Recapping The Bucs’ Wants Heading Into Free Company

As regards to NFL free company, enterprise is about to select up. The Bucs have some key inner free brokers they’ll need to carry again in 2025, however there aren’t as many pending free brokers as there have been lately. With that being the case, the staff might be extra energetic within the free company market than it has been as of late.

As Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht and his employees look to rebuild the protection and form the roster right into a Tremendous Bowl contender forward of 2025 season, there are a number of key wants to handle. In fact, Tampa Bay can have the chance to take action each in free company and within the NFL Draft subsequent month, however with the free company interval opening this week, right here’s an summary of the place the Bucs’ roster wants are proper now.

Outdoors Linebacker

Chargers OLB Khalil Mack – Picture by: USA Right now

It’s no secret that Tampa Bay must bolster its move rush in 2025. Final 12 months, Todd Bowles’ protection principally obtained stress up the center with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, and whereas Yaya Diaby’s stress charge elevated from 12 months 1 to 12 months 2, his sack numbers went down.

The Bucs want a real alpha edge rusher. Whereas Diaby might nonetheless flip into one in time, the staff can’t afford to attend round and hope that occurs in 2025. Tampa Bay needs to make a deeper run this 12 months, and

Plus, even when Diaby turns into a much bigger power in his third season, the Bucs want a starter on the opposite facet of him. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is a free agent and received’t be again, and whereas Anthony Nelson might be re-signed, he’s helpful depth – not a starter. And with little proof that Chris Braswell is able to make a leap right into a beginning position in his second season, there’s a giant gap at that spot on protection.

Might basic supervisor Jason Licht pull the set off on a big-time commerce, maybe with Cincinnati for Trey Hendrickson? The veteran had 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 and has been given permission to hunt a commerce with the Bengals tying some huge cash up on the offensive facet of the ball. Outdoors of a giant commerce, another veteran move rushers can be found on the open market. Assume Khalil Mack, Josh Sweat, Chase Younger, Joey Bosa and now Von Miller.

Cornerback

49ers CB Charvarius Ward – Picture by: USA Right now

How large of a swing the Bucs take on the cornerback place in free company might rely on what goes down with Jamel Dean. The longtime Tampa Bay nook might be traded or minimize given his contract, his lack of ballhawking talents and his basic unavailability as a result of damage. If Dean is gone, that clearly opens up a necessity for one more starter, as Zyon McCollum can be the one remaining nook on the roster who performs on the surface.

Charvarius Ward is a reputation that has been prompt as a match for the Bucs, however exterior of the previous 49er and former Saint Paulson Adebo, the free company market isn’t overly spectacular with regards to beginning cornerbacks. Possibly Jason Licht picks up the telephone and makes a commerce?

No matter what occurs with Dean, the Bucs are in dire want of higher depth on the cornerback place. Even when Dean does return and begins reverse McCollum, Tampa Bay can’t afford to roll into the season with Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk as their backups on the place, particularly given Dean’s damage historical past. There’s a case to be made {that a} lack of depth at cornerback is what did the staff in when it got here time for the playoffs final 12 months, and that may’t be an issue once more in 2025.

In equity, Licht and Co. tried to enhance the staff’s cornerback depth final 12 months by signing Bryce Corridor. However Corridor broke his leg in Week 1, which stored him out for the remainder of the 12 months. Whether or not the Bucs have to exit and get a beginning cornerback or not, in addition they want to take a position closely in the remainder of the room this offseason. Whereas the highest finish of the cornerback market isn’t overly sturdy, it’s pretty deep, which ought to assist Tampa Bay safe some higher depth.

Inside Linebacker

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and ILB Lavonte David – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Persevering with with the theme of Tampa Bay’s protection getting the blame for the shortcomings of the 2024 Bucs, inside linebacker was an issue space for Todd Bowles’ facet of the ball. A part of that got here right down to SirVocea Dennis’ season-ending shoulder damage in September, however even with Dennis again and staff legend Lavonte David already re-signed, there’s extra work to be accomplished with this room.

David confirmed indicators of slowing down final 12 months, along with his protection potential particularly falling off a cliff. He nonetheless has worth to the Bucs protection at 34 years outdated, however his finest soccer is behind him. Contemplating he obtained $9 million assured from the staff, it’s unlikely he’s returning to platoon, even when seeing him on early downs and Dennis on passing downs appeared like a good suggestion.

However proper now, the within linebacker room in Tampa Bay solely has David and Dennis, exterior of some unproven gamers signed to futures contracts. Okay.J. Britt is a free agent and unlikely to be re-signed, and whereas J.J. Russell is more likely to be again once more on one other low cost deal, that’s a skinny group to enter a season with. The Bucs will tackle the linebacker place this offseason, however how?

