As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear up for the offseason, the NFL Combine is over and free agency is right around the corner. The Bucs have a laundry list of moves to make to shore up the roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Locking up Chris Godwin to an extension is at the top of the list as the front office awaits Lavonte David’s decision to continue playing or retire.
Beyond that, flooding the defense with veteran and rookie talent will be one of the biggest orders of the offseason with the offensive side of the ball mostly set. Bringing in a difference-making edge rusher should be a priority, and there are some to be found in free agency and the draft. Addressing who is staring at middle linebacker will be another offseason to-do list item, as will be shoring up the secondary with help at both corner and safety.
Deciding whether to re-sign Ben Bredeson to remain the teams left guard or find his replacement will be the top priority on offense. Beyond that, beefing up the depth at wide receiver and figuring out the backup quarterback situation if Kyle Trask leaves in free agency will also be in order.
In order to make moves, though, the Bucs will need to open up cap space as they are currently just $5.2 million above the cap. They can do so with several simple restructures and have already shed $4.5 million with the release of Jordan Whitehead. There is also the question with what to do with Jamel Dean as well, which would free up an additional $8.2 million in cap space. Extensions for several players with one year left in their deal like Zyon McCollum and Cade Otton are other things to consider and could open up minimal cap space.
In my mock offseason, I project those restructure and extension candidates along with who the Bucs should re-sign and let walk in free agency, which outside free agents they should bring in and who they should select in the draft — as well as any potential trades they might make.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Luke Goedeke lines up against the Washington Commanders. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin cruises for a touchdown during the third quarter. / Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa sacks Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
CB Kendall Fuller: 1 year, $5 million
The Bucs need to flood the cornerback room after injuries have hit the room hard over the past few seasons. Fuller is a season removed from a stellar campaign with the Commanders. He struggled to find his groove in Miami last year, but he offers inside and outside corner versatility and has 13 career sacks and 17 interceptions.
Boston College Eagles defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku reacts after a sack against the Pittsburgh Panthers. / Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
1.26: OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College (6’2″/248/Sr.)
The buzz on Ezeiruaku is building and he might not last this long, but with value in the trenches and some concerns about his size, some teams could hesitate. The former Boston College Eagle doesn’t possess the size the Bucs typically like at edge but the intangibles and stats speak for themselves. Ezeiruaku was unstoppable this year with 14 sacks, 20 hits and 26 hurries. Equally stout in the run game, he would be a perfect fit for what the Bucs need in the edge room. He met formally with the Bucs at the Combine.
2.53: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (6’0″/193/Jr.)
The Bucs need to dump resources into the cornerback position this offseason, and Morrison was a projected top-20 pick before injuring his hip. Todd Bowels said at the Combine he wanted ballhawks, and Morrison is known for his ball skills with nine interceptions throughout his collegiate career. He has some flexibility to play inside, but he projects as an outside corner for the Bucs. He met with the team for a formal interview at the Combine.
3.83: LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon (6’1″/232/Sr.)
Lavonte David isn’t going to play forever and the Bucs need to address the position in the draft at some point this year. Bassa played with rookie phenom Buck Irving with the Ducks and mentioned how difficult he was to take down in practice. The senior linebacker has true sideline-to-sideline speed and plays well in coverage. He can improve in run defense, but made 11 stuffs last season. He had a formal interview with the Bucs at the combine.
3.90: S Andrew Mukuba, Texas (5’11″/186/Sr.)
Mukuba is a playmaker, and that’s just what he did at Texas. In his final season with the Longhorns, he reeled in five interceptions with 6 pass breakups and a forced fumble. He has the versatility to drop down into the slot but is at his best reading the field. He can develop and play a rotational role next to Antoine Winfield Jr. when Tykee Smith steps into the slot.
4.107: DL Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon: (6’1″/340/Sr.)
Another Oregon product. The Bucs shore up the depth on the defensive line, giving them a rotation of Gaines, Jones and Caldwell behind their starters. Caldwell blew away everyone at the combine, showing off his rare blend of size and speed, and he can line up at either nose or 3-tech and create havoc in the backfield and as a stout run defender. he had seven sacks and 30 hurries over the last two seasons and he batted four passes down.
