Standouts: Preseason Week 3 Dolphins vs Buccaneers

Who stood out in the preseason finale?

The Buccaneers wrapped up their preseason with a 24-14 win over the Miami Dolphins and finished the 2024 preseason with a 2-1 record.

Friday night was the last opportunity for many players to make a name for themselves and try to make the final 53 man roster. Let’s take a look at who stepped up against Miami.

QB Baker Mayfield

It was quick work for Mayfield, who only had one drive and three pass attempts but he made the most of them. He was 3/3 for 54 yards including a beautiful 28 yard pass to Jalen McMillan that lead to a Bucs touchdown.

It was Mayfield’s first and only work of this year’s preseason but he made a great impression. Hopefully it is something that can carry over to the regular season.

WR Cody Thompson

For the second straight week, Cody Thompson stepped up and lead the way for the Bucs yet again with seven catches for 45 yards and consistently was able to get open and catch the football.

Thompson has really made the Bucs decision on which wide receiver to keep. Rakim Jarrett and Sterling Shepard are among the players in the running, but with them being sidelined with injuries, Thompson has made the most of his opportunities. Jarrett and Shepard may be the odd men out as Thompson has showed up and showed out in the preseason.

CB Keenan Isaac

Cornerback Keenan Isaac is fighting for one of the final cornerback spots on the roster and he has made a name for himself. He had an interception in the first preseason game against Cincinatti and almost had another one tonight. Isaac fought hard and made the final 53 man roster out of camp last year and this year he is trying to do it once again.

With corner depth being so important in today’s NFL, Isaac stepping up in year two is a nice development for the Buccaneers defense.

K Chase McLaughlin

This one was more for the sanity of Bucs fans. After being so good in 2023 and setting a career high in field goal percentage made with 93.5%, McLaughlin missed a kick in each of the first two preseason games to start 2024. One of the misses being a 41 yarder that needs to be made, there was a lot of pressure on McLaughlin to perform and he did just that.

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Easing Bucs fans minds a bit, he was 4/4 overall on kicks and made his only field goal which was a 51 yarder and made all three of his extra points. It was important for McLaughlin to not give the Bucs and their fans flashbacks of the 2010s when the team went through kicker after kicker trying to find a solution.

Hopefully McLaughlin got the misses out of his system and he is ready to roll in 2024.

That is a wrap on the 2024 preseason. Who stood out to you during the three games? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!