After a promising start to his head-coaching career with a 9-7 record during his first season leading the Buccaneers in 2016, back-to-back 5-11 campaigns ultimately cost Dirk Koetter his job. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht was given one more year to turn the Bucs’ ship around, and hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians to lead the way.

Arians inherits a Bucs offense that features a plethora of weapons, including Pro Bowler Mike Evans and rising star Chris Godwin at the wide receiver position, in addition to future Pro Bowl tight end O.J. Howard and the red zone threat Cam Brate. Arians’ main objective on offense is to improve the offensive line – and perhaps more importantly – turn Jameis Winston into a the franchise quarterback and winner the team expected when it selected him with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Winston is in an ever-important fifth-year option contract this season, and Arians, the noted “quarterback whisperer,” will likely know by October if he can turn Winston around.

The Bucs will have some big decisions to make with pending free agent left tackle Donovan Smith and wide receiver Adam Humphries, and whether or not to keep wide receiver DeSean Jackson and his $10 million salary for one final year in Tampa Bay.

On defense, new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is expected to run a 3-4 Under front with some four-man defensive line mixed in. The Bucs are crippled at linebacker with pending free agent Kwon Alexander coming off a torn ACL, in addition to last year’s rookie Jack Cichy, who had an injury-riddled past at Wisconsin. Strongside linebacker Kendell Beckwith missed all of last season after breaking his ankle in an offseason car wreck last year, and his future in Tampa Bay is currently unknown. The only healthy, starting-caliber linebacker on the team is Lavonte David.

Defensive end Vinny Curry was released to create $8 million in salary cap, which the team desperately needs this year after big-money extensions were doled out last year to Evans, Brate, left guard Ali Marpet and Winston’s big cap number this year, which is $20.922 million. More cap space is needed and the Bucs may have to part ways with six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy, who just turned 31 and is due a $13 million salary, and nose tackle Beau Allen, who is scheduled to make $5 million this year.

Tampa Bay needs veteran help in the secondary where 35-year old cornerback Brent Grimes and strong safety Chris Conte are expected to move on. The Bucs have drafted four cornerbacks – Vernon Hargreaves III, Ryan Smith, M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis – in addition to two safeties – Justin Evans and Jordan Whitehead – over the past three years. There are plenty of young defensive backs on Tampa Bay’s roster. What are needed are experienced playmakers.

On special teams, the Bucs haven’t gotten the return on investment from Bryan Anger the last two years, and might be better off going with a younger, cheaper alternative and save Anger’s $3 million base salary. Kicker has been a huge problem area for the Bucs during Licht’s tenure in Tampa Bay, and newly signed Philip Andersen is not the answer. The Bucs may look to re-sign Cairo Santos or take a chance on aging veteran Matt Bryant, who made 92 percent of his field goals last year in Atlanta at the age of 42.

Buccaneers’ Trades

Trades have seemed to be a hotbed so far on the Bucs Battle Plans, though I just don’t see one happening. Given all the news about wide receiver DeSean Jackson, there’s no reason for another team to spend a draft pick on Jackson when you know he’s about to hit the market for less than what he’s supposed to be paid in 2019.

The other name that’s been floated around is tight end Cameron Brate. His role has certainly shrunk ever since the Bucs drafted O.J. Howard, but after Howard, there’s not a ton of depth at tight end if Brate were to be shipped out. Antony Auclair is helpful in the run game and on special teams, and Tanner Hudson has spent the majority of his career on the practice squad. Brate has always been a reliable target for Jameis Winston, and has been important in the red zone. For that, I don’t see the Bucs moving on from him.

Buccaneers’ Cuts

Well, Jackson is going to get his wish and be released from the team in my Bucs Battle Plan, saving Tampa Bay $10 million. While he still has value and could have a fresh start with Bruce Arians as the head coach, Jackson and Winston never could connect on the deep ball during their time together. Jackson doesn’t want to be here and it wasn’t working out as expected anyway, so there’s no point in trying to convince him otherwise. The best phrase to reference Jackson’s time on the Bucs is “what could have been” as the potential of him with Winston was never fully reached.

Outside of Jackson – defensive tackle Beau Allen is released to save $5 million while defensive end Will Gholston is gone to save another $3.75 million. Defensive tackle Mitch Unrein is waived injured, which clears $3.75 million, punter Bryan Anger is released to save $3 million, and the team parts ways with veteran offensive lineman Evan Smith, which saves an additional $2 million.

