Free agency officially began on Monday, March 10 at noon ET when the open negotiating period kicked off and prospective free agents could begin to negotiate with teams. Deals with new free agents could be signed and finalized on Wednesday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The Bucs started free agency with a big splash – re-signing several important starters before they hit the open market, including wide receiver Chris Godwin and left guard Ben Bredeson to three-year deals, as well as welcoming the return of legendary linebacker Lavonte David with a one-year deal at age 35. Tampa Bay also agreed to terms with veteran edge rusher Haason Reddick on a one-year deal worth $14 million.

Pewter Report will track Tampa Bay’s additions and losses to the roster in the coming weeks with the Bucs 2025 Free Agency Tracker, which will be updated with news and rumors as we come across information from our team and league sources.

THE LATEST RUMORS/ANALYSIS

UPDATED 3/18 5:26 PM ET: The Bucs re-signed cornerback Bryce Hall to a one-year deal. Hall was on the Bucs last season but an ankle injury that saw him get carted off in Week 1 forced him out for the remainder of the year. If he’s able to recover in full, he’s provides very solid depth at corner where they could use it.

UPDATED 3/13 6:00 pm ET: Tampa Bay lost valuable swing tackle Justin Skule to Minnesota in free agency. This one hurts a bit because Skule was so reliable filling in for Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke. Without a viable swing tackle on the roster to replace him, the Bucs now need to find one in free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.

UPDATED 3/13 10:32 am ET: The Bucs saw inside linebacker K.J. Britt depart for the Dolphins, but the team countered right away by signing former Dolphins inside linebacker Anthony Walker. The veteran linebackers will be swapping teams looking for fresh starts. Walker adds starting experience (99 games, 83 starts) and a productive track record across eight NFL seasons. He will be behind Lavonte David and likely SirVocea Dennis on the depth chart, but signing the 29-year-old to a one-year deal adds someone who has proven himself capable of handling middle of the field responsibilities.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: USA Today

UPDATED 3/13 8:33 am ET: Tampa Bay signed former Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor to a one-year deal for the veteran signing benefit. This move is an attempt to upgrade special teams and the depth at cornerback. Vildor, who has 30 career starts, adds more experience to the room as young players like Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk, who was an undrafted free agent last year, really struggled on defense during their limited playing time in 2024. The Bucs lacked veteran depth at cornerback after losing Bryce Hall to a broken leg in Week 1.

UPDATED 3/12 9:30 pm ET: The Bucs re-signed quarterback Kyle Trask to compete with Michael Pratt for the right to back up Baker Mayfield. Trask’s deal is one year for $2.787 million, but every team gets to use a four-year qualifier deal on a player who was on the roster for four consecutive years. Because Trask fits that qualification he will only count $1,337,500 against the cap.

UPDATED 3/12 1:45 pm ET: The addition of Haason Reddick does not mean that the Bucs won’t add an edge rusher in the draft – perhaps even with the first-round pick at No. 19. Reddick turns 31 later this year and is coming off a one-sack season in 10 games in New York, which was preceded by four double-digit sack seasons from 2021-23 in Arizona, Carolina and Philadelphia.

BUCS RE-SIGNINGS

Bucs WR Chris Godwin and GM Jason Licht, photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

WR Chris Godwin – 3 years, $66 million
LG Ben Bredeson – 3 years, $22 million
ILB Lavonte David – 1 year, $9 million
OLB Anthony Nelson – 2 years, $10 million
DT Greg Gaines – 1 year, $3.5 million
QB Kyle Trask – 1 year, $2.78 million
S Kaevon Merriweather – 1 year, $1,030,000
DT C.J. Brewer – 1 year, $960,000
OLB Daniel Grzesiak – 1 year, $840,000
CB Bryce Hall – 1 year, $1.17 million

BUCS NEW ADDITIONS IN FREE AGENCY

OLB Haason Reddick (Jets) – 1 year, $14 million
P Riley Dixon (Broncos) – 2 years, $6 million
CB Kindle Vildor (Lions) – 1 year, $1.17 million
ILB Anthony Walker (Dolphins) – 1 year
OT Charlie Heck (49ers) – 1 year

BUCS DEPARTURES

C Robert Hainsey (Jaguars) – 3 years, $21 million
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Browns) – 1 year, $4.75 million
DB Tavierre Thomas (Vikings) – 1 year
ILB K.J. Britt (Dolphins) – 1 year
OT Justin Skule (Vikings) – 1 year

TAMPA BAY’S SALARY CAP ROOM

UPDATED 3/13 1:20 pm ET: According to OverTheCap.com, the Bucs have $9,452,634 but this does not include the deal for any of the new signings yet. The Bucs did not pick up the second-year option for safety Jordan Whitehead, so that created an additional $4.5 million in cap room. Bucs assistant general manager Mike Greenberg can always restructure the contracts of quarterback Baker Mayfield, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and left tackle Tristan Wirfs or part ways with cornerback Jamel Dean to create more cap room.

CONTRACT RESTRUCTURES

None yet by Tampa Bay assistant G.M. Mike Greenberg.

REMAINING BUCS IN FREE AGENCY

Here is a list of Bucs players yet to be signed in free agency. K.J. Britt, last year’s starter at inside linebacker, is not expected to return, nor is veteran running back Chase Edmonds and safety Ryan Neal. The Bucs did not tender restricted free agent J.J. Russell a contract, as it would have been $3.2 million on a one-year deal. Tampa Bay may consider re-signing Russell to a cheaper, one-year deal closer to the league minimum.

Bucs DL Will Gholston Photo by: USA Today

RB Chase Edmonds
WR Sterling Shepard
G Royce Newman
G Sua Opeta
DT Will Gholston
DT Eric Banks
OLB Shaq Barrett
ILB J.J. Russell
CB Bryce Hall
CB Troy Hill
S Mike Edwards
S Ryan Neal
S Jordan Whitehead