The NFL offseason is always a crazy time of year as there are moves made daily that can shape the landscape of the league.
Most of the big free agent moves have already been made, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were recently able to improve their roster.
Julio Jones Buccaneers’ Improvement
Sources have announced that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached a one-year deal with free agent wide receiver Julio Jones.
Jones spent the previous season with the Tennessee Titans, but it was a relatively down year compared to his track record of success in the NFL.
Jones is now joining a wide receiver corps that is loaded with weapons for quarterback Tom Brady as he is back for another season.
Buccaneer’s this Season Expectations
Tampa Bay is going to be one of the best teams in the league this season, especially if Jones is as good as expected.
NFL betting odds have been shifting throughout the offseason as teams continue to try and improve to prepare for the 2022 season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a team that didn’t need a ton of improvements, but adding Jones to the mix certainly won’t hurt.
NFL Season 2021 for the Bucs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2021 season with 13 wins during the regular season, but it wasn’t the ending that was hoped for.
Tampa Bay was looking to win a second straight Super Bowl, but they fell short in the postseason at home to the Los Angeles Rams.
NFL injuries did impact the 2021 season for the Buccaneers as they lost Chris Godwin to a season-ending injury.
Tom Brady was expected to retire after that season, but his decision to return instantly changed the way people viewed the Bucs in 2022.
NFC South Division Competition
One advantage for the Buccaneers is that they play in the NFC South Division, and they likely won’t have a ton of competition.
New Orleans has dominated the Bucs in recent seasons, but the Saints are not expected to be a huge threat in 2022.
If Julio Jones is able to have a bounce-back year from a disappointing 2021, then it’s hard to imagine the Bucs not improving tremendously from this addition.
It won’t take long for Tom Brady and Jones to find a connection as they are both masters at their particular craft.
Jones Performance Recap
Julio Jones did not live up to the hype in his one season with the Tennessee Titans, but he was also dealing with some nagging injuries.
Tampa Bay is hoping to get the Atlanta version of the wide receiver, and that version is a player that will almost certainly end up in the Hall of Fame.
Jones was one of the best wide receivers in football during his career with the Atlanta Falcons, and he had a tremendous connection with quarterback Matt Ryan.
Jones Similar Offense for the Bucks
This will be a similar offense in Tampa Bay as there will be plenty of passes thrown, giving Jones time and the opportunity to rack up the numbers.
This is a one-year deal, but there would be a chance for Jones to sign another deal with Tampa Bay based on how he performs this season.
Buccaneers Betting Odds
The NFL odds for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 show that this team is expected to be one of the best teams in the league.
Tampa Bay will have to show it on paper, but they are also good enough to even surpass expectations and see these odds shorten.
Entering the 2022 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are listed at +750 to win the Super Bowl, which would be their second title in three seasons.
The Buffalo Bills are the Super Bowl betting favorites at +650, and they are the team to beat in the AFC.
NFC South Winning
Winning the NFC South might be viewed as a foregone conclusion for the Buccaneers as the odds for them to accomplish that feat are at –290 while the odds for the New Orleans Saints are at +400.
Tampa Bay is also the betting favorite to win the NFC Championship this season as they have odds set at +320. Green Bay is next on the list at +500, but there is a pretty big gap between those two teams.