Bucs general manager Jason Licht and his staff did it again.

If there’s a pending free agent in Tampa Bay that Licht and the Bucs want to re-sign, you can bet it’s going to get done.

Bucs NT Vita Vea, former head coach Bruce Arians and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: USA Today

It’s been quite the run for Licht, Mike Greenberg, Jackie Davidson and the Buccaneers front office and ownership when it comes to keeping and taking care of their own. It started back in 2021, just after the Bucs won Super Bowl LV. Licht and then-head coach Bruce Arians vowed to “go for two,” the team’s own spin on “run it back.”

That meant re-signing Shaq Barrett, Antonio Brown, Lavonte David, Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Succop and Ndamukong Suh, among others. It also meant franchise tagging Chris Godwin.

The following offseason, the Bucs re-signed Godwin, Fournette, Carlton Davis III and Ryan Jensen. In 2023, the team managed to retain David, Anthony Nelson and Jamel Dean.

Then came 2024, when Tampa Bay had a task so monumental that Jason Licht claimed that another boat parade would be in order should the team manage to keep its key free agents and agree to contract extensions with other franchise cornerstones. Licht and his staff did exactly that, agreeing to new deals with David, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Chase McLaughlin, Antoine Winfield Jr. and eventually Tristan Wirfs.

So, that brings us to now. This offseason wasn’t like the last one in terms of having so many crucial free agents to re-sign. But there were still three important starters the Bucs wanted to get back, and they did exactly that.

Lavonte David decided he has another year in him, and Tampa Bay re-signed him on Friday night. 

Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg and VP of football research Jacqueline Davidson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Just before the legal tampering period got underway on Monday, the team re-signed Ben Bredeson, keeping the full starting offensive line from 2024 intact for 2025 and beyond.

And then, shortly after the legal tampering period began, the big news hit, and that was the Bucs re-signing Chris Godwin to a new three-year deal. Expected to be one of the most highly coveted free agents on the open market, Godwin even reportedly left a lot of money on the table in order to stay with the general manager and team that drafted him in 2017.

Never doubt Licht, Greenberg, Davidson and the Glazers when it comes to getting deals done and taking care of their own. That’s simply how it’s done in Tampa Bay these days.

Jason Licht Full Of Praise For Bucs’ Recently Re-Signed Free Agents

There’s still plenty of work to be done before Jason Licht and his staff can feel like the Bucs are truly ready to make a run at the franchise’s third Lombardi Trophy in 2025. But re-signing David, Bredeson and Godwin — plus agreeing to terms with veteran pass rusher Haason Reddick — is a damn good start.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: USA Today

With David, the team returns one of its iconic players, someone who is a future Bucs Ring of Honor member but also a player who is out to prove he still has plenty left in the tank — even at 35 years old.

“Lavonte continues to stand the test of time and play at an exceptionally high level year after year, so it was never a question that we wanted to bring him back as the heart and soul of our defense,” Licht said in a press release upon re-signing David. “The example he sets and the leadership he brings have been vital to our success as a team. It is extremely rare to have a player producing at such a high level for going on 13 years now, but Lavonte plays with a passion and a love of the game that shows no signs of slowing down.”

With Bredeson back on a new deal, the Bucs have their entire offensive line — one of the league’s best — back to lead the way again under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.

“Ben arrived here last season to compete for a starting role, and he capitalized on that opportunity by establishing himself as an important part of our offensive line,” Licht said in a press release announcing Bredeson’s new deal. “He really came into his own playing alongside Tristan Wirfs and his veteran presence played a role in Graham Barton’s rapid development.

“Ben’s emergence led to the overall improved play of our offensive line, and we are excited to keep that starting unit together.”

Bucs WR Chris Godwin and LG Ben Bredeson Photo by: USA Today

And of course, by re-signing Godwin, Tampa Bay not only retains the second-best wide receiver in franchise history (trailing only Mike Evans, his longtime teammate), but it also makes sure the entire starting offense from 2024 will be back and ready to go for 2025.

“Chris has been crucial to our success, and we are excited to ensure he remains a part of our offensive core into the future,” Licht said in the press release announcing the Godwin deal. “He has an unparalleled work ethic, is a tremendous leader, and is a pro in every sense of the word.

“His versatility, combined with his playmaking ability and consistency, makes him a perfect fit for our offense.”