Another free agent move, maybe?
Look, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs coach Todd Bowles have the street cred that says they know what they are doing with the Bucs secondary.
The Bucs selected two corners on Day 2 of the draft. But no safety. This, despite safety being the biggest hole on the defense other than inside linebacker.
The Bucs released Jordan Whitehead in the offseason and have talked about moving second-year corner Tykee Smith to safety. Joe isn’t sure that’s a wise move. This team is looking to make a Super Bowl run, not break in a safety who is wet behind the ears.
It seems former NFL safety and current Chicago-area high school coach Matt Bowen sees an inexpensive safety option the Bucs could bring in and plug the hole. That would be free agent [Justin Simmons](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45161231/2025-nfl-best-team-fits-remaining-free-agents-trades).
> Simmons fits really well as an interchangeable safety opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. in Todd Bowles’ defense. The Bucs played the most zone coverage in the league last season (71.7% of the time), and Simmons can spin to the post or walk down in Cover 3. He’s an excellent communicator with field awareness. Simmons has picked off 32 passes over his nine-year career, including two last season.
Well… Bowles said he needs ballhawks. And those two picks are one more than Jamel Dean. Smith had two picks last season in his rookie year for the Bucs.
Why not sign Simmons? He’s decent, not great. Joe sees folks thinking the Bucs ought to take a flyer on Von Miller. That seems very un-Licht-like.
Miller is about done or is done. Sure, maybe in part-time he could get six sacks like he did in Buffalo last year. Hopefully, YaYa Diaby can do that playing full-time and he’s sure a lot cheaper than 36-year-old Miller.
If the Bucs consider throwing Team Glazer loot at Miller, why not use those same greenbacks and try to pry Trey Hendrickson loose from Cincinnati.
Joe has a hunch Hendrickson would enjoy playing just a couple of hours from his hometown of Apopka.