The Bucs were left out in the cold this time last year on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 32 guards heading into the 2024 season. This year, Cody Mauch made his way onto the list preventing Tampa Bay from getting shut out. It marks some recognition for him delivering on the potential he showed as a rookie, by adding a more consistent element to his game in 2024.
Cody Mauch Ranked 22nd On PFF’s Top Guard List
Cody Mauch not only placed on the list, but came in 11 spots from the bottom, marking a precipitous rise in just one year. Author Mason Cameron wrote: “Mauch made a monumental leap in his performance this past season. During his rookie campaign in 2023, Mauch ranked 77th out of 83 qualifying guards in PFF grade (43.8). In his second year, his grading profile jumped more than 30 points on the grading scale up to a 74.6, placing him just outside the top-15 highest-graded guards in the NFL.”
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Mauch displayed considerable improvement as both a run blocker and as a pass protector. He developed an unspoken rhythm with right tackle Luke Goedeke to become one of the best double teams in the NFL. Mauch’s strike timing improved in his sophomore season and he added muscle and strength to increase his leg drive and ability to create vertical displacement.
Rewatching Cody Mauch. Week One vs MIN. #69 Impressive leg drive to finish the rep. pic.twitter.com/vHWJD5RDbC
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) April 22, 2024
This might have been the best game of Cody Mauch’s career. One tough rep on the 2nd pick. But watch him go to work on this TD. pic.twitter.com/5ahEx2AyFS
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) December 10, 2024
And as a pass protector he added improved eye discipline to pick up stunts and twists along with a stronger anchor to his already elite recovery skills. In doing so, he cut his pressures allowed to a third of what they were in 2023. Among qualified guards last year Mauch ranked fifth in the NFL in pressure rate allowed at 2.63%. That aligns closely with his 98.5 efficiency that PFF credits him with which ranked third. His season was so impressive I made the case that he should have been in consideration for postseason honors.
Mauch is one of six guards in the NFC to make the list. Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom topped their list for the second consecutive season. His counterpart Matthew Bergeron ranked just behind Mauch at 23rd overall. The Panthers’ duo Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt were side-by-side on the grading site’s list at 15th and 16th respectively. Cesar Ruiz of the Saints just barely made the list at 30th overall.
Mauch’s placement on this list, while a positive step forward, may be a bit too large of a hedge for PFF. They have the 33-year-old unsigned Brandon Scherff three spots ahead of the Mauch and the declining Joel Bitonio of the Browns eight spots ahead.
Ben Bredeson Doesn’t Make PFF’s Top Guard List
After signing a new three-year contract with the Bucs following a solid season, left guard Ben Bredeson did not earn a spot on the list. Despite being consistent, Bredeson’s play isn’t quite worthy of a mention as one of the best interior blockers in the game. Tampa Bay found a way to weaponize him as both a pinner and a puller in the run game. But he can struggle with power and allowed a 5.0% pressure rate last year.
Bucs LG Ben Bredeson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs Improved Interior Led To Offensive Improvements
Just four short years ago the interior of the Bucs line was manned by two of the best in the business in left guard Ali Marpet and center Ryan Jensen along with right guard Alex Cappa. The three of them proved to be a formidable front. But in a single offseason Cappa signed with the Bengals, Marpet retired, and Jensen was lost to an injury that would prevent him from playing in regular season game ever again. A tectonic shift like that could ruin most offenses and even franchises.
But the Bucs leadership has purposefully built through that turnover. General manager Jason Licht and his scouts found Cody Mauch in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They added Bredeson as a bounce-back candidate free agent signing in 2024, while adding 2024 first-round pick Graham Barton at center and 2022 second-round pick Luke Goedeke was moved to right tackle.
Just three years after having their championship line breakup, the Bucs replaced 80% of the unit and found a Top 5 mashup. That O-line helped quarterback Baker Mayfield become one of the least pressured quarterbacks in the NFL.
And a big part of those improvements which led to a Top 5 offense was the addition of Mauch at right guard.