PR Roundtable: Which Free Agent Should The Bucs Sign?

A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough question. This week’s prompt: Which veteran should the Bucs sign in free agency?

Scott Reynolds: The Bucs Could Really Use CB Charvarius Ward

Jamel Dean is a really good cornerback when he’s healthy and focused. The problem is that Dean has yet to play a full 16- or 17-game season since entering the league in 2019 as a third-round pick. Over the last two seasons as a starter, Dean has missed a combined nine games, including five and a half last year, due to hamstring and knee injuries.

That, combined with Dean’s inability to produce interceptions – he’s had one pick in the last two seasons combined – likely means the Bucs will move on from the 28-year old cornerback this offseason the way the team did with Carlton Davis III last spring. Cutting or trading Dean would also result in creating nearly $8.3 million of cap room.

Dean’s absence in the second half of the playoff loss to Washington was noticeable, as his replacement, Josh Hayes, gave up a touchdown and a key 21-yard catch on third-and-6 on the Commanders’ game-winning drive. So it’s time to move on and get a more reliable playmaker at cornerback like 49ers veteran Charvarius Ward. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Ward has the size to play in Todd Bowles’ scheme, and he’s a proven ballhawk, evidenced by six interceptions in three seasons in San Francisco, including a career-high five in 2023. He’s also had 41 pass breakups with the 49ers, including a league-high 23 in 2023.

Ward, who is also 28, had a tumultuous 2024 season that saw him deal with a hamstring in addition to the tragic death of his young daughter, Amani Joy, just a week after open-heart surgery. Ward missed five games last year and understandably didn’t have his best season. But he started all 17 games in each of the two previous years in San Francisco and is hungry for a rebound season in 2025 with a new team. Due to salary cap issues the 49ers likely won’t be able to re-sign Ward, who could be signed for $15 million – $16 million per season. Go get him, Tampa Bay.

Matt Matera: OLB Khalil Mack Is A Quick Fix

Chargers OLB Khalil Mack – Photo by: USA Today

It’s obvious to everyone that the Bucs need a new pass rusher in the mix at outside linebacker for Tampa Bay. Many names have been thrown around, such as Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby. The problem is all of these players are under contract on other teams and would require several draft picks to bring them to Tampa.

Edge rusher Khalil Mack is available and has a proven track record. Mack has accomplished a ton in his career and all that’s really left for him to do is win a Super Bowl. He contemplated retirement after this season but is returning and will be 34 when the season begins. It’s likely that he’ll want to play for a contender and that’s where the Bucs enter. Though Mack had only six sacks last season in 2024, that would have put at him at third for Tampa Bay and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.

Mack still had a PFF grade of 90.4, showing his value in several areas. What Tampa Bay would be hoping for is to get the 2023 version of Mack, who recorded 17 sacks. But any version of Mack is an upgrade than the Bucs’ outside linebacker room.

Growing up in Fort Pierce, Florida, it may entice Mack to finish his career in his home state where the Bucs can use the no income tax state in Florida benefit to their advantage. It will be expensive as he’s projected to make $22.5 million, but signing him for one season addresses an immediate need for 2025  and it doesn’t strap them long term. That way Jason Licht can hold onto his draft picks and hopefully develop Chris Braswell in year two and potentially draft another edge rusher early on to build out the room.

Bailey Adams: Bucs Need An Established ILB Like Dre Greenlaw

49ers LB Dre Greenlaw – Photo by: USA Today

Look, if Bucs legend Lavonte David doesn’t decide to retire after 13 seasons, I’d welcome him back for another season if I’m Jason Licht. But in 2024, David wasn’t the same level of coverage linebacker he has been throughout his career and may be better off platooning if he decides to return for a 14th year.

In an ideal world, I’d love to see David on early downs and SirVocea Dennis on passing downs. Of course, there’s also a chance David does retire and Dennis holds down one linebacker spot full time.

