The NFL's trade deadline is only a few days away, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the potential to be one of the league's most fascinating teams.

The Bucs looked dead in the water after starting the season 1-5. The team looked destined to begin some type of rebuild. Head coach Todd Bowles seemed certain to be fired before the end of the season. With several veterans who could fetch valuable draft picks in a trade, the Bucs were assumed to be sellers at the deadline.

However, Tampa's playoff chances have skyrocketed after two straight victories over NFC South opponents. Now 3-5, the Bucs are only a half-game behind the Carolina Panthers, whom they beat 43-13 in Week 7, for first place.

With several players available who could help the Bucs make a playoff push, Tampa could easily decide to be buyers at the deadline.

Before the deadline, the Bucs have a very difficult road matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. While a win should solidify Tampa as buyers, a bad loss could turn the Bucs back into sellers.

Since the Bucs could still be either buyers or sellers, what the organization decides could have a huge impact on the entire league.

However, The Athletic believes Tampa should be neither buyers nor sellers, encouraging the Bucs to "stand pat" at the deadline.

Boring.

Dan Pompei, who made the decision for Tampa's deadline strategy, believes the Bucs' status as favorites to win the NFC South should prevent the organization from selling. He also acknowledges that the Bucs likely wouldn't be considered Super Bowl contenders, even if they win the division. Pompei thinks Tampa Bay should still try to win as many games as possible the rest of the season.

"Just a couple of weeks ago, the Bucs were 1-5 and many were suggesting they should set up a garage sale to offer the likes of Vita Vea, Chris Godwin, Yaya Diaby, Kenneth Gainwell and others at discounted rates. But their back-to-back division victories over the Panthers and Falcons — by a combined score of 59-13 — should shut down that line of thinking. The Bucs are now the favorite to win the NFC South, according to The Athletic’s Playoff Simulator. You may argue that the Bucs aren’t going to win a Super Bowl this year even if they win the division, and while that may be true, their objective should remain winning as much as possible. — Dan Pompei"

Not only would standing pat be the most boring decision the Bucs could make, but it would also be the worst decision for the organization.

Pompei is right when he acknowledges that the Bucs may not be considered true contenders even if they make the playoffs as division champs. 

That could change if the team decides to be buyers.

Tampa Bay already has an excellent defense, which has proven it can carry the team to victories. The Bucs' defense and excellent running game give the team an identity, which is the foundation for becoming a contender.

Adding an offensive playmaker like Arizona tight end Trey McBride could be a game-changer for Tampa's offense. Taking a home run swing like that could take the Bucs to another level and raise their ceiling significantly.

On the other hand, if the Bucs don't consider themselves Super Bowl contenders, what is the point of standing pat?

The goal of every NFL team is to win the Super Bowl. Why keep a roster the same if the organization doesn't believe it can contend?

If the Bucs don't make moves that can make them contenders, they must make moves that could make them contenders in the near future.

Trading a handful of veterans for future draft capital is the best way to make that happen. Keeping a roster intact that isn't good enough to be a legitimate contender is the best way to make sure it doesn't.

Nothing would be worse for the Bucs than standing pat at the deadline.

Tampa Bay has completely turned its season around after a 1-5 start. The players and coaches have earned the right to build on the momentum they have created.

I believe the Bucs should buy at the deadline, especially if they upset the Bears.

If they don't buy, then the Bucs should sell in order to build a team that can contend as quickly as possible.

It is really that simple.