Dre Greenlaw is coming off an damage and might be an possibility, although that might relegate Dennis to the kind of position he had early final 12 months relatively than permitting him to step right into a beginning position. Jamien Sherwood is one other identify Pewter Report has mentioned as a attainable possibility for Tampa Bay. However with Zack Baun re-signing with the Eagles and Nick Bolton staying with the Chiefs, Earnest Jones, Greenlaw and Sherwood are the highest choices remaining available on the market.

Large Receiver

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Picture by: USA Right now

That is solely listed as a real want whereas Chris Godwin’s contract standing stays unresolved. Tampa Bay needs to re-sign Godwin, however there was little in the best way of updates relating to negotiations with the second-best receiver in franchise historical past. There’s nonetheless time to get a deal accomplished earlier than he hits free company, but it surely’s attainable he will get an opportunity to check the market the best way different Buccaneer free brokers have lately.

It goes with out saying {that a} Godwin departure would shake issues up and make Tampa Bay assume exhausting in regards to the No. 2 receiver spot. Is Jalen McMillan able to step up and be the primary possibility behind Mike Evans? The second-year receiver would have large footwear to fill given Godwin’s significance to the offense.

It’s nonetheless exhausting to think about the Bucs with out Godwin, although, so there’s a greater probability that the necessity for one more receiver is extra in regards to the spots additional down the depth chart. Evans, Godwin and McMillan make for an important 1-3, however quarterback Baker Mayfield might use some extra assist past these three. Upgrades over Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett and Sterling Shepard would serve Tampa Bay effectively.

Maybe there’s a veteran receiver or two on the market who might be signed on low cost offers to spice up that room. Josh Palmer, Demarcus Robinson, Elijah Moore and Noah Brown are simply a few of the names on the market who might be signed for a projected $6 million or much less.

Left Guard

Bucs LG Ben Bredeson – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

This want is one other one which hinges on what occurs with the incumbent starter, as Ben Bredeson is a free agent. Bredeson was signed to a one-year deal final offseason and the staff had a contest in thoughts between him and Sua Opeta, however Opeta suffered a season-ending damage in coaching camp. That left Bredeson with the beginning left guard job, and he did a stable job shoring up that spot on the offensive line.

Bredeson isn’t a star by any means, however he’s a high-floor “weak link” on an offensive line. He helped enhance Tampa Bay’s speeding assault in a giant manner in 2024, and the Bucs would certainly prefer to have him again in 2025. However the worth needs to be proper, as there’s going to be a quantity Jason Licht, Mike Greenberg and Co. received’t transcend with regards to the veteran guard.

If Bredeson returns for one more 12 months, there’s actually no want for a left guard in free company. The Bucs would extra seemingly pivot to probably discovering a long-term reply for the place within the 2025 Draft, because it’s seemingly Bredeson would solely be again on one other one-year deal. With him again within the fold, the one wants alongside the offensive line can be additional down the depth chart with Robert Hainsey nearly as good as gone and another pending free brokers.

But when the Bucs can’t comply with a brand new take care of Bredeson, it’ll be again to the drafting board once more on the place. Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie each held the left guard in 2023 earlier than Bredeson got here in solidified the place.

Bucs’ Different Wants

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Picture by: USA Right now

Whereas these wants are on the forefront for the Bucs because the offseason kicks into full gear, these aren’t their solely wants this spring.

Tampa Bay has to decide on the backup quarterback place. Kyle Trask is ready to hit free company. Will he be again? If not, the staff will want one other arm within the quarterback room to compete with Michael Pratt for the QB2 job.

On the defensive facet of the ball, Tampa Bay might have a brand new nickel cornerback if it’s going to maneuver Tykee Smith to security full time. And talking of security, the staff might nonetheless use extra at that place as effectively, particularly after seeing accidents ravage that room final 12 months.

Defensive sort out is one other sneaky want for the Bucs, as Logan Corridor is in a contract 12 months, Greg Gaines is a pending free agent and Will Gholston might very effectively be retiring.

And whereas Tampa Bay has Jack Browning and former CFL standout Jake Julien presently set to battle it out for the punter job, the staff might nonetheless add one other leg there if it doesn’t view Browning as a real choice to win the job heading into this 12 months.

Quickly sufficient, we’ll see which of those wants the Bucs prioritize in free company. From there, we’ll get a clearer image of what they’re within the NFL Draft subsequent month.