Bucs Mailbag: What’s Subsequent For Tampa Bay In Free Company?

Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht – Picture by: Bailey Adams/PR

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QUESTION: Do what we normally do sit round till the free agent market is all picked over then scramble on the finish?

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Bailey Adams/PR

ANSWER: Effectively, I wouldn’t say the Bucs essentially scramble on the finish of free company. However what they normally don’t do is make splash signings on the primary day of free company. That’s when the loopy – and a few would say “stupid” – cash will get tossed round. That was definitely the case as we speak. Nate Hobbs, an oft-injured nickel cornerback for the Raiders was signed to a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers that features $16 million in assured cash. Hobbs had a 61.4 Professional Soccer Focus grade final yr.

Hobbs wasn’t the one questionable deal executed in free company on the cornerback place. Brandon Stephens left the Ravens for the Jets, agreeing to a three-year deal price $36 million and that includes $23 million in assured cash. Stephens had a 54 PFF grade final yr. The Bucs have an enormous want at cornerback, however would you need both of these two gamers in Tampa Bay for these costs?

Common supervisor Jason Licht has tried the splashy free agent signing route earlier than and has (properly) discovered that it normally doesn’t work.

“You can’t win a Super Bowl today but you can surly lose one. Pick whatever study you want, there is no correlation between spending big $ in FA and wins. It’s actually the opposite. That is my wet blanket statement for the day.”

Licht didn’t say that (however new Raiders G.M. John Spytek in all probability did). But he believes in that precept.

The Haason Reddick deal is form of a combination between a splashy free agent signing and a price signing. As of proper now, Reddick ranks No. 21 out of the highest-paid edge rushers, in accordance with OverTheCap.com at $14 million per yr on his one-year deal. Reddick made a mean of $15 million per yr over the previous two seasons with the Eagles (2023) and Jets (2024), so in an edge rusher market that’s going up, up, up, he’s truly scheduled to make much less in 2025.

Tampa Bay is in search of worth. Shaquil Barrett and Baker Mayfield have been among the finest signings that Licht has ever made and each have been on one-year, prove-it offers for $5 million and $4 million, respectively. Zack Baun signed a one-year, prove-it take care of the Eagles final yr and have become an All-Professional who re-signed for $51 million over three years final week. We’ll see what occurs the remainder of this week as the large cash offers dry up and a few good gamers may be had at superb costs.

QUESTION: Had been there any affords on the desk for Chavarius Ward?

Colts CB Charvarius Ward – Picture by: USA Right now

ANSWER: I’d guess the Bucs had curiosity in former 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, however definitely not at $60 million over three years with $35 million assured. Ward will probably be 29 later this yr and is coming off a tough 2024 season that noticed the sudden dying of his younger daughter.

I’m undecided the Bucs needed to drop $20 million per yr on Ward when Zyon McCollum is coming into a contract yr. He’s youthful and may very well be higher if he continues to develop and enhance. Having two $20 million cornerbacks is nearly undoable – even with the rise within the wage cap.

The Bucs do need assistance at cornerback however will seemingly search for a cornerback who would make lower than McCollum will make when he will get an extension – presumably later this yr. And that’s one factor to contemplate. Tampa Bay is fascinated by doubtlessly doing early extensions for McCollum, proper sort out Luke Goedeke and tight finish Cade Otton, and there may be solely a lot cash and wage cap room to go round.

Talking of defensive backs, regulate Chiefs security Justin Reid. If he’s obtainable for the proper value, the Bucs may very well be very . The 28-year outdated Reid is coming off a powerful season in Kansas Metropolis, the place he had 16 go breakups, three interceptions, three sacks and a pressured fumble over the previous two years. He had a 78.2 Professional Soccer Focus grade final yr and a 76.5 protection grade.

If Tampa Bay indicators Reid and he begins at robust security, the group may maintain Tykee Smith at nickelback. If Smith does transfer to robust security, it does create a gap at nickelback. So the Bucs may very well be in search of each a nickelback and an out of doors cornerback to presumably change Jamel Dean this offseason, in addition to higher depth at cornerback.

QUESTION: I really like the strikes to this point! Chris Godwin and Ben Bredeson re-signed. Haason Reddick signed, however cornerback continues to be an enormous want. Do you see Jason Licht signing Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy?

Former Packers CB Rasul Douglas – Picture by: USA Right now

ANSWER: You might be proper. Cornerback is an enormous want. I feel the Bucs will signal a veteran free agent and in addition draft one. It is a fairly good yr for cornerbacks within the NFL Draft, so getting a younger, developmental nook is sensible. However discovering a extra dependable starting-caliber veteran does, too.

As for Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, he’s a little bit of a combined bag. He signed a three-year deal price $66 million on Monday evening. The previous Cardinals second-round decide had a career-best 74.4 Professional Soccer Focus grade in 2024, which was his second yr in Minnesota. He additionally had a career-high 73.5 protection grade – partially attributable to his personal-best six interceptions in 2024. These picks earned him his first-ever Professional Bowl nod.

