Explaining The Bucs Battle Plans For 2025
PewterReport.com writers Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Josh Queipo, Bailey Adams and Adam Slivon have devised their own Bucs Plans for the 2025 offseason. These come complete with their individualized free agent signings, trades, roster moves and draft picks to hopefully help Tampa Bay earn a playoff spot for the sixth straight year.
Remember, these Bucs Battle Plans are how the PewterReport.com staff members would reshape the team this offseason – not necessarily what we think Tampa Bay will do in free agency and the draft, although there could be some overlap with certain players the team may be targeting.
Bailey Adams’ Bucs Battle Plan For The 2025 Offseason
Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today
For the Bucs, this offseason has to be mostly geared toward fixing an underperforming defense. And those fixes are needed at every level, with the pass rush needing improvement, the inside linebacker room needing a rebuild and the secondary needing more ballhawks.
Beyond that, being opportunistic on the offensive side of the ball is another goal I’d have for the offseason if I’m Tampa Bay. The offense, now under the direction of Josh Grizzard, is largely in place. But another piece or two – especially with an eye toward the future – certainly wouldn’t hurt.
The goal with my battle plan, of course, is to firmly open the Bucs’ Super Bowl window. The right moves can absolutely make a deep run in 2025 a strong possibility for Todd Bowles’ team, as it remains the most talented in the NFC South and there’s enough cap maneuverability to enter the season as favorites to win a fifth straight division title and make a sixth consecutive playoff appearance.
Some of the contract restructures in my battle plan will look familiar, as I pride myself on hypothetically being a general manager who knows his strengths and weaknesses. I’m not a money guy, so employing the salary cap strategies of Pewter Report’s resident cap guru Josh Queipo is simply the smart thing to do.
Bucs Contract Restructures
LT Tristan Wirfs – $19,864,000 cap saved
S Antoine Winfield Jr. – $14,872,500 cap saved
Bucs Extensions
Bucs Wr Mike Evans In Super Bowl 55 - Photo By: Usa Today
Bucs WR Mike Evans in Super Bowl 55 – Photo by: USA Today
WR Mike Evans – 1 year, $23.5 million – Evans only signed a two-year deal prior to the 2024 season, which means 2025 is currently set to be another contract year for the best offensive player in franchise history. I think he showed more than enough this past season for me to feel comfortable locking him in for another year in 2026. He reached the 1,000-yard mark again and caught 11 touchdowns even while missing 3.5 games.
Not only does this extension push another negotiation with Evans’ camp further into the future, but it can provide me with $15,766,668 in cap savings this year.
RT Luke Goedeke – 4 years, $86 million – I’d love to get ahead of things here with Goedeke, as his price tag will only go up after the 2025 season. The 2022 second-round pick has looked right at home at right tackle over the last two seasons and has become one of the more underrated tackles out there. By inking Goedeke to a long-term extension, it gives the offensive line two cornerstone tackles for the foreseeable future.
TE Cade Otton – 4 years, $52 million – A fourth-round pick in 2022, Otton has grown leaps and bounds as a pass-catcher and turned into a solid touchdown producer with four in each of his last two seasons. He also took a step up as a blocker this past season. Could the Bucs find a more talented tight end in the draft this year or next? Possibly, but Otton is a high-floor player who is a hard worker and provides a steady presence at the tight end position.
Bucs Cuts
S Jordan Whitehead – The Bucs have already made this decision, and I would have too. Given the disappointing play of Whitehead in 2024 and the uncertainty about his future after he was unfortunately injured in a late-season car accident, I don’t think there’s a way to rely on the veteran safety going forward. This move saves another $4.5 million in salary cap space with no dead money.
Bucs Trades
Bengals De Trey Hendrickson
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson – Photo by: USA Today
2025 first-round Pick (No. 19), 2025 third-round pick (No. 83) to the Cincinnati Bengals for star OLB Trey Hendrickson, 2025 second-round pick (No. 49) and 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 194) – I borrow this trade from our Pewter Report Mock Draft 2.0, securing the alpha edge rusher the Bucs need while still getting some draft capital (including a top-50 pick) in return.
Hendrickson has put up back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons, but because Cