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While the question of whether the Bucs' defense has looked improved during the first two weeks of the preseason can be answered with a resounding yes, that does not mean there are not areas where it can get even better.

The cornerbacks and inside linebackers have shown a more pronounced playmaking ability, but the outside linebacker and safety positions have suffered tough blows during training camp. With fourth-round pick David Walker out for the year with a torn ACL and promising undrafted defensive back J.J. Roberts suffering a season-ending knee injury, each position's depth could use reinforcements.

Could that come by way of a veteran addition?

Bucs Could Use Another Established OLB

Signing Haason Reddick in free agency this past offseason was a move that needed to be made by the Bucs' front office. After seeing the outside linebacker position struggle to get consistent pressure on the quarterback, adding someone with a track record of production on more of a buy-low kind of deal could prove to be a shrewd acquisition.

After Reddick and third-year player Yaya Diaby, there are some question marks. Chris Braswell is viewed highly within the organization as the team attempts to get the most out of him in his second season. Braswell's quiet rookie year cannot be completely ignored, though. For a team with aspirations of winning the Super Bowl, can he be relied on as the third outside linebacker?

What happens in the unfortunate scenario where one of the starters goes down?

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Anthony Nelson is a reliable backup capable of making a splash play when on the field, but he fits in much better as a rotational pass rusher. Then there are Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez. It is well-known that each of them, at a time, flashed the ability to be more than end-of-the-roster options. Watts flashed in limited action his rookie year as a pass-rush specialist, and who could forget Ramirez's three-sack breakout last preseason?

Entering 2025, their respective developments appear to have plateaued. They are quality depth, but not much more than that.

Even Bowles does not think they have put the whole package together yet, which is concerning.

"Sometimes we got out-athleted, and other times we could have done a better job with contain," Bowles said after the Bucs 17-14 win over the Steelers on Saturday night. "[Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts and Warren Peeples Jr.] have to grow mentally and put it together.

"When they do it mentally, they don't do it physically, and when they do it physically, they don't do it mentally. So they have to put the whole package together. I'll be eager to see what they do next week."

All of this begs the question — should the Bucs look to add another established pass rusher? Thanks to the work of assistant general manager Mike Greenberg and vice president of football research Jackie Davidson, this team is in a healthy place salary cap wise. Per OverTheCap.com, they currently possess $26,198,388 million in cap space.

That is more than enough to splurge and spend a couple million on a one-year mercenary at outside linebacker. Here are some of the top options on the open market.

Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney has become a pass-rusher for hire since leaving the Texans after the 2018 season. The first overall pick in 2014, Clowney has since played for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens, and Panthers. With Carolina releasing him following a one-season stint, he is back on the market. The 32-year-old logged 5.5 sacks over 14 games in 2024 as the Panthers' defense struggled.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Panthers OLB Jadeveon Clowney – Photo by: USA Today

Despite bouncing around and playing for six teams in seven years, Clowney remains a disruptive force in a rotational role. Over his 11-year career, he has collected 409 tackles and 58 sacks. He's maintained efficiency too, with Pro Football Focus placing him among the top 50 edge rushers last season.

What makes Clowney appealing now is not volume production, but situational impact. He remains stout against the run and can create pressure without being an every-down player. At 6-foot-5 and 266 pounds, he fits the mold of a seasoned, physical veteran ideal for rotational duties, especially in a Bucs' defense looking for reliability off the edge.

Za'Darius Smith

Za'Darius Smith remains one of the NFL's more accomplished veteran pass rushers, bringing a proven track record of production and impact plays. Over 10 seasons, he has tallied 333 tackles and 69 sacks. His peak came in 2019 with the Packers, when he posted 13.5 sacks. That breakout led to a string of Pro Bowl selections, and Smith has continued to deliver pressure at every stop since, whether with the Vikings, Browns, or most recently, the Lions.

Lions DE Za'Darius Smith – Photo by: USA Today

What makes Smith valuable is more than just sack totals — it is his ability to affect games in high-leverage moments. In 2024, he was acquired by the Lions midway through the season following an injury to Aidan Hutchinson, and he immediately gave Detroit's defense a lift with four sacks in just eight games. His combination of speed and power off the edge makes him difficult to handle one-on-one, while his motor and toughness bring consistency to a front seven.

At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Smith is a physical force who fits in multiple schemes. He has played as a stand-up edge rusher in 3-4 systems and as a defensive end in 4-3 alignments, giving defensive coordinators flexibility to move him around in different pressure packages. That versatility, paired with a veteran presence, makes him a natural fit to bolster the Bucs' pass rush.

Preston Smith

Preston Smith hit free agency this offseason after being released by the Steelers in a cap-saving move. Pittsburgh had acquired him from Green Bay midway through last year, but after a decade of steady production, the 32-year-old finds himself looking for his next stop.

Smith has long been one of the NFL's most reliable edge rushers. He's logged at least eight sacks in six different seasons between 2015 and 2023, piling up 70.5 over the course of his career. His peak coincidentally came in 2019 with the Packers, when he racked up 12 sacks and looked the part of an imposing pass rusher. Even if he's no longer that type of every-down threat, his track record speaks to a defender who consistently finds ways to affect quarterbacks.