However Murphy additionally gave up 4 touchdowns final yr, and he’s surrendered 32 touchdowns whereas producing 14 interceptions in his six seasons within the NFL. Whereas Murphy has had 9 interceptions over his two-year stint with the Vikings, he’s allowed 10 touchdowns over that span. He additionally shouldn’t be a positive tackler, and tackling was a difficulty in Tampa Bay final yr. Unsure the Bucs have been – particularly with that price ticket.

Todd Bowles prefers longer, lengthier cornerbacks on the skin, and Murphy would have projected to a nickel cornerback function at 5-foot-11, 190 in Tampa Bay’s protection. The Bucs may very well be fascinated by Payments cornerback Rasul Douglas, who struggled in Buffalo final yr, however had an excellent profession in Inexperienced Bay from 2021-23 the place he snared 10 interceptions, together with three pick-sixes.

QUESTION: NBC Sports activities’ Matthew Berry stated if Chris Godwin signed with Bucs it will likely be a three-year deal. He additionally stated that studying between the tea leaves, if Sean Tucker enhance in go safety he may turn into RB2 behind Bucky Irving is that true? Or is that this the nationwide media being incorrect once more?

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Picture by: USA Right now

ANSWER: It wound up being a three-year deal for Chris Godwin, so Matthew Berry was appropriate. I didn’t suppose it might be longer than that with him simply turning 29 years outdated. I’m undecided Tampa Bay needed to decide to greater than that by way of size given the truth that he’s coming off a severe ankle damage. Godwin obtained $22 million per yr, which was truthful market worth. And it helped the Bucs on condition that the state of Florida doesn’t have any state revenue tax.

I’m undecided if Godwin had another suitors who have been actually near buying him, as he needed to remain in Tampa Bay, however I’m positive his agent obtained loads of cellphone calls given the sparse free agent large receivers obtainable. I staked my fame on the truth that Godwin was going to return, going as far as to ensure it final November. Fortunately, I used to be proper.

As for Sean Tucker, there’s a likelihood that he may transfer up the depth chart, however go safety is a matter. Tucker lastly obtained to see area final yr and confirmed off his velocity and explosiveness as a rotational again. Regardless of being No. 3 on the depth chart, Tucker ran for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns and averaged 6.2 yards per carry, which was the perfect of any operating again on the group. He additionally 9 catches for 109 yards (12.1 avg.) and a landing by way of the air and was the NFC Offensive Participant of the Week in Week 6.

Rachaad White is at the moment Bucky Irving’s backup and he’s an elite go protector – probably the greatest blocking backs within the NFL. So it might take Tucker making a monumental leap in that space to surpass White as RB2 in Tampa Bay. White is coming into a contract yr and has all the pieces to play for, so he’s going to make each run, catch and snap depend this yr with the intention to maximize his worth in free company in 2026.

QUESTION: Any sense of who the Bucs could like to herald for Prime 30 visits?

UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo – Picture by: USA Right now

ANSWER: The Bucs have proven a penchant for bringing in gamers from every day of the draft – prospects from the primary spherical all the way in which right down to Day 3. My guess is almost 10 of the Prime 30 visits will probably be for potential first-round prospects as a result of whoever will get drafted first will probably be counted on to play – and certain begin – as a rookie, and may have the costliest contract. Groups have to hit on their first-round decide to actually have a profitable draft.

With Tampa Bay choosing at No. 19, there will probably be a wider array of gamers obtainable than if the group had a Prime 10 choice. Which means they’ll want to herald extra potential candidates who may very well be choices at No. 19 – maybe as many as 10. With Prime 30 visits, draft prospects get to spend all day on the NFL group’s facility assembly with the final supervisor, head coach, scouting division in addition to the coordinators and place coaches.

But it surely’s additionally vital for the Bucs to get a superb really feel on who they’re drafting in rounds 2-7. Even formal interviews on the NFL Scouting Mix solely final 18 minutes. Tampa Bay had a proper interview with tight finish Devin Culp final yr after which additionally introduced him in for a Prime 30 go to and he wound up being the group’s seventh-round decide.

After all, the Bucs went into stealth mode a number of years in the past with defensive sort out Calijah Kancey, who wound up being the group’s first-round decide in 2023. Kancey didn’t are available in for a Prime 30 go to nor did he also have a formal interview with Tampa Bay. That’s why his choice caught most off guard. It was a unique story final yr with heart Graham Barton, who got here in for a Prime 30 go to after having a proper interview with the Bucs in Indianapolis on the NFL Scouting Mix.

A lot of the gamers who obtained formal interviews with the Bucs could be best candidates to come back in for Prime 30 visits. You may see who the Bucs met with formally on the Mix proper right here.