There’s no denying the Bucs are hurting across the interior offensive line right now. With Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett banged up, but expected to play in Week 1 at Dallas, both of the team’s top centers are in question. As it currently stands Tampa Bay does not have a healthy center on the roster right now.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said there would only be a sense of urgency to add to the interior if the diagnosis came back discouraging on Hainsey and Leverett. A recent report came back with positive news on their injuries, but both players are untested with no real veteran depth behind them. While Bowles trusts the guys they have on the team, he did say they would look at options once cuts were made.

“We’re going to look at the waiver wire and look at some trades to see if we can find some things out there, but if there is nothing out there, we’ve got some guys in-house that can still play, Bowles said.”

It’s doubtful there were any waived players that the Bucs would give a serious look at to add to the roster along the interior. However, there were a few veteran players cut that could intrigue the team enough to make an addition.

Bucs Target Option – C Nick Martin

The sixth-year center came into the league as a second-round pick by the Texans in 2016. After finishing out his rookie deal, he signed a three-year $33 million extension, but was cut in in 2021 in a cost cutting move. Martin signed with the Raiders after his release to compete for the starting job, but lost the competition in camp. The Notre Dame alum signed with the Saints at the start of training camp but was released during Tuesday’s final cut downs.

Martin had 62 starts over his four year career in Houston and graded out particularly well in pass blocking. He would provide a veteran presence on the line in case of injury or ineffectiveness.

Bucs Target Option – C Austin Reiter

Reiter was the Chiefs’ starting center in both years they went to the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2020. After finishing out his contract, he didn’t find a home in 2021 until he landed on the Saints practice squad in September. He was elevated for one game before the Dolphins signed him off of New Orleans practice squad and onto their active roster. Reiter started five games for Miami before suffering an injury and was released by the team in December. He then had a brief stint on the Rams practice squad, and was recently in camp with Kansas City.

Reiter has always graded out well in pass protection, his best season posting an 82 grade, per Pro Football Focus. He has 38 career starts and would bring an established backup presence to the roster.

Bucs Target Option – C/G James Ferentz

Unlike Reiter and Martin, Ferentz offers some position flexibility. While he doesn’t have the starting experience of the aforementioned lineman, he does have two starts with Tom Brady under center from their days together in New England. Last season Ferentz started two games for the Patriots at left guard as well. Though he hasn’t graded out highly over his career in either run blocking or pass blocking he’s only allowed one sack. Ferentz would provide a veteran presence on the roster with chemistry working with both Brady and Shaq Mason.

The Bucs are likely to bring back center John Molchon on the practice squad. With four elevations being able to be utilized this season, they may stand pat at the position. But there are a few players in free agency if the Bucs are looking to make move.

UPDATE: All three players have signed back to their respective team’s practice squads. The Bucs could still elect to add one of them but they would need to be signed to the active roster. NFL  rules mandate that if a team releases a former Practice Squad player signed from another team before his three weeks have accrued, the team is not allowed to replace the player on its 53-man roster until the expiration of those three weeks and must pay him his salary for those three weeks.