Even with the reports of Gerald McCoy most likely staying with the Bucs for the 2019 season, I planned to keep on the Bucs roster anyway. McCoy still recorded six sacks last year in a defensive line role, which part of his assignment was to take on double teams and clear space for Vita Vea. The stats aren’t always there, but McCoy still has it. For me, his value is most important in that locker room, as he is one of the leaders of the team and has mentored Vea and a number of defensive linemen. You can’t put a price on that.

With all those roster moves, that leaves $39.8 million remaining for free agency signings.

Unrestricted Free Agent Re-signings

LT Donovan Smith – 1-Year, $14 Million Franchise Tag
Ah yes, the first domino to fall for the Bucs biggest offseason questions. With Smith having a down year even knowing that he’s playing for a contract, he didn’t do enough to warrant a multi-year deal yet. Giving him the franchise tag gives him a second shot to prove his worth with new coaching.

When you look at the free agency board for offensive tackles, Smith ranks as one of the best options. Letting him go with no real proven replacement is a tough move to make, so, you keep him on board this year to find out if there’s more to get out of him.

Smith has all the tools to be a top left tackle in the NFL. If he can put it all together with a little extra motivation, the Bucs can be set for years at a cornerstone position. His consecutive games played streak at 64 is also important.

LB Kevin Minter – 1-Year, $1 Million
Minter didn’t have a gigantic role on the Bucs but he was effective when used. He had a sack on the year and has played for Bruce Arians in Arizona. He fits where the Bucs needs him.

K Cairo Santos – 1-Year, $1 Million
Santos is the closest kicker the Bucs have had to breaking the kicker curse in years. There was the New Orleans game where he had a bit of a hiccup, but other than that, Santos was an excellent pickup during the season. He went 17-of-17 on extra points and will be cheaper than Matt Bryant. The best thing he did all year is let Bucs not have to hold on for dear life every time he lined up for an extra point.

Unrestricted Free Agents Not Re-Signed

LB Kwon Alexander
This is a difficult one to write as Alexander was one of the heartbeats of this defense. That’s the nature of this business though, and the torn ACL he suffered against the Browns puts an end to his time on the Bucs.

His asking price of $10 million is just too high for a player coming off a surgery like that. There is only one player that has bounced back right away from a torn ACL and that was Adrian Peterson, who is a freak of nature. I just can’t in good faith rely on someone coming off this type of surgery, even at his young age.

Alexander was an important piece for the Bucs, but even when he was in the lineup, the Bucs statically had one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Maybe that was just Mike Smith, but new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles can get more with even less. His replacement will come in the draft, and we’ll get to that soon.

WR Adam Humphries
There’s no question that Humphries meant a lot to the Bucs team. He’s a hard worker, great teammate, will never complain, and gives you all effort all the time. He’s another one though where his asking price doesn’t meet his production. Humphries would like around $8 million year for a receiver that has yet to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards.

He had 816 yards receiving and five touchdowns on the year. He did a great job of putting himself in line to get money, the question begs though, is that his ceiling? Because there are more cost effective choices for the type of production.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
The new Bucs coaching staff has already said multiple times that Winston is the guy. The last thing anyone needs is for Winston to play poorly and grow the speculation that Fitzpatrick should get a shot. Fitz didn’t even dress for the end of the season, so it’s probably best that they both cut ties. The career journeymen is onto his next stop if he doesn’t retire.

QB Ryan Griffin
Another quarterback situation where it’s best just to wipe the slate clean. Griffin never threw a pass in a regular season game despite the crush that Dirk Koetter had on him. Now with a new coach, Bruce Arians should look elsewhere.

S Chris Conte
It’s sad to see that Conte’s last play on the Bucs will be him getting stiff armed on Monday Night Football. He’s been on the team for years and you know what you’ll get from him. The Bucs have plenty of other safeties that are younger.

CB Brent Grimes
Grimes was on the fence about playing at all in 2018 and pretty much mailed it in during the season. After going on his wife Miko’s podcast and badmouthing the coaches, that sealed his fate even if he had thoughts about playing again.

RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Rodgers was a favorite of former head coach Dirk Koetter because he knew his system, but the Bucs can upgrade the running back spot here, and might have done so with the signing of Andre Ellington.

LB Adarius Taylor
He’s a great special teams player and was voted as special teams captain. As a linebacker though, he was limited when asked to play a bigger role.

LB Cameron Lynch
Lynch is a great, high-energy special teamer, and the Bucs wouldn’t rule out signing him to the league minimum later after the draft if necessary, but don’t do it now.

DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
He made for some good depth on the defensive line roster. The Bucs will probably go a different, younger route in those areas this offseason.

S Josh Shaw
Shaw was signed as a late-season, emergency safety and there are more talented players on the roster right now that need to be developed by the new coaching staff.

LS Garrison Sanborn
Sanborn could return later if a comparable, cheaper alternative isn’t found in free agency.

Restricted Free Agent Re-signings

RB Peyton Barber – 1-Year, $3 Million
Barber’s had to deal with a sub par offensive line and yet still was a formidable back. He won’t break one for a 50 yard gain, but he can break a ton of tackles and wear down a defense while he’s at it. He’ll be the starter once again.

S Andrew Adams – 1-Year, $2 Million
Adams led the team in interceptions on a team that struggled to get them. He’s rewarded with a contract to come back and do it again.

Restricted Free Agents Not Re-signed

FB Alan Cross
Cross retired from football to join the coaching staff at Memphis, his alma mater, as a graduate assistant coach.

CB Javien Elliott
He’s certainly an adequate player who might have been re-signed if the Bucs had a little more cap room. Sometimes there’s just not enough room for every player and Elliott falls victim to that.

LB Devante Bond
Bond is a decent special teams player, but hasn’t shown the ability to be anything more than that over the past couple of years.

OT Leonard Wester
The Bucs shouldn’t tender Wester an offer. Instead, sign him to a one-year, league-minimum deal after the draft so he can come to camp to compete for a backup offensive tackle role.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents Not Re-signed

OT Michael Liedtke
Capable, but not exactly starting material. The Bucs could bring him back later towards training camp, or as an injury replacement.

S Isaiah Johnson
Again, the Bucs have a lot of safeties that include Jordan Whitehead and Justin Evans. With talks of moving M.J. Stewart to safety, Johnson becomes expendable.After these transactions, the Bucs have $19.8 million left to spend.

Bucs’ 2019 Free Agent Additions

S Tyraan Mathieu – 3-Years, $21 Million
The Honey Badger reunites with his old head coach and the Bucs get that ball-hawking playmaker in the secondary that they’ve desperately needed. Is he the same player that he was out of college? No, but he can still help change both the defense and the culture of the team with some new blood.

Mathieu loved playing for Arians and even went as far as to comment in excitement on the story about McCoy supposedly staying in town.

LB Brandon Marshall – 3-Years, $15 Million
So this isn’t exactly Alexander’s replacement, but it’s a player with not a drastic difference in production for the right price. Marshall played in 11 games last season, but had one of his best seasons the year prior in 2017, with over 100 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble. Overall has been a key piece to a Broncos defense that’s been ranked as a Top 10 defense over the past five years.

Marshall has played both inside and outside linebacker so Bowles can use him in different roles. He also brings the playoff experience that this team needs desperately needs in the locker room. Marshall was a focal point of the Broncos Super Bowl 50 championship, and will look to bring some of that exposure here.

While the Bucs needs to replace Alexander, they also can’t put all of their faith in Kendell Beckwith either, who missed all of last season with an ankle injury. Marshall is both insurance and a plug in starter for a team that couldn’t rely on their linebacker depth at all when Lavonte David went down. They already David as the alpha of the Bucs defense, and now Marshall can be the right b-side to the linebacker’s group.

RB Bilal Powell – 2-Years, $2 Million
I know everyone wants to the Bucs to sign either Tevin Coleman or Mark Ingram, but some tend to forget that the Bucs aren’t the only organization on their team. Financially the Bucs just can’t compete with other teams on that price when there are other holes on this roster that should be addressed first.

Powell is a much cheaper option that checks off plenty of boxes that the Bucs could use. He’s a great receiving back and can also make the home run play that Peyton Barber can’t. For his entire career Powell has always been the rotational, change of pace back, and the doesn’t change here. He played under Todd Bowles with the Jets and has ran behind both fantastic offensive lines and dreadful offensive lines. He’ll be ready for whatever the Bucs line gives him.

Powell knows his job and doesn’t complain about it either, he is great fit for Bruce Arian’s offense. He is coming off a neck injury, so hopefully he can recover and play, which is why the Bucs get him for a bargain.

QB Matt Cassel – 1-Year, $1 Million
He’s a veteran quarterback that can help guide along Jameis Winston while not being a real threat. Cassel has experience as a starter and been around the block.

Click on the next page below to check out which draft picks I make for Tampa Bay.