ESPN: 5 Moves the Bucs should make

1. Cut Alterraun Verner, Bruce Carter and Evan Smith. An annual rite of passage for the Bucs is culling the free-agent mistakes from years past, and here, they will need to do the same. Verner and Smith both lost their jobs during the year (although Verner eventually regained his), while Carter -- expected to start at linebacker -- never actually won one to begin with. The moves would clear $13.5 million in cap space without putting a cent of dead money on Tampa's cap. The Bucs don't necessarily need the cash (they have $50 million in cap space heading into free agency), but it's money better applied elsewhere -- you know, to new free-agent mistakes.2. Wait out the market to re-sign Doug Martin. Speculation has it that Martin, who had a surprising return to form during an impressive 2015 campaign, will look for a DeMarco Murray-sized contract in free agency. If that's the case, the Buccaneers can't re-sign Martin. The evidence against locking up Martin, of course, is that the Eagles would love to get out of the Murray contract right now if they could. (In fact, the Bucs would be better off letting Martin leave and dealing a conditional seventh-rounder to the Eagles for Murray, if that were to happen.)More likely is that Martin will hit the market and find his price tag is closer to $4 million or so per year as opposed to $8 million. At that price, a return to Tampa would make sense for both sides. The Bucs have a long-term option in Charles Sims, but Martin's success under Dirk Koetter and his success forming a rotation with Sims would seem to justify that more modest raise. Again, there's $50 million in cap space here; might as well use it on somebody who won't make Bucs fans throw out their jerseys.3. Don't cut Vincent Jackson. Likewise, the same cap-space argument is there for Tampa's veteran wideout. While Jackson appears to be on the downside of his career at 33, the Buccaneers have a ton of cap room and no obvious replacement on their roster. Jackson is overpaid with a cap hit of $12.2 million, but while Tampa would save $9.8 million by releasing the former Chargers star, it would only open up a starting job for somebody like Donteea Dye or Louis Murphy. The Bucs are better off finding a receiver in this year's draft and letting him work his way into the lineup before moving on from Jackson.4. Target a No. 1 pass-rusher. As dangerous as it is to tell the Buccaneers to spend heavily in free agency, they badly need to go after an edge rusher. Getting by with the likes of William Gholston and Jacquies Smith just isn't a viable option in a division with Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Cam Newton. Even if it doesn't work -- and if Tampa's free-agent history tells us anything, it won't work -- the Bucs have to invest in a top-tier defensive end to give former Falcons coach Mike Smith some hope as Tampa's new defensive coordinator.That means investing at the very top of the market. It might not be fun paying a premium for Olivier Vernon, who has just one double-digit sack campaign during his four years in Miami, but the Bucs don't really have a choice. Maybe they go after Mario Williams if the Bills cut the former first overall pick. If there's anything Tampa needs to do with its cap space this offseason, it involves finding a pass rush.5. Target a No. 2 pass-rusher. No, really. Let's not stop there. The Bucs should be in the market for whatever they can find. Bring Jason Pierre-Paul back to Florida. Go after Tamba Hali. Take a shot on a rotational edge rusher like Wallace Gilberry. Forget the No. 1/No. 2 ordering. Just try to sign them all. Offer the Broncos your pirate ship to let Von Miller leave. The Buccaneers were 26th in pass defense DVOA last year; team up a couple of viable edge rushers with Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David, and this could be a very good defense very quickly.