With regards to NFL free agency, business is about to pick up. The Bucs have some key internal free agents they’ll want to bring back in 2025, but there aren’t as many pending free agents as there have been in recent years. With that being the case, the team could be more active in the free agency market than it has been as of late.

As Bucs general manager Jason Licht and his staff look to rebuild the defense and shape the roster into a Super Bowl contender ahead of 2025 season, there are several key needs to address. Of course, Tampa Bay will have the opportunity to do so both in free agency and in the NFL Draft next month, but with the free agency period opening this week, here’s an overview of where the Bucs’ roster needs are right now.

Outside Linebacker

Chargers OLB Khalil Mack – Photo by: USA Today

It’s no secret that Tampa Bay needs to bolster its pass rush in 2025. Last year, Todd Bowles’ defense mostly got pressure up the middle with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, and while Yaya Diaby’s pressure rate increased from Year 1 to Year 2, his sack numbers went down.

The Bucs need a true alpha edge rusher. While Diaby could still turn into one in time, the team can’t afford to wait around and hope that happens in 2025. Tampa Bay wants to make a deeper run this year, and

Plus, even if Diaby becomes a bigger force in his third season, the Bucs need a starter on the other side of him. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is a free agent and won’t be back, and while Anthony Nelson could be re-signed, he’s valuable depth – not a starter. And with little evidence that Chris Braswell is ready to make a leap into a starting role in his second season, there’s a big hole at that spot on defense.

Could general manager Jason Licht pull the trigger on a big-time trade, perhaps 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 seek a trade with the Bengals tying a lot of money up on the offensive side of the ball. Outside of a big trade, some other veteran pass rushers are available on the open market. Think Khalil Mack, Josh Sweat, Chase Young, Joey Bosa and now Von Miller.

Cornerback

49ers CB Charvarius Ward – Photo by: USA Today

How big of a swing the Bucs take at the cornerback position in free agency could depend on what goes down with Jamel Dean. The longtime Tampa Bay corner could be traded or cut given his contract, his lack of ballhawking abilities and his general unavailability due to injury. If Dean is gone, that obviously opens up a need for another starter, as Zyon McCollum would be the only remaining corner on the roster who plays on the outside.

Charvarius Ward is a name that has been suggested as a fit for the Bucs, but outside of the former 49er and former Saint Paulson Adebo, the free agency market isn’t overly impressive when it comes to starting cornerbacks. Maybe Jason Licht picks up the phone and makes a trade?

Regardless of what happens with Dean, the Bucs are in dire need of better depth at the cornerback position. Even if Dean does return and starts opposite McCollum, Tampa Bay can’t afford to roll into the season with Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk as their backups at the position, especially given Dean’s injury history. There’s a case to be made that a lack of depth at cornerback is what did the team in when it came time for the playoffs last year, and that can’t be a problem again in 2025.

In fairness, Licht and Co. tried to improve the team’s cornerback depth last year by signing Bryce Hall. But Hall broke his leg in Week 1, which kept him out for the rest of the year. Whether the Bucs need to go out and get a starting cornerback or not, they also need to invest heavily in the rest of the room this offseason. While the top end of the cornerback market isn’t overly robust, it’s fairly deep, which should help Tampa Bay secure some better depth.

Inside Linebacker

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

Continuing with the theme of Tampa Bay’s defense getting the blame for the shortcomings of the 2024 Bucs, inside linebacker was a problem area for Todd Bowles’ side of the ball. Part of that came down to SirVocea Dennis’ season-ending shoulder injury in September, but even with Dennis back and team legend Lavonte David already re-signed, there’s more work to be done with this room.

David showed signs of slowing down last year, with his coverage ability specifically falling off a cliff. He still has value to the Bucs defense at 34 years old, but his best football is behind him. Considering he got $9 million guaranteed from the team, it’s unlikely he’s returning to platoon, even if seeing him on early downs and Dennis on passing downs seemed like a good idea.

But right now, the inside linebacker room in Tampa Bay only has David and Dennis, outside of a few unproven players signed to futures contracts. K.J. Britt is a free agent and unlikely to be re-signed, and while J.J. Russell is likely to be back again on another cheap deal, that’s a thin group to go into a season with. The Bucs will address the linebacker position this offseason, but how?

Dre Greenlaw is coming off an injury and could be an option, though that would relegate Dennis to the type of role he had early last year rather than allowing him to step into a starting role. Jamien Sherwood is another name Pewter Report has discussed as a possible option for Tampa Bay. But with Zack Baun re-signing with the Eagles and Nick Bolton staying with the Chiefs, Earnest Jones, Greenlaw and Sherwood are the top options remaining on the market.

Wide Receiver

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

This is only listed as a true need while Chris Godwin’s contract status remains unresolved. Tampa Bay wants to re-sign Godwin, but there has been little in the way of updates regarding negotiations with the second-best receiver in franchise history. There’s still time to get a deal done before he hits free agency, but it’s possible he gets a chance to test the market the way other Buccaneer free agents have in recent years.

It goes without saying that a Godwin departure would shake things up and make Tampa Bay think hard about the No. 2 receiver spot. Is Jalen McMillan ready to step up and be the first option behind Mike Evans? The second-year receiver would have massive shoes to fill given Godwin’s importance to the offense.

It’s still hard to imagine the Bucs without Godwin, though, so there’s a better chance that the need for another receiver is more about the spots further down the depth chart. Evans, Godwin and McMillan make for a great 1-3, but quarterback Baker Mayfield could use some more help beyond those three. Upgrades over Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett and Sterling Shepard would serve Tampa Bay well.

Perhaps there’s a veteran receiver or two out there who could be signed on cheap deals to boost that room. Josh Palmer, Demarcus Robinson, Elijah Moore and Noah Brown are just some of the names out there who could be signed for a projected $6 million or less.

Left Guard

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

This need is another one that hinges on what happens with the incumbent starter, as Ben Bredeson is a free agent. Bredeson was signed to a one-year deal last offseason and the team had a competition in mind between him and Sua Opeta, but Opeta suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. That left Bredeson with the starting left guard job, and he did a solid job shoring up that spot on the offensive line.

Bredeson isn’t a star by any means, but he’s a high-floor “weak link” on an offensive line. He helped improve Tampa Bay’s rushing attack in a big way in 2024, and the Bucs would surely like to have him back in 2025. But the price has to be right, as there’s going to be a number Jason Licht, Mike Greenberg and Co. won’t go beyond when it comes to the veteran guard.

If Bredeson returns for another year, there’s really no need for a left guard in free agency. The Bucs would more likely pivot to potentially finding a long-term answer for the position in the 2025 Draft, as it’s likely Bredeson would only be back on another one-year deal. With him back in the fold, the only needs along the offensive line would be further down the depth chart with Robert Hainsey as good as gone and some other pending free agents.

But if the Bucs can’t agree to a new deal with Bredeson, it’ll be back to the drawing board again at the position. Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie both held the left guard in 2023 before Bredeson came in solidified the position.

Bucs’ Other Needs

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: USA Today

While those needs are at the forefront for the Bucs as the offseason kicks into full gear, those aren’t their only needs this spring.

Tampa Bay has to make a decision on the backup quarterback position. Kyle Trask is set to hit free agency. Will he be back? If not, the team will need another arm in the quarterback room to compete with Michael Pratt for the QB2 job.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tampa Bay may need a new nickel cornerback if it’s going to move Tykee Smith to safety full time. And speaking of safety, the team could still use more at that position as well, especially after seeing injuries ravage that room last year.

Defensive tackle is another sneaky need for the Bucs, as Logan Hall is in a contract year, Greg Gaines is a pending free agent and Will Gholston could very well be retiring.

And while Tampa Bay has Jack Browning and former CFL standout Jake Julien currently set to battle it out for the punter job, the team could still add another leg there if it doesn’t view Browning as a true option to win the job heading into this year.

Soon enough, we’ll see which of these needs the Bucs prioritize in free agency. From there, we’ll get a clearer picture of what they’re looking at in the NFL Draft next month.