TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Dave Canales’ year of success as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator has landed him a head coaching role in the NFC South.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Carolina Panthers are hiring Canales as the team’s head coach. According to Schefter, the Panthers offered Canales the job, and he’s “taking it.”

Canales’ stint in Tampa Bay was his first season as a play caller. He came to the team succeeding ex-offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, who was fired following the 2022-23 season.

With the Bucs having 20 free agents, including key playmakers Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Lavontae David, the team has a lot on their plate this offseason.

But the main question is, who will replace Canales? If the Bucs are looking to keep Mayfield for a longer-term deal, they’ll most likely search among faces he’s familiar with or hire within One Buc Place.

Here are a few top candidates for the Bucs’ OC job:

  • Panthers’ Thomas Brown

Brown, who is a former running back, is the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. He previously served as the OC and running backs coach at the University of Miami. He was interviewed by the Pittsburgh Steelers for their OC job on Tuesday.

He joined the Panthers coaching staff in 2023 after a three-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams.

  • Eagles’ Brian Johnson

After just one season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson was relieved of his offensive coordinator duties. A call that came after the Buccaneers took down the Eagles 32-9 in the NFC Wild Card round.

According to Sports Illustrated, the Browns interviewed Johnson for their OC opening.

  • Browns’ Alex Van Pelt

Van Pelt was Mayfield’s offensive coordinator in Cleveland in 2020-21. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman said Van Pelt was recently released by the Browns, and while he has no experience working directly with Bowles, he was Tampa’s quarterback’s coach in 2010-11.

  • Kliff Kingsbury

Kliff Kingsbury is another outside choice for the Buccaneers. The current USC senior offensive analyst previously coached Mayfield while he was the head coach at Texas Tech. He also was the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during the 2019-22 seasons.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Kingsbury interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator opening this week.

  • Ken Dorsey

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bucs plan to interview former Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey this week for their OC position. Dorsey also interviewed with the Browns last week for their opening.

The former quarterback played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he won the national championship and the Maxwell Award in 2001. He was the Bills offensive coordinator from 2022-23.

  • Thad Lewis

Tampa Bay Times Bucs and NFL reporter Rick Stroud stated that if the Bucs made an in-house hire, “it would be Thad Lewis.” Lewis was hired back in 2020 as an intern with the Bucs. He was then promoted to offensive assistant in 2021 before head coach Todd Bowles made him the quarterbacks coach this season.

The Las Vegas Raiders asked permission to interview him for their offensive or passing game coordinator under their new head coach, Antonio Pierce.

  • Brad Idzik

WFLA sports reporter and Bucs’ Insider Dan Lucas said the Bucs need Brad Idzik for Baker and year two of the offense. Idzik served as Tampa Bay’s wide receivers coach this season. It was his first season with the team.

According to Sports Illustrated JC Allen, the Panthers requested to interview Idzik about their offensive coordinator position. Idzik, the son of former Bucs’ assistant General Manager John Idzik, followed Canales to Tampa after coaching alongside him in Seattle. The two worked together for four seasons under ex-head coach Pete Carroll.