Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Best Offseason Moves by Russell S. Baxter 1h ago 
Nov 16, 2014Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims (34) carries the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports It’s over. It’s all over.We are down to our final team when it comes to our NFL preview series known as the “5 Best Offseason Moves.”Yes, we saved the worst for last as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won just two games this past season (tied with the Tennessee Titans) but wound up with the first pick in last week’s draft.As we know, the Bucs opted for Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. It was the first of seven selections by general manager Jason Licht and it’s interesting to note that he used six picks on the offensive side of the ball, probably wise for a squad that ranked 30th in the NFL in total yards in 2014.But what about the other moves that this franchise, which hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2007, made this offseason in terms of free agency and trades? While the team wasn’t as busy as they were a year ago, that doesn’t mean they were not active.
5. Releasing defensive end Michael Johnson and tackle Anthony CollinsLast offseason, the Buccaneers looked to make a big splash in free agency and were the league’s busiest organization one year ago.Via Spotrac.com, the pair of Cincinnati Bengals each signed five-year contracts in 2014, Johnson for $43.75 million and Johnson for $30 million. But both players did little to impress and each was cut loose this offseason. For general manager Jason Licht, it was two swings and a miss (three if you include quarterback Josh McCown). But the acknowledgment of failure means the team is ready to move on quickly rather than keep players that simply didn’t pan out.By the way, while Collins remains unemployed, Johnson returned to the Bengals and McCown is now with the Cleveland Browns.
4. Trading free safety Dashon GoldsonFor whatever reason things just never worked out in Tampa for a talented performer who earned a pair of Pro Bowl invitations with the San Francisco 49ers in his final two years with the club.A fourth-round pick with the Niners in 2007, Goldson slowly worked his way into the starting lineup. Over a four-year span with the club from 2009-12, he totaled 14 interceptions, four fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and three sacks.In two years and 27 games with Tampa (all starts), the eight-year veteran picked off only one pass and recovered a pair of fumbles. In 2014, the Bucs managed only 25 takeaways and allowed 43 offensive touchdowns.He was dealt to the Washington Redskins in April not long after the Buccaneers signed unrestricted free-agent free safety Chris Conte, late of the Chicago Bears.
3. Trading for defensive end George JohnsonThe Buccaneers have been looking to fix their pass rush for numerous years and Johnson is the latest attempt to remedy that situation. As previously mentioned, the club signed defensive end Michael Johnson to big bucks last offseason and it simply didn’t work out.With their first two selections in the 2011 NFL draft, the franchise used their first two selections on defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. The former is now with the Atlanta Falcons and the latter is looking for work around the league.Johnson was a restricted free agent that the Buccaneers signed to an offer sheet this offseason but the Detroit Lions would dispute the deal. The teams agreed to a trade and now the valuable reserve that totaled six sacks with Jim Caldwell’s team in 2014 joins the likes of Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy up front and is the likely starter at right defensive end.
2. Signing outside linebacker Bruce CarterThe talented and athletic defender comes off a highly productive season with the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys. This past season, Carter finished fifth on the team with 67 tackles, plus added one sack and a team-high five interceptions—one of those returned for a touchdown.A second-round selection in 2011 by the Cowboys, Carter played outside and middle linebacker for the team over four years and will now team with incredibly-productive outside linebacker Lavonte David, who this past season alone rang up 146 tackles, one sack, four passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has to be very pleased with this addition.
1. Signing defensive tackle Henry MeltonAnother player head coach Lovie Smith is familiar with, hence this year’s signing of free safety Chris Conte and last year’s addition of strong safety Major Wright. Melton is a one-time Pro Bowler (2012) with the Chicago Bears who after a somewhat-quiet rookie season in 2010 started 29 games and totaled a combined 13 sacks with Smith’s team from 2011-12.However early in 2013, Melton went down for the season in Week 3 at Pittsburgh and missed the final 13 games. He was not re-signed by the Bears and inked a deal with the Cowboys. After a solid year in which he managed to play 16 games (3 starts), total 15 tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed and a pair of fumble recoveries.Melton now joins a defensive line rotation that includes defensive tackles Gerald McCoy, Akeem Spence, Clinton McDonald and defensive ends Jacquies Smith, George Johnson and William Gholston, to name a few.link
