For this weekend’s Pewter Report Roundtable, the crew answers another tough question. This week’s prompt: three weeks into free agency, what outside free agent do the Bucs still need to sign?
For this exercise, we kept it realistic. The Bucs aren’t going to sign a free agent as expensive as Tyrann Mathieu, so we didn’t entertain options in that price range.
Scott Reynolds: No Outside Free Agents, Re-Sign Suh And Gronk
I really like what general manager Jason Licht has done this offseason. He’s re-signed a lot of Tampa Bay’s key contributors, keeping its core intact for 2022 and beyond. Wide receiver Chris Godwin, center Ryan Jensen, cornerback Carlton Davis III and running back Leonard Fournette were all re-signed for three years. Licht and vice president of football administration Mike Greenberg also re-signed guard Aaron Stinnie, running back Giovani Bernard, defensive end Will Gholston, and of course Blaine Gabbert, for another season.
Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The front office also added the likes of veteran defensive back Logan Ryan, strong safety Keanu Neal and offensive tackle Fred Johnson with one-year deals, plus Licht traded for Patriots right guard Shaq Mason. Falcons wide receiver Russell Gage was a big offseason addition, signing a three-year, $30 million deal. So far, Licht has re-signed and added all the right players for new head coach Todd Bowles. I don’t have an issue with any of the moves he’s made.
I’m not in favor of adding any other outside free agents at this time. Not before the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead, I’d like to see the Bucs prioritize re-signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and tight end Rob Gronkowski. The issue with Suh is money. He’s signed three consecutive deals worth $9.25 million (2019) and $9 million (2020 and ’21). Suh’s play has been incredibly consistent, notching six sacks in each of the last two seasons. I’m sure he won’t return for less than $9 million. Nor should he. I think Gronkowski just wants to skip OTAs and party this offseason. My guess is that he signs a one-year deal after the draft and reports in time for training camp.
Matt Matera: Adding Another Edge Would Boost The Bucs Depth
Exciting times are ahead for the Bucs at outside linebacker. Shaq Barrett is still one of the top pass rushers in the game coming off another double-digit sack season. Meanwhile, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka showed a lot of promise as a rookie with four sacks in a limited role. This year he’ll get free reign as a starter. Add in a solid year from Anthony Nelson, who is looking to earn a second contract after this season, and Tampa Bay has a quality trio.
Bucs OLB Cam Gill – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
But it gets dicey after that. Following those three, it’s a bit of a drop at the position. Next up is Cam Gill, who has shown flashes with a quick burst off the line. I like Gill, but he is undersized and shouldn’t be locked in as the fourth edge rusher on the depth chart. Signing a veteran player such as Justin Houston could help round out the group. At age 33, Houston isn’t in his prime anymore. Bucs fans shouldn’t expect him to be an All-Pro player, but with 4.5 sacks last season you could still find some value.
Houston played in about 61 percent of the defensive snaps last year with the Ravens. The Bucs don’t even need him to play that much. I don’t foresee Barrett or Tryon-Shoyinka leaving the field, but if they do you want reliable backups with Nelson and Houston in there to be trusted. I like the idea of using him as a situational pass rusher. Houston has been on many playoff teams with the Chiefs and Colts, but hasn’t won a title yet. Maybe he’ll take a cheap contract in order to get a ring. We’ve seen how important veterans have been to younger players on the Bucs’ roster. Adding another with Houston can only help.
Jon Ledyard: Time To Bring In A Legit LB3
Most of the Bucs’ roster offers good depth, but a few spots still need some help. One of those spots is at linebacker. Right now, if Lavonte David or Devin White go down with an injury, I’m terrified. K.J. Britt and Grant Stuard aren’t ready for that kind of action. The Bucs might have confidence in Britt as a future starting-caliber linebacker, but I don’t. I think Tampa Bay needs a replacement for Kevin Minter.
Bucs LBs Grant Stuard and K.J. Britt – Photo by: USA Today
Enter Josh Bynes, who should come very affordably as he enters his age 33 season. The veteran has aged much more gracefully than Minter however, continuing to be an excellent run defender for the Ravens last year. Bynes is a consistent, assignment-sound linebacker who can blitz effectively too. He’s quietly been one of the best and most consistent backup/spot starting linebackers in the NFL for years. As of 2021, there is no reason to think that has changed.
Yes, Bynes will struggle in coverage at times. But the addition of Keanu Neal would allow the Bucs to get Bynes off the field on long and late downs. The 10-year veteran can help the Bucs this season, and get himself in position for a ring too. Bynes is also a capable special teams player. Tampa Bay should pull the trigger after the draft, if they haven’t filled Bynes’ potential spot with a selection.
J.C. Allen: Keep The Former Falcons Coming!
While the Bucs certainly could select a wide receiver in the draft, though it’s usually hard for rookies to make an instant impact. Especially with Tom Brady. We’ve seen that the past two seasons with fourth rounder Jaelon Darden and and fifth round pick Tyler Johnson. Even if the Bucs draft a wide receiver in the first round, it will still take them some time to adjust to the NFL game.
Former Falcons WR Julio Jones – Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs still need legit depth at the position though, especially at the fourth spot. The likes of Breshad Perriman, Cyril Grayson and Tyler Johnson just aren’t going to cut it. The Bucs do have a secret weapon though, Tom Brady. Throughout his career, players have continually taken less to play with him in hopes for a chance at a Super Bowl ring. I’ve thought more about it, and have come around on the idea of Julio Jones. Is Jones the player he once was? No, certainly not. But he can still make an impact in the passing game.
He missed seven games last year, but in 10 games he still racked up 31 receptions for 434 yards and a score. As a fourth receiver in the Bucs offense, he provides a more than capable option to give guys a breather and keep them fresh. Remember Godwin isn’t guaranteed to be ready to go by Week 1. Jones has Hall of Fame numbers for his career, but doesn’t yet have the elusive Super Bowl victory under his belt. He’d have to be willing to take something like a one-year, $3 million deal with incentives to make it work. I’m sure former teammates Russell Gage and Keanu Neal will be in his ear about joining a Super Bowl ready roster.
Josh Queipo: What If The Bucs Corner Depth Is Tested Again?
Dee Delaney, Ross Cockrell, Pierre Desir and the ghost of Richard Sherman all logged significant snaps at corner last year. This was due to a rash of injuries in the secondary that left the Bucs scrambling to create a new starting lineup on an almost weekly basis. We have seen the team start to address some of those concerns already this offseason. The addition of Logan Ryan provides depth at the slot position as well as in the safety room.
Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
What if Carlton Davis III or Jamel Dean suffer injuries in 2022? I know, both are ironmen who never get hurt, so no need to worry, right? The drop-off in performance-level at outside corner is one that is steep and scary. This position group is one that is set to be tested week-in and week-out with the brutal schedule Tampa Bay is set to face this year. That is why the prospect of bringing in a Jason Verrett is so intriguing to me.
Does he come with injury baggage himself? Absolutely. But at this point in the offseason, there aren’t many, if any, perfect players to choose from. What Verrett does provide is a quality player who has proven to be able to play at a high level on the outside in a Cover 3 system. That is something this roster could desperately use in the event of a likely injury to one of the teams starting two corners.