Last season was more modest. Smith played just 54 percent of defensive snaps in Green Bay before dipping to 30 percent in Pittsburgh, signaling he's best suited now as a rotational piece rather than a primary edge anchor. Still, in the right role, he remains a valuable veteran who knows how to use leverage, power, and technique to win matchups.

At 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Smith brings the size to set the edge and the length to frustrate tackles. He also has the versatility to occasionally drop into coverage, a trait that could make him a clean fit in Todd Bowles' scheme. Durable and dependable throughout his career, he profiles as the kind of player who just needs to be told to pin his ears back and go hunt quarterbacks. For a Bucs' defense that could use more proven pass-rush depth and veteran savvy, Preston Smith still checks plenty of boxes.

Shaq Barrett

Shaq Barrett rejoined the Bucs late last season after briefly retiring and being released by the Dolphins. Tampa Bay brought the veteran pass rusher back in December for its playoff push, reuniting him with the team where he became a Super Bowl champion. His late season return underscored both his value to the locker room and the front office's trust in his ability to contribute in key moments.

He nor the team had a Cinderella story, but could both sides come together again?

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

A two-time Pro Bowler, Barrett's 2019 season still stands as a career benchmark — 19.5 sacks, the NFL sack title, franchise single-season record, second-team All-Pro honors. His career résumé across nine seasons includes 401 tackles, 59 sacks, and 22 forced fumbles—impressive even before accounting for his acclaimed leadership and playoff grit.

After overcoming a torn Achilles in 2022 and a modest four-sack 2023 campaign, Barrett's immediate value would be as a rotational spark at 32 years old. Still, he's a proven technician with game-tilt ability, and could do so for the team on third downs. Returning again would feel right for him, the locker room, and for a Bucs team in need of another experienced, proven pass-rush presence.

For a Bucs' Safety Room Decimated By Injuries, A Veteran Would Only Help

The Bucs' safety position has two solidified starters in Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. While Winfield and Smith are productive when on the field, each also were bitten by the injury bug last year, with Winfield missing eight games and Smith missing four.

Behind them, Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather are next on the depth chart, along with popular undrafted rookie Shilo Sanders and recent signee Will Brooks. Brooks, while showing some ballhawking ability for the Tennessee Volunteers last season, should be viewed as nothing more than a developmental practice squad option.

If J.J. Roberts stayed healthy, he was making a strong case to make the team as a fifth safety. Now, with Roberts out for the year and Izien suffering an oblique injury last week against the Steelers, the last thing Tampa Bay's defense needs is for its safety depth to be tested again.

Everyone saw the struggles the back end had without "AWJ" roaming around in 2024, and it got to the point that Ryan Neal (yes, Ryan Neal) was signed off the street just based on the fact he was familiar with Todd Bowles' defense. Adding a veteran safety into the mix is another idea the Bucs should ponder. While it might take them a bit to get acclimated, it is an avenue to explore with two veteran options leading the way.

Marcus Williams

Marcus Williams is a safety with experience and playmaking acumen. After spending five seasons with the division rival Saints and three seasons with the Ravens, Williams was released in March 2025 following a campaign where he struggled and was benched down the stretch. He finished the year with zero interceptions in 11 games and graded out among the league's lowest-rated safeties, according to PFF.

Still, Williams' résumé is still impressive on paper: 108 games (106 starts), 469 tackles, and 20 interceptions. In New Orleans, he developed into a true ball hawk; in Baltimore, he delivered flashes of the same — before health issues started to limit his role. Despite the sudden decline, Williams still possesses the instincts and coverage versatility that a Bucs team with a complex scheme might be able to properly utilize.

At 28, he is young enough that a change of scenery could rejuvenate his career. However, his recent performances suggest his ceiling may now be that of a mid-down safety or nickel hybrid rather than a full-time center fielder.

Marcus Williams offers upside as an experienced safety with a proven ball-hawking history. With proper alignment and managing expectations, he could return to form and provide valuable depth as a third safety.

Justin Simmons

Justin Simmons also spent time with a division rival, having played last season with the Falcons. Over the years, Simmons has showcased elite pedigree and ball-hawking instincts. He spent eight seasons anchoring the Broncos' defense, earning two Pro Bowl nods, four Second-Team All-Pro selections, and emerging as one of the league's most consistent interception machines with 32 picks since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2016.

Falcons S Justin Simmons – Photo by: USA Today

In 2024, Simmons signed a one-year, $8 million fully guaranteed deal with Atlanta. He started all 16 games, finished with 62 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and two interceptions, though PFF graded him 59.9 — ranking him in the bottom half of starting safeties.

Despite the mediocre metrics, Simmons remains sharp in takeaways and understands complex schemes. At 31, Simmons can still deliver high-level production, especially in coverage and turnover creation. In an aggressive defensive scheme like the Bucs, he could be a strong value play.