Bucs GM Jason Licht Wants To Make A Splash In Free Company | Pewter Report

Pewter Report has mentioned the Bucs’ largest positional wants and free company all through the week on the Pewter Report Podcast – and for good motive. Tampa Bay has some obvious holes on protection – ones that can’t be masked up any longer.

That’s to not say that common supervisor Jason Licht and the entrance workplace haven’t hit on some current defensive draft picks. Cornerback Zyon McCollum, defensive sort out Calijah Kancey, and outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby all look to be the long-term core of the long run, with defensive again Tykee Smith additionally within the dialog. Nonetheless, they need assistance. Ideally, a free company splash so as to add some veteran star energy.

Including An Exterior Linebacker Ought to Be Largest Free Agent Precedence

Eagles OLB Josh Sweat – Picture by: USA As we speak

That’s the massive dialog proper now.

With the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix subsequent week, our focus will quickly shift to the prospects who measure and take a look at effectively. Not too far after that although, the free company window opens up on March twelfth. The Bucs could have some work to retain their very own free brokers, together with broad receiver Chris Godwin and inside linebacker Lavonte David if he doesn’t retire.

Jason Licht and the remainder of the entrance workplace can even want to select up the telephone and name numerous brokers who characterize the perfect free brokers in the marketplace, particularly with an elevated wage cap that creates ample wiggle room to make a splash. Assessing who will probably be obtainable, the dialog ought to begin with including an out of doors linebacker.

As I discussed in our Pewter Report Roundtable earlier this week, Josh Sweat needs to be on the prime of the record. Sweat, who turns 28 years outdated in late March, is simply coming into his prime and is coming off the largest sport of his profession. He constantly generates strain, has recorded six or extra sacks in 5 straight seasons, and is extraordinarily sturdy. There’s a whole lot of upside to including somebody of Sweat’s caliber, and he would instantly change into the group’s greatest pass-rusher. Taking part in reverse Yaya Diaby and subsequent to defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey upfront will put him in a really comparable state of affairs to the one he had with the Eagles.

Philadelphia’s stout defensive entrance created a whole lot of points for Patrick Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LIX, and Sweat would have some above-average defensive expertise round him within the trenches. The one potential draw back is how a lot he may receives a commission if recency bias elevates his contract. At the moment projected for a three-year, $50.25 million deal that will be $16.75 million per yr, he may break the $20 million per yr threshold on the open market with groups participating in a bidding warfare for his providers.

Chargers OLB Khalil Mack – Picture by: USA As we speak

Sweat shouldn’t be the one free-agent choice, although.

Khalil Mack could also be turning 34 years outdated later this week and nearing the top of a decade-plus run as one among this era’s greatest pass-rushers, however don’t let that idiot you. The born-and-raised Florida product stays a harmful risk for opposing offenses to gameplan towards. Mack had simply six sacks in 2024 however nonetheless graded because the NFL’s fifth-best outdoors linebacker per Professional Soccer Focus (PFF). That could be a credit score to his savviness and mastery of the place.

Mack at all times has a sack assault in his bag, however he’s additionally a plus-run defender, bats passes down, and may knock the ball free. He could be paid an enormous wage to take down the quarterback, however as lately as 2023 he had 17 sacks, together with six sacks in a single sport.

Signing him would add management, a longtime expertise, and a mentor for the youthful guys like Diaby to be taught from. It will be extra of a band-aid transfer on a one-year deal round $22 million, however proper now, the protection will take what it could actually get in terms of enhancing subsequent season.

What About Including One other Inside Linebacker?

Taking a look at different positions the place the Bucs may make a splash, subsequent on the agenda is getting extra manufacturing out of the within linebacker place. If David re-signs for one more yr, it doesn’t make the state of affairs as dire as it could be if he retired, however the 35-year-old shouldn’t be relied on to hold all of the obligations like he has since being drafted in 2012. As an alternative, including one other promising inside linebacker in the marketplace to pair him with and having SirVocea Dennis ready within the wings would absolutely ease the nerves of head coach Todd Bowles.