In any case, Tampa Bay could absolutely use the addition of an established linebacker via free agency, and longtime 49er Dre Greenlaw is among the top options available. Zack Baun would be near the top of the list for me as well, but I think the type of free agent deal he’s going to get and the Eagles’ interest in retaining the 2024 All-Pro makes him a tougher deal to swing. So, Greenlaw it is. And what a pickup it would be for the Bucs.

Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo projects a 1-year, $7 million deal for the soon-to-be 28-year-old, and that seems like a bargain for the type of player he is. Of course, there’s some risk involved given Greenlaw’s recent history. He unfortunately tore his Achilles while running onto the field during Super Bowl LVIII and spent most of the 2024 season working his way back before playing two games and then shutting things down with San Francisco out of contention.

But Greenlaw is a great coverage ‘backer and has posted a 65.0 PFF grade or better in five of his six seasons. He is only a season removed from a 73.1 overall grade and a 79.5 coverage grade, and he could be the perfect free agent addition to a Buccaneers linebacker room that needs some help.

Josh Queipo: Get To Know ILB Jamien Sherwood

He may not be a name you are super familiar with, but Jets inside linebacker Jamien Sherwood may be the best fit for the Bucs. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for Tampa Bay to acquire Zack Baun. But I don’t think Philadelphia let’s him get to the open market, and I also have some concerns as to how good he would be outside of the Eagles system he had a breakout year in.

Sherwood is one of the best coverage options on the linebacker free agent market. That was a glaring issue for Tampa Bay’s inside linebackers last year, especially when SirVocea Dennis went down. Sherwood had 158 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass breakups

Jamien Sherwood (#44) dropping out from being mugged up in the A-gap, finds Henry, plays overtop on him, gets hands on him after the cut & gets back in phase. pic.twitter.com/mSZOQzbaSN

— Robby (@Robby_NFL) February 12, 2025

And unlike San Francisco’s Dre Greenlaw, Sherwood does not come with significant injury concerns. Having a player who can cover the seams and across the middle of the field will help free up Antoine Winfield Jr. to get back to playmaking. Sherwood is a high-floor, assignment sound player who tackles consistently. Those qualities are critical to start helping rebuild the middle of the Bucs defense. Sherwood may not be as sexy and well known as the other names on this list, but he might be the best fit at a position of need.

Adam Slivon: Signing OLB Josh Sweat Would Address Bucs’ Pass Rush

Eagles OLB Josh Sweat – Photo by: USA Today

Pewter Report has explored what trading for Trey Hendrickson would look like in our second mock draft. While it would make a lot of sense for the Bucs to pull the trigger and bring Hendrickson to Tampa Bay, it would also come with trading premium draft capital and doling out a new, expensive contract to a 30-year-old player.

Instead of targeting him and some of the older options in free agency or the trade block, Josh Sweat would be the ideal alternative. Comparatively, Sweat will turn 28 years old in March and is coming off a season where he recorded 41 total tackles, 15 quarterback hits, and eight sacks.

He saved his best for last for the biggest stage, leading the Eagles’ dominant defensive effort by recording 2.5 sacks on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. While Sweat will be paid more handsomely following that performance, he would still fit well within the Bucs’ salary cap picture – as outlined in Josh Queipo’s offseason video series.

The 2021 Pro Bowl pass rusher will command a deal between the $17-20 million per year range, an affordable price to pay for his consistency, durability, and relative youth. He has missed just two games since his rookie year in 2018, and his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame would pair well next to third-year pass rusher Yaya Diaby.

When looking at the Bucs’ offseason, it is paramount they add an established player on defense. They could look to do so at inside linebacker and cornerback. But if last season was any indication, a top-tier pass rusher would make life easier for Diaby and the rest of the guys upfront while decreasing the opposing quarterback’s time to go through reads and pick apart head coach Todd Bowles’ zone defense. Josh Sweat was an instrumental part of one team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, and he would be one of the biggest additions to help him do the same donning red and pewter.