Entering the 2024 offseason, Bucs general manager Jason Licht had a clear No. 1 objective, and that was making sure Tampa Bay re-signed its own key free agents.

There were five priority free agents for Licht and his brilliant front office staff to retain: five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and team icon Mike Evans, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield, clutch kicker Chase McLaughlin and legendary linebacker Lavonte David, another franchise icon.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Adam Slivon/PR

Licht went as far as to say re-signing all five of those guys — and inking left tackle Tristan Wirfs to a long-term contract rather than letting him play on the option year of his rookie contract — would warrant a boat parade akin to the one they had after winning Super Bowl LV.

“We’re focused on signing ours right now,” Licht said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month. “I mean, if we can re-sign Mike, Baker, Lavonte, Chase, Antoine and Tristan, we should be throwing another boat parade. That’s a pretty good class there.”

As of Tuesday evening, all six players are locked in for the 2024 season. Tampa Bay picked up Wirfs’ fifth-year option, and a long-term extension could be worked out before the season starts. Evans is back on a two-year, $41 million deal. Winfield received the franchise tag. Mayfield got a three-year, $100 million contract on the eve of free agency. McLaughlin was brought back for three years and $12.3 million on Monday. And to round things out, David is returning for a 13th season on another one-year contract, with this one being worth up to $10 million.

Licht, with the help of assistant general manager and cap wizard Mike Greenberg (among others), has done it again. So it’s time to get plans in place for that boat parade, isn’t it?

Boat parade time, @jasonrlicht … https://t.co/5S4ARb1cTO

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) March 12, 2024

So, what’s next for Licht and the Bucs this offseason? There’s certainly still work to be done, with free agency having only just begun and the 2024 NFL Draft a little over a month away. Value signings are bound to be the name of the game again for Tampa Bay, but what all can we expect going forward?

Jason Licht, Bucs Still Have In-House Priorities To Handle

The Bucs have already done more than retaining those five free agents, to be fair. They’ve brought back some depth pieces in defensive tackle Greg Gaines and running back Chase Edmonds. They’ve also created some cap space, both by deciding to part ways with wide receiver Russell Gage and then by trading cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Lions.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and director of football administration Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

So, with all of that said, what in-house priorities might Jason Licht still have? Well,  Antoine Winfield Jr. remains one of them. Licht spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine last month about his and the team’s desire to get a long-term extension done now rather than after the All-Pro safety plays the 2024 season on the franchise tag. So, that’s bound to be something Licht, Greenberg and Jacqui Davidson work on between now and the July deadline.

There’s also the matter of the aforementioned contract extension for Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs. He’s already under contract for 2024 due to Tampa Bay picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. But the Bucs know they want to lock Wirfs into their plans for a long time to come, and he is another player who figures to be a priority in the coming weeks and months.

Licht and his staff will need to create some more cap room, too, and that could come in the form of some contract restructures. Nose tackle Vita Vea and cornerback Jamel Dean could be two of the primary candidates for restructures. Wide receiver Chris Godwin could be another one, though the team might be reluctant to move any money around so that it can wait and see what it wants to do with Godwin after he plays out the final year of the three-year contract he signed after the 2021 season.

As for the remaining in-house free agents, there may not be all that much movement on the Bucs’ part. Third-string quarterback John Wolford, reserve swing tackle Justin Skule and perhaps core special teamer and backup defensive lineman Pat O’Connor could come back, but the majority of the remaining free agents will be allowed to walk away and find new teams for 2024.

What Needs Do The Bucs Still Have?

Bucs GM Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The expectation and plan was always for the Bucs to spend the initial wave of free agency focused on their own players. There’s still some dead money they’re paying off from the Tom Brady-led Super Bowl window, so the majority of available cap space was going to be spent on Evans, Winfield, Mayfield, McLaughlin and David.

The team still has needs to fill, though, and it will attempt to do so as the free agency period progresses. Jason Licht will wait for the right deals rather than jump at the quickest ones, a strategy that has served him well during his tenure. Between those value free agents and the draft next month, Tampa Bay will look to find the right pieces to take the roster from NFC Divisional Round-caliber to something even better in the coming years.

So where can Licht and the Bucs stand to add to their roster? On offense, an upgrade over Robert Hainsey at center would help. The offensive line also needs a starting left guard after piecing things together with Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie last year. Depth at tight end, wide receiver and running back could help the offense level up under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, too.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On defense, the biggest need is at safety. Tampa Bay needs a partner to pair with Winfield on the back end, as it hasn’t found a consistent one since Jordan Whitehead left after the 2021 season. Whether that means a return for Whitehead, another free agent signing or a draft pick, it’s a position that needs addressing in one way or another.

Beyond safety, it’ll be interesting to see how Licht and Co. see the cornerback position after trading Davis away. That move would logically open up a starting role for Zyon McCollum, but the group still needs bolstering. Whether McCollum is a shoe-in starter or he gets competition remains to be seen, but the Bucs will need to add to their cornerback depth at the very least.

The same can essentially be said about the linebacker position, as Devin White will not return. Can K.J. Britt step in and start full-time next to Lavonte David? Maybe, but another starting-caliber option and/or a depth linebacker could and should be in the team’s plans as well.

One thing is clear about all of this: While objective No. 1 for this offseason is complete for Jason Licht and the Bucs, there’s still a long way to go before the 2024 roster is finalized.