot, which is always a good problem to have.



So, let's take a look at the primary competitors for the Bucs' starting right guard job.

Top Challengers for the Bucs’ Starting Right Guard Job

Nick Leverett

Leverett, in my opinion, is the front-runner for the job, right now. It won’t surprise me at all if he starts with the 1s when Bucs training camp kicks off in late July. 

The former undrafted free agent has done nothing but fight for every snap of playing time he's received since coming into the league. That mentality is what has kept him around for the last couple of years and it finally paid off in 2022 when he took over the starting left guard job for an injured Luke Goedeke and never looked back.

He played pretty well, too. Per Pro Football Focus, Leverett gave up just 10 total pressures over 10 starts once he became the guy in Week 8. His pass blocking efficiency rating of 98.7 was third-best among the Bucs' starting OL during that span, as well. It also ranked 14th among all offensive linemen with at least 472 blocking snaps since Week 8 (98 qualifying players).

Sure, Leverett can certainly improve. He'll get every chance to do just that as he should enter his first-ever training camp as a starter on an NFL roster.

Cody Mauch

On the surface, Mauch seems like the favorite to open camp with the 1s, but the still needs to improve his play strength and that usually takes some time. Just think of how the Bucs approached Alex Cappa as a rookie in 2018 – that’s probably how Mauch’s rookie year will go. Let him sit and get stronger and then give him a chance to compete for the starting job next year.

That doesn't mean Mauch is in capable of surprising people, including myself, however. He is a fierce competitor and his lack of length isn't as much of a disadvantage at guard like it would be at tackle. He also knows how to use his hands. Overall he could overcome his lack of strength, but obviously, that remains to be seen.

Mauch should be able to show some flashes during camp, but whether or not it's enough to win the starting job is up in the air. At worst, he should be the No. 2 option behind Leverett and maybe even Feiler.

Brandon Walton

Walton is an interesting candidate because he was the Bucs’ swing tackle last year before moving inside for 16 snaps against the Falcons.

The move inside turned out to be a permanent one, as the Bucs have had him practicing at guard over the last several weeks. Assistant head coach/run game coordinator Harold Goodwin said a while ago that Walton's home is on the inside and he's holding firm on that idea.

"I prefer him to play inside but I'm ok with him playing tackle. I think his home is playing inside at one of the guard spots," Goodwin said in May.

If Walton can prove he's capable on the inside, then he should be a near-lock to make the roster. The Bucs don't have a proven option at swing tackle and Walton's potential inside/outside versatility could make him a valuable asset on the roster.

I don't foresee him winning the starting job, but he can certainly make the roster as a depth guy who can step in when needed.

Aaron Stinnie

Stinnie has a really, really tough hill to climb, as we’ve mentioned before on the site.

Not only is he recovering from the torn ACL suffered during the 2022 preseason, he has a ton of competition around him and he only plays guard. The latter point, oftentimes, represents a major disadvantage for depth players on the interior offensive line. 

He's going to have to have a very important training camp and preseason if he wants to simply make the final roster. Let alone have a chance at winning the starting gig.

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Overall, it's safe to call this a two-man showdown between Leverett and Mauch. I don't think Robert Hainsey will be a big player in this battle, nor should he be. The Buccaneers need a solid option at center in case Jensen gets hurt again or struggles on the field. Therefore, giving him as many snaps at center with the 2s is a much better plan than giving him snaps at guard. Plus, as we literally just discussed, there are plenty of options at guard.

This is easily one of the most intriguing position battles to watch once camp kicks off and it will be fun to see how it plays out.

Predicting Buccaneers’ 53-man depth chart ahead of training camp

There’s still a ways to go before the season starts, but that doesn’t mean we can collect our thoughts on the Bucs’ 53-man depth chart before camp.

Featured image via Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports