TAMPA, Fla. -- A few thoughts on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium:
What it means: The Bucs lost the game, but they came away with a nice consolation prize: They earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. Let the debate start about whether the Bucs should draft Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston or address a position other than quarterback. The 2-14 season is Tampa Bay's worst since 1986.
Stock watch: Middle linebacker Mason Foster missed another start due to an Achilles tendon injury. There's a good chance Foster has played his last game for Tampa Bay. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and the coaching staff doesn't seem convinced Foster is a great fit in the Tampa 2 defense.
Game ball: Gerald McCoy. The defensive tackle didn't play Sunday due to an injury. But this week's game balls go to the season-long MVP for each team, and there's no question McCoy deserves that honor. He led the Bucs with 8.5 sacks and was a force in the middle on a defense that got better as the season went on.
The 1,000-yard club: Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson each reached 1,000 yards receiving on the first two plays of the game. It marked the first time in franchise history the Bucs have had two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season. Evans also had a touchdown catch, giving him a franchise-record 12 on the season.
What’s next: The season is over, but there is heavy work ahead for the Bucs. You don’t sit still after a season like this. That means the Bucs will get rid of some players who don’t fit their schemes and they’ll free up some salary-cap room. That will allow Tampa Bay to be a major player in free agency.
