Jason Licht
Getty
Jason Licht
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have remained mainly on the periphery of the offseason, and it may have cost them some big names. While they have gotten guys who can be solid starters on the defensive side of the ball, such as Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad, they ended up missing out on some premier edge rush talent. Now, many are urging them to start looking into talent who can actually perform for them before it’s too late.
For the Bucs, it could come down to a matter of positional need. While the edge rush group needs some much needed juice, the corner room is in dire need of an elite third option. With both Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison tabbed as starters, they may need someone on the boundary to slot in.
Bucs’ Cornerback Dilemma: Experience vs. Upside
When looking at the free agent market, the two names that could be premium options appear to be Rasul Douglas and Martin Emerson. Douglas could be seen as a draft steal according to PFF. After signing just a short term deal with the Dolphins last season, he emerged as an elite corner in coverage, placing 21st in coverage grade.
While he is 30 years old, he could be worth taking a risk on, despite his up and down career arc. Especially considering Todd Bowles’ zone-heavy scheme, he has the size and length to excel in coverage.
On the other hand, Martin Emerson is a younger option who has not seen his career pan out in Cleveland. After being drafted in 2022, a solid rookie season parlayed into a sophomore success story that saw him record 59 tackles, 14 pass breakups and five interceptions.
However, an Achilles injury significantly impacted his 2024 season and took away 2025. At this stage in his career, with his injury history, he may be even more of a risk compared with Douglas despite his age.
Reinforcing the Trenches: Bucs’ Defensive Line Needs
However, that does not even begin to touch upon the Bucs’ deficiencies at the edge rushing position, especially in terms of defensive tackles. Both Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have several question marks surrounding them despite having success in recent years. However, the depth behind them, even with the addition of Robinson to the group, is shoddy at best.
Out of the best remaining players at the position, DaQuan Jones is the most experienced and is familiar with defensive line coach Marcus West. While 34 years of age, his experience could help a rotation that just needs an extra bit of solidity.
The bottom line is that the bulk of the Bucs’ offseason work can be said to be finished. Still, with several areas of need waiting to be filled, there is still some room for the Bucs to acquire depth. Also, what the team decides to do in the draft can be very telling about what they will do late in the offseason. With rumors of them going offense in the first round, focusing on defense in free agency could become key.