The Bucs are returning one of their key starters from the 2024 season. The team and left guard Ben Bredeson have agreed to a new multi-year deal that keeps him under contract in Tampa Bay through the 2027 season. NFL Network’s Sara Walsh was the first to report the deal.

Walsh was first to report that it’s a three-year deal, while NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo soon reported that it’s a three-year contract worth $22 million and $12.5 million guaranteed.

Bucs Looking For Continuity On The Offensive Line

Bucs G Ben Bredeson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bredeson was one of just two starters on offense who were not under contract for 2025. With him now locked in, only Chris Godwin remains unsigned.

While Bredeson doesn’t have a high ceiling, he played his best ball in 2024 and presents a solid floor as the weakest link on a very good offensive line that ranked second in the NFL in pass blocking. And frankly, he’s better than you think.

Bredeson gave up 36 pressures and three sacks while registering a 97.1 pass block efficiency last year, per Pro Football Focus. Bredeson became a weapon in the run game as the team moved from a mid-zone team to more of a gap system schematically. This called on Bredeson to become more of a puller. When he was asked to pull around the line, he often erased linebackers and edge rushers.

Power 4 the big gain.

Gap scheme continues 2 b dominant 4 the Bucs.

-Mauch/Goedeke with great double and Goedeke climbs to cut off backside LB

-Ko rolling through 2 get the playside LB

-Bredeson pulls to get the EMOL

-Cade with the 🔑 block on Derwin 2 get the final spring pic.twitter.com/W8R8ePG77P

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) December 16, 2024

Last year, Bredeson was originally brought in to compete with Sua Opeta for the left guard role. Opeta unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in training camp, which defaulted the starting role to him. The team also took Elijah Klein out of UTSA in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The team is high on Klein, and while it was thought that he could compete with Bredeson for the starting role, that no longer appears to be the case given the three-year deal and the guaranteed money the veteran secured on that new contract.

With Bredeson remaining the starting left guard, it’ll mean the whole starting offensive line from 2024 will remain in place, with Bredeson joining left tackle Tristan Wirfs, center Graham Barton, right guard Cody Mauch and right tackle Luke Goedeke.

Bredeson Has Found Stability In Tampa Bay

Bucs G Ben Bredeson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bredeson was originally drafted out of Michigan in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft by the Ravens before being traded from Baltimore to the New York Giants in 2021. He played sparingly for the Ravens as a rookie and was initially a backup in New York before being forced into action at left guard due to injury. He dealt with his own injury issues over the course of the next few seasons, but when healthy, he stayed at left guard.

In 2023, however, the Giants asked a lot of Bredeson. He won the left guard job out of training camp, but eventually slid over to fill in at center early in the season due to injury. From there, he went to right guard after New York signed Justin Pugh to play left guard. And then, by the season finale, Bredeson was back at center.

With the Bucs, Bredeson could focus on a single position while working in between All-Pro Tristan Wirfs and first-round talent Graham Barton. The change of scenery and improved surroundings helped Bredeson show he’s a capable, if not spectacular, NFL starter. His play was good enough to earn him another year with the Bucs and a nice raise.