The Buccaneers entered the 2019 offseason with one of the least amounts of salary cap space in the NFL. Because of that, Tampa Bay had to clear some room to re-sign some of their own players and to add other free agents. The big-splash approach to free agency, that turned out to be terrible in 2014, has been scrapped and the Bucs have signed a number of new players to just one-year deals.

Below is a list of all of the teams transactions this offseason and a short analysis of how they fit in the Bucs plans for 2019.

3/18 Signed S Kentrell Brice to a one-year contract
Analysis: The safety position was like most of the defensive units in 2018, disappointing. Tampa Bay brings in Brice on a one-year deal. Brice is a young (24) player who started 10 games last year for the Packers and will compete with Jordan Whitehead, Justin Evans and others for playing time.

03/18 Signed unrestricted free agent G Earl Watford to a one-year contract
Analysis: The right guard position was the worst on an underperforming unit for Tampa Bay last season and the Bucs needed – and still probably need – to address it even further. Watford comes over from the Browns after stops in Chicago, Jacksonville, and two stints in Arizona. Watford isn’t the long-term solution but will compete to be a bridge player as the team attempts to get the offensive line on track.

Earl Watford – Photo by: Getty Images

03/18 Signed unrestricted free agent LB Shaquil Barrett to a one-year contract
Analysis: The Barrett signing could turn out to be the best new player acquisition so far this offseason. Signing a one-year, $4 million deal, the Bucs can find out the type of player he is within their new system and if he plays as well as they hope, he could turn that into a multi-year deal next offseason. Barrett appears to be a natural fit in the new scheme.

03/15 Signed unrestricted free agent LB Deone Bucannon to a one-year contract
Analysis: Bucannon steps right in and will hit the ground running with his familiarity with the 3-4 system. Undersized to play as a true linebacker, the Bucs will move him around in their money-backer position and let him use his natural instincts and skillset to make plays.

03/15 Re-signed DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches to a one-year contract
Analysis: Nacho as he is known inside the building, was signed last season after stints in Kansas City and Indianapolis. Nunez-Roches weighs in at 307 pounds and is a big run stuffer who the team thinks highly of. He will be given chance to earn a roster spot and provide depth at the nose tackle position.

03/15 Re-signed CB De’Vante Harris to a one-year contract
Analysis: Harris was signed to a one-year deal and will come into camp to compete in order to help with depth at cornerback. A former Texas A&M Aggie, Harris came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Saints and hasn’t seen a ton of playing time. But he did enough in his short stint with the Buccaneers last season for the team to see some potential.

03/14 Signed unrestricted free agent WR Breshad Perriman to a one-year contract
Analysis: A former first round receiver out of UCF, Perriman had never been able to really have a breakout season in the NFL. The Bucs are hoping he can replace the DeSean Jackson speed element and are hoping too see more consistency. Like many of the Bucs deals this offseason it is only a one-year contract and could provide Perriman a chance to cash in next spring if he plays as well as the team hopes.

Bucs WR Breshad Perriman – Photo by: Getty Images

03/14 Signed unrestricted free agent P Bradley Pinion to a four-year contract
Analysis: The Bucs got younger – and better – with the signing of Pinion who can also handle kickoff duties for the Buccaneers. At least that is the hope after giving Pinion a four-yers, $11 million deal.

03/13 Traded WR DeSean Jackson and a 2020 seventh-round draft pick to Philadelphia for a 2019 sixth-round draft pick
Analysis: The Jackson signing two years ago was lauded as one that could take the Buccaneers back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Obviously things didn’t work out and the Bucs were able to at least get a draft pick for Jackson and clear $10 million in cap space.

03/13 Re-signed LB Kevin Minter to a one-year contract
Analysis: Minter is back and will be a coach on the field as he is experienced in the Todd Bowles scheme. Minter played well in his brief appearances for Tampa Bay and the team feels like they got a solid player for less than $1 million in 2019.

03/13 Released/failed physical DT Mitch Unrein
Analysis: The Unrein situation is sad on many levels. The Bucs expected him to be part of a strong rotation at defensive tackle, but an early training camp concussion left him unable to play all season and most likely could signal the end of his football career altogether.

03/13 Re-signed RB Peyton Barber to a one-year contract
Analysis: Of all the 2018 players on the roster, new Bucs head coach Bruce Arians has raved about Barber the most. While Barber isn’t Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers or even Todd Gurley, Arians and his staff see a tough back who is dependable and who they feel can keep the sticks moving and help out the offense if the line issues can get resolved.

Bucs RB Peyton Barber – Photo by: Getty Images

03/13 Re-signed K Cairo Santos to a one-year contract
Analysis: Santos came in mid-way through last season and solidified the shaky kicking situation, finishing 9-of 12 on field goals and a perfect 17-for-17 on extra points. A $1 million one-year deal was worked out and with Pinion to handle kick off duties, that should allow Santos to be even better with field goal percentage.

03/12 Released P Bryan Anger
Analysis: The Bucs chose to go younger and a little cheaper at the position, but also likely felt Anger was declining. His numbers weren’t bad in 2018, but they weren’t that they were the first two seasons after signing him as a free agent from the Jaguars.

03/12 Re-signed QB Ryan Griffin to a two-year contract
Analysis: Griffin has made a handsome living so far in the NFL, and done so without ever throwing a pass in a regular season NFL game. The Bucs’ front office has liked Griffin for the last few seasons, and thinks there is some potential there, but the question is, will be be the backup, or will they look to find a veteran.

03/08 Tendered exclusive rights player OL Mike Liedtke
Analysis: Liedtke will have a chance to earn roster spot while earning minimal money with the tender. Bucs think he could be a solid backup and the new staff feels there is something to work with.

03/08 Tendered exclusive rights player S Isaiah Johnson
Analysis: Johnson didn’t wow in 2018, but he did enough to get a tender from the Bucs who which will allow him to come into camp with a chance to be part of the team’s depth at the safety position. Johnson is slated to earn $645,000 in 2019.

03/06 Exercised the 2019 contract option T Demar Dotson
Analysis: How much longer does Dotson have left? The longest tenured Buccaneer currently on the roster had a decent 2018 season, and is slated to be the starting right tackle this upcoming season, but the team could look to draft a developmental player to challenge Dotson for the right to start in 2019.

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

03/05 Re-signed LB Devante Bond to a one-year contract
Analysis: Giving Bond a one-year, $720,000 deal makes sense as the team is lacking linebacker depth. Bond, who has primarily been a special teams player, will be given an opportunity to work into the rotation as the team is primed to run a 3-4 base defense in 2019 under new coordinator Todd Bowles.

03/05 Re-signed T Donovan Smith to a three-year contract
Analysis: The Bucs had to bring Smith back. With the team all in on Jameis Winston in 2019, the risk of starting a rookie was too great, and the prospect of finding a viable replacement in free agency was too expensive. The top free agent tackle – other than Smith – was Trent Brown, who got $66 million from the Raiders and became the highest paid tackle in the league.