The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were already in a hole at the game’s most important position following Tom Brady’s retirement. Now, head coach Bruce Arians, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, and the rest of Tampa Bay’s offensive coaching staff has another hill to climb this offseason. On Sunday, left guard Ali Marpet announced his retirement from professional football — at age 28.
#Bucs Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet has made the decision to retire at age 28. The Super Bowl champion started since he entered the NFL from little Hobart College and has been stellar. Now, calls it quits. pic.twitter.com/JCcjRLPlkg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2022
“After seven formidable years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I’ve come to the decision to retire from the game that has given me so much,” Marpet wrote on his Instagram account. “This organization and the people surrounding it have helped not only fulfill a dream, but also helped build me into the person I am today. I’ve made Tampa Bay my home and look forward to serving this community in the coming years. To the coaches and teammates, family and friends, an Instagram post simply can’t express the profound impact on me. I am eternally grateful. Thank you, Tampa Bay.”
From Ali Marpet's dad Bill Marpet: "I think he accomplished his goals, values his health, is looking for more challenges. Ali has a very strong inner voice, and he is courageous enough to follow it. I'm in awe."
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) February 27, 2022
Marpet, selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2015 draft out of small Hobart College, quickly became one of the NFL’s better guards, despite the drastic uptick in competition at the NFL level. He allowed just 16 sacks over seven seasons in 4,706 pass-blocking snaps, and became Brady’s primary interior protector over the last two seasons — including the Bucs’ win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s not always easy to determine the value of an offensive guard beyond sack and pressure totals allowed, but in Marpet’s case, the difference when he was on and off the field was quite drastic. This was especially true in 2020…
Also, from the rundown notes: I have to post the @Buccaneers' passing splits with and without Ali Marpet this season, because they are absolutely insane. (per @SportsInfo_SIS) pic.twitter.com/ptXMPdGpTd
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 31, 2020
…but it was also true last season. With Marpet on the field, Tampa Bay’s 2021 Total Offensive EPA went from 0.01 to 0.09. Their Passing EPA went from -0.04 to +0.11, and their Blown Block Sack Rate decreased from 4.0% to 1.9%.
Marpet’s effect on the line wasn’t just a product of Brady’s addition, either — his excellence was quite clear in 2020 with Jameis Winston under center.
Legit case to be made that Ali Marpet is the NFL's most underrated offensive lineman. Allowed two sacks and 23 pressures on a league-high 751 pass-blocking reps, a monster in the run game, quick and accurate upfield. About to be Tom Brady's best friend. pic.twitter.com/4SdIARvbm5
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 18, 2020
Marpet’s retirement makes the Buccaneers’ interior offensive line situation even more fractious than it already was going into the new league year. Center Ryan Jensen and right guard Alex Cappa will be free agents, and while the team will get some relief with Marpet’s 2022 cap number of $12,775 million, there’s a lot of work to do — and not a lot of space with which to do it.
It’s possible that this could send the Bucs into a different draft strategy. Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green, Boston College’s Zion Johnson, and Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Cole Strange are among the guard prospects in the 2022 draft class who could be lower-cost additions (though Green is a sure-fire first-rounder).
In free agency, the Bucs might be looking at Brandon Scherff, Laken Tomlinson, Mark Glowinski, and Andrew Norwell, among others. What we know is that whoever replaces Ali Marpet will have a lot of work ahead of him.
Statement from GM Jason Licht pic.twitter.com/wLT1jQo7hB
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 27, 2022
