The Bucs, for probably the most half, have been busy re-signing their very own gamers this offseason. So far, the workforce has introduced again quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and John Wolford, receivers Mike Eavans and Deven Thompkins, operating again Chase Edmonds, offensive tackles Brandon Walton and Justin Skule, linebacker Lavonte David, defensive sort out Greg Gaines, kicker Chase McLaughlin and lengthy snapper Zach Triner.
Moreover, they used the franchise tag on security Antoine Winfield Jr. to make sure he didn’t hit the market the place he was more likely to obtain a record-setting contract. Now the workforce is working in direction of extending Winfield’s contract this offseason.
Tampa Bay has complimented these 10 re-signings with simply 5 exterior free brokers in offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta, cornerbacks Bryce Corridor and Tavierre Thomas, in addition to robust security Jordan Whitehead in a homecoming of kinds.
We at Pewter Report have been very complimentary of the workforce’s strikes to date. We’ve got gone as far as to say it could be their greatest free company offseason ever.
1/2 for many who have felt Bucs haven’t finished sufficient to date bc most of their strikes have been their very own guys…@TheKyleDe and I wrote up 105 contract projections for this FA interval for @AtoZSports. The workforce has now signed the #2, 5, 13, 52 and 57 guys on that record. Plus McLaughlin.
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) March 13, 2024
Trade Analyst Loves Bucs’ Strikes
Because it seems, Pewter Report has not been the one media outlet to assume the Bucs are heading in the right direction this offseason. Professional Soccer Focus wage cap analyst Brad Spielberger can also be a fan of the strikes Tampa Bay has made.
In a current article grading all 32 NFL groups’ offseason’s to date, Spielberger gave the Bucs an A-minus. Solely two groups acquired higher grades from him (the Texans and the Commanders each acquired A’s). Here’s what he needed to say in regards to the Bucs:
Bucs WR Mike Evans and GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Scott Reynolds/PR
“This contract is a win for Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers and the NFL at massive. A real mid-tier market is growing at quarterback, which had lengthy been a problem. Tampa Bay provides itself an out after annually, and Baker will get the main payday he deserves.
[Mike] Evans simply retains on rolling alongside and emphatically proved his price in one thing of a prove-it 12 months after the 2 sides have been unable to agree on an early extension. The “win” from his perspective is that this might quantity to a one-year, $29 million contract. The win from Tampa Bay’s facet is protecting the whole worth in test.
This can be a very good reunion for the Bucs. [Jordan] Whitehead, whom they drafted in 2018, has performed greater than 900 snaps in every of the previous 5 seasons and has a ton of versatility. In his ultimate two seasons in Tampa earlier than going to the Jets, he performed free security and powerful security at about the identical fee, whereas in New York he was primarily used as a free security. Having him and Antoine Winfield Jr. on the backend ought to give Todd Bowles two versatile safeties who can play everywhere in the area and trigger confusion for opposing offenses.”
With Spielberger’s background in contract evaluation, his major viewpoint when analyzing the strikes is within the worth and construction of the contracts concerned. With Mayfield and Evans, Spielberger hails the ingenuity of Bucs assistant normal supervisor Mike Greenberg in protecting the general worth of the contracts cheap whereas mitigating how lengthy the workforce needs to be tied to every participant within the occasion their play drops off.
Bucs Nonetheless Have Work To Do
The workforce has addressed a number of potential wants by largely bringing again key items of their 2023 playoff workforce. And the additions of Tavierre Thomas, Bryce Corridor and Jordan Whitehead has given the workforce a beginning robust security alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. whereas enhancing the depth of the secondary general has helped in a key space that was inconsistent final 12 months.
Bucs G/C Ben Bredeson – Picture by: USA Immediately
Inside offensive linemen Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson tackle depth on the place, however it nonetheless stays a obvious gap inside on the roster. Neither Opeta, nor Bredeson, look to be the reply as starters.
The draft has a number of intriguing choices within the early rounds and the Bucs may look there for an answer to go with 2023 second-round decide Cody Mauch, final 12 months’s breakout shock, Luke Goedeke, and Professional Bowler Tristan Wirfs. There are nonetheless a few starter-caliber choices obtainable in free company. Kevin Zeitler, Connor Williams and Dalton Risner all may very well be gamers that present an enchancment over final 12 months’s starters Aaron Stinnie and Robert Hainsey.
And Tampa Bay nonetheless has a number of areas the place it may possibly enhance.
The Bucs lack a real difference-maker at outdoors linebacker. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are each coming into contract years, however are extra backup gamers than starter materials reverse YaYa Diaby.
The workforce has allowed final 12 months’s beginning linebacker Devin White signal with the Eagles. Backup Okay.J. Britt could step into White’s place as he did late final 12 months. However the workforce may additionally look to problem him.
Receiver depth is one place the place they might look to usher in a veteran to problem Trey Palmer, who’s coming into his second 12 months within the league.
However one factor is for sure, the Bucs’ brass is off to a terrific begin.
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