The Bucs interest in North Dakota State OL Cody Mauch was piqued by the word of mouth from those he competed against, similar to the process that led to the Tampa Bay Lightning drafting star Brayden Point
Jason Licht and the Bucs followed their convictions in trading up to get future All-Pro Tristan Wirfs in the 2020 draft, and if they want to spend another high pick on a lineman in 2023 they should face a lot of competition for the top prospects
The Bucs knew they would be facing a tough salary cap situation in 2023 after three years of aggressive spending, but they had a plan to come out the other side without sacrificing their goal to compete for another division title