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About the Author: Scott Reynolds

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Scott Reynolds is in his 28th year of covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the vice president, publisher and senior Bucs beat writer for PewterReport.com. Author of the popular SR's Fab 5 column on Fridays, Reynolds oversees web development and forges marketing partnerships for PewterReport.com in addition to his editorial duties. A graduate of Kansas State University in 1995, Reynolds spent six years giving back to the community as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his sons' Pop Warner team, the South Pasco Predators. Reynolds can be reached at: [email protected]

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Todd Bowles and the Bucs began the 2023 offseason with 22 unrestricted free agents and not much salary cap space to work with. With most of those free agents coming on the defensive side of the ball, which was the strength of the team last year, Tampa Bay’s chances of keeping that unit together appeared bleak.

But a robust market never materialized for either cornerback Jamel Dean or linebacker Lavonte David. Dean returned on a four-year deal worth $52 million – an average of $13 million per year. The 33-year old David signed a one-year, $7 million deal to remain in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs also signed defensive tackle Greg Gaines to help offset the loss of reserve Rakeem Nunez-Roches. The team also re-signed reserve defensive lineman and special teamer Pat O’Connor, backup outside linebacker Cam Gill and backup cornerback Dee Delaney. But Tampa Bay also lost two part-time starters in the secondary in safety Mike Edwards (Chiefs) and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (Titans).

Bucs Hc Todd Bowles

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

At the NFL Annual Meeting, Bowles indicated that the team isn’t panicking over a defense that still has plenty of holes to fill. That might mean a new player or two, but also re-signing several of the Bucs’ own free agents – especially on defense.

“We’re trying to find good football players,” Bowles said. “Obviously you hope Shaq [Barrett] comes back healthier. With Bunting and Edwards gone you lose some depth at that position in the secondary, obviously. Losing Nacho, but getting Gaines was a big plus for us there. We’ll see what happens.”

Todd Bowles, Bucs Want Akiem Hicks, Will Gholston Back

Bowles added that free agency is still ongoing and named several of the team’s veteran defenders that Tampa Bay has an interest in re-signing.

“We still have [Akiem] Hicks out there hopefully,” Bowles said. “We’ll try to get as many good football players as we can, and then if we have needs we’ll try to fill those going forward [in the draft].”

Hicks signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Bucs last season to replace Ndamukong Suh. But the 33-year old defensive tackle missed six games due to injury and only recorded 22 tackles and one sack, which came in Week 18.

Bucs Dl Akiem Hicks

Bucs DL Akiem Hicks – Photo by: USA Today

“He’s someone on our radar,” Bowles said. “We’re still keeping in touch and we’ll see how those things go. When he was healthy I thought he was very good. I thought he performed well and he fit in great. Him and Vita [Vea] are a very good force in there, and we’ll see going forward.”

For Hicks to return he’ll likely have to take a significant pay reduction as the Bucs are very tight when it comes to salary cap room. Another veteran defensive lineman that Bowles is interested in re-signing is Will Gholston, who has played 10 years in Tampa Bay.

Gholston saw his sack numbers drop from 4.5 in 2021 to zero last year. His pay will also have to drop to stay with the Bucs. Gholston signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal in 2022.

“Yeah, Will is an option, too,” Bowles said. “We’re in the middle of the process. We have guys out there. Obviously we had to cut some money and we have to work some tricks. Jason [Licht] has done a good job so far with that. We’ll navigate it going forward, but we’re still early in the process. There is still a lot to be done.”

Todd Bowles Is Also Interested In Re-signing Logan Ryan

Bowles was asked if re-signing veteran safety Logan Ryan is also in the team’s plans this offseason.

“He’s an option as well,” Bowles said.

Bucs S Logan Ryan

Bucs S Logan Ryan – Photo by: USA Today

The 32-year old Ryan signed a one-year deal worth $1.12 million last offseason. Injuries limited Ryan to just nine games and six starts, but when he was healthy, he was a big contributor. Ryan had 37 tackles, three pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Bucs currently have just four defensive linemen with experience on the roster in Vea, Gaines, O’Connor and Logan Hall, who was the team’s second-round pick last year. Tampa Bay is even worse at safety where Antoine Winfield Jr. and Nolan Turner, who spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad, are the only two on the roster.

Bowles reiterated that the Bucs aren’t done with free agency yet. It’s just that whoever wants to join – or re-join – the Bucs will have to do so for a reasonable contract, and that could be why some of the team’s own veterans have yet to re-sign.

“We have a lot of guys out there that are still in the process that we just have not let go of completely,” Bowles said. “We’re still in the process of working it out.”

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