Whereas Zack Baun could be the last word free-agent signing, early indications seem that he’ll doubtless re-sign with the Eagles, the group that took an opportunity on him switching positions and turning into an All-Professional. If not, Baun would break the financial institution, with a beginning value of about $16 million per yr. It will be price making that kind of transfer, however with it not wanting like essentially the most sensible chance, who’re different choices?

ILB Jamien Sherwood – Picture by: USA As we speak

Ernest Jones and Jamien Sherwood are intriguing names to throw within the ring. Jones was traded twice final season, first from the Rams to the Titans earlier than they moved him to the Seahawks. He has 4 extremely productive seasons and simply 25 years outdated. Jones profiles extra as somebody to suit the Ok.J. Britt function as a thumper with out being the sort of legal responsibility Britt was in move protection. He’s anticipated to command a four-year deal nearing $15 million yearly.

Sherwood is a transformed defensive again who flew beneath the radar with the Jets behind C.J. Mosley. With Mosley enjoying simply 4 video games this yr, Sherwood exploded onto the scene. He recorded 158 complete tackles, had ten tackles for a loss, and had two sacks. At 6-foot-2, 216 kilos, he would match David’s function as extra of a move protection linebacker, particularly together with his background. Additionally a Florida native, Sherwood could be a less expensive addition than Jones with a brand new contract projected to be price three years for $33 million.

Lastly, there may be Dre Greenlaw.

If Greenlaw entered free company not coming off a torn Achilles, he would get the same deal to Baun. As an alternative, with that damage placing a damper on his potential earnings, he’s the proper low-risk, high-reward sort of signing. He returned in Week 15 final season and performed effectively in restricted motion. It isn’t out of the realm of chance he bounces again close to his earlier stage of play, the place he was a top-10 linebacker who paired effectively with All-Professional Fred Warner. Jason Licht wouldn’t need to again up the Brinks truck for him, with a deal anticipated to be a one-year, prove-it deal price about $6 million with incentives labored in.

The Bucs Can not Neglect An Inexperienced, Underwhelming Cornerback Room

Third on the record of areas the place the Bucs ought to look to make a splash is at cornerback. Zyon McCollum stepped up in an enormous means from 2023 to show that he’s a promising starting-caliber cornerback with loads of upside. After McCollum, issues don’t seem as promising.

Jamel Dean stays beneath contract for now, however with accidents and a scarcity of huge performs affecting his standing, he may very well be traded or launched this offseason to avoid wasting cap area. Additions are wanted with simply Tyrek Funderburk and Josh Hayes rounding out the depth chart. Todd Bowles preaches communication, and within the secondary, it’s paramount in his scheme that his gamers accomplish that and have a excessive soccer intelligence. That means a veteran would hit the bottom operating greater than a rookie draft choose, however they may (and certain will) add each.

49ers CB Charvarius Ward – Picture by: USA As we speak

On the prime of free company, Jason Licht ought to begin his search by concentrating on Byron Murphy and Charvarius Ward.

Murphy is coming off a Professional Bowl yr with the Vikings, recording a career-high six interceptions. It speaks to the distinction a ball-hawking secondary makes, as that was only a fourth of Minnesota’s interception complete. Tampa Bay had simply seven interceptions all season, three from the cornerback place. There are some query marks about his constant protection potential, as he allowed a 70.6% completion proportion.

The hope could be that he thrives in Bowles’ zone-heavy scheme and with a wholesome Antoine Winfield Jr. behind him, he can take extra probabilities to make game-changing performs. A deal for him would value about $18 million yearly for 4 years.

Ward has the prospect to be a steal in free company. Coming off a down yr the place he handled private tragedy, he didn’t play as much as the extent he did within the earlier two seasons when PFF graded him as a top-10 cornerback. His greatest season got here in 2023 when he led the league with 23 passes defended and in addition had 5 interceptions. He’s so much stickier in protection than Murphy, with one additionally anticipating him to look extra like that sort of a participant after a full offseason. Signing him seems to be a cut price with a deal projected at two years for $30 million.

Whereas including one among these gamers would bolster the Bucs’ protection, there’s a state of affairs the place Jason Licht may add one notable outdoors addition at outdoors linebacker, inside linebacker, and cornerback. With this many choices in free company, Licht has no excuses to not make a minimum of one splash and capitalize on the group’s playoff competition window.

– Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo contributed to this text with free company contract projections.