If I were GM: Three offseason moves for each NFC South team
By Maurice Jones-Drew
NFL.com Analyst
Published: Feb. 19, 2019 at 10:32 a.m.
Now that the offseason is in full swing, front offices of all 32 NFL teams have begun to assess priorities for the coming months. What areas should each team address? This sounds like a job for Maurice Jones-Drew. The NFL.com analyst and former NFL running back tries his hand at general manager and identifies three areas each team should tackle this offseason. Today, MJD examines the NFC South:
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The biggest question for the Bucs within the next calendar year is whether or not Jameis Winston is a long-term answer. With Bruce Arians in the building, Winston has the resources to develop, but he must make some adjustments and become a smarter player.
1) Add an explosive running back. A dynamic player in the backfield would take a ton of pressure off Winston, forcing the defense into more favorable coverages for him to dissect. Free-agent-to-be Le'Veon Bell would be a great fit for this offense.
2) Sprinkle front seven with talent. The defense, which ranked 31st in the league in points allowed (29 per game), is short on talent from front to back, and DE Vinny Curry was released and LB Kwon Alexander is due to hit the market. The Bucs can start by getting new coordinator Todd Bowles some talented front-seven defenders in free agency and should continue to build in that area via the draft.
3) Fix the secondary. CB Brent Grimes is ticketed for free agency and this unit needs some major upgrades, even though the team has spent six draft picks on back-end players in the past three drafts. There are some potential free agents who could provide a boost, bringing some leadership and discipline into the room, and this year's draft class includes a number of DBs who could help immediately.
Follow Maurice Jones-Drew on Twitter @MJD.
