With Free-Agency right around the corner the Bucs are faced with replacing 11 starters between their offense and defense. That amounts to one entire side of the ball. With the retirements of Tom Brady and Ali Marpet this year’s offseason will look different than last year’s “Run it Back” philosophy.

With that said, GM Jason Licht said during interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine that Tampa Bay will be trying to retain many of their personnel from the 2021 season. Below we will look at the starting roles currently vacant giving you three options that the Bucs may look at to fill the void. Option A will be the previous year’s incumbent (or in his absence the best available option on the market), option B would represent a mid-level external free agent, and option C will look towards an unproven or otherwise risky flier.

This series will be broken up into three pieces. Offensive Playmaker, Offensive Line, and Defense. Today we will start with Defense.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Option A: Ndamukong Suh/Will Gholston
Suh and Gholston are placed together here, as there is a good chance at least one of them returns. But not necessarily both. This would leave one of the other options below to fill the other spot. At this point in their careers Suh and Gholton represent high-floor, low-ceiling options. Both are still very capable run defenders with limited upside rushing the passer. With Bruce Arians’ recent comments about wanting to add more of a pass rush element neither player is an ideal fit.
Projection: Both should command one-year deals in the neighborhood of $5 million.

Bucs DE Will Gholston and OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Option B: Calais Campbell
Campbell represents the most consistent player on the market at his position group. Teams just have to bet that his play will defy Father Time. Campbell turns 36 during the season, but is still playing at a very high level. He provides a versatile skill-set that allows him to play the 1, 3, or 5 technique. That kind of hybrid flexibility could present a very unique chess piece for Todd Bowles, who coached him in Arizona. Campbell won’t come cheap, though.
Projection: Look for a short-term deal averaging $8-10 million per year.

Option C: Tim Settle
Settle has been relegated to a part-time player in Washington’s stacked D-line room. However, when given the opportunity he has consistently produced and popped on tape. Over his first four years in the league he has consistently graded out better as a pass rusher than a run defender. That track record matches the Bucs’ stated desires at the position for 2022.
Projection: One-year deal around $5 million.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Option A: Jason Pierre-Paul
Pierre-Paul has been a culture-changer in Tampa Bay. Following the trade to get him from the Giants he helped re-establish a feared pass rush. However, he is 33 years old coming off major shoulder injury. When he did play last year he was not effective. What does his role realistically look like in 2022? And how will that match with his price tag? JPP may not even be able to pass a physical until training camp. So if the Bucs are interested in re-signing him, they may wait until summer.
Projection: One-year contract between $5-7 million.

Option B: Melvin Ingram/Justin Houston
Both Houston and Ingram represent similar players to JPP. All three are 33, but Ingram and Houston are coming off healthier, more productive seasons where they were already playing in time-shares that allowed them to be more efficient. Both would cost in the same neighborhood in terms of contract terms.
Projection: One-year around $7-8 million.

Option C: Takk McKinley
McKinley never developed into the premier edge rusher he was supposed to become when Atlanta drafted him 26th overall in the 2017 draft. However, he has shown flashes at times. McKinley would slot in as a solid depth piece with Anthony Nelson behind Shaq Barret and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. McKinley would come at the relatively low cost.
Projection: One-year deal between $3-5 million.

CORNERBACK

Option A: Carlton Davis III
The Bucs elected not to use the franchise tag on Davis. Testing the market, Davis will be seen as one of the top 2-3 options at cornerback. That could drive his price up in a league that increasingly needs quality cornerbacks. Davis could be back on a long-term deal, but it would come at a significant cost. He’ll likely fetch between $17-$18 million per year.
Projection: He might fetch four years at $72 million.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Option B: Charvarius Ward
Ward isn’t seen as a top-tier No. 1 corner. He is looked at as a reliable starter on a quality defense. How that would fit into the Bucs defense would most likely push Jamel Dean into the No. 1 role with Ward providing quality play opposite him. Ward is still young at 26.
Projection: A three-year deal for $36-39 million wouldn’t be out of the question.

Option C: Rasul Douglas
Douglas is a very interesting case study. Prior to 2021 he had not played up to a top corner billing. As a matter of fact, Green Bay signed him off of Arizona’s practice squad last year mid-season after being cut by Las Vegas and Houston earlier in the year. Down the stretch though he provided stability to a very good Packers defense that was missing star corner Jaire Alexander to injury. He is a wild card at a position that sees a lot of variability year-to-year and that should keep his price down.
Projection: Two years at $15 million.

SAFETY

Option A: Jordan Whitehead
Whitehead is a fan favorite in Tampa Bay. He combines consistent high-level, physical play with a stellar no-nonsense demeanor. Whitehead is the type of player that teams and fans alike covet. The Bucs seem to love what he brings to the table so a reunion is a high likelihood.
Projection: Three years at $20 million.

Option B: Marcus Maye
Maye’s value will come down to his health. He is versatile, able to play deep safety in single and 2-high looks, or come down into the box to play run fits. If he were to end up in Tampa Bay he would open up the backside of the defense to allow Todd Bowles to play him and Antoine Winfield as chess pieces rotating them high and low. Maye’s health is what will keep him in play for many teams as he will look to prove himself on a 1 year deal.
Projection: One-year deal worth $5-$7.5 million deal for a bigger payday in 2023.

Option C: Malik Hooker
Hooker’s skill set makes him an attractive option to complement any other safety. He can play high or low, covering all types of zone systems as well as run fits up closer to the box. His lack of consistency will give teams pause at looking at him as a starter. He would be an intriguing option for Tampa Bay in a timeshare with Mike Edwards as a compliment to Antoine Winfield Jr.
Projection: One year at $2.5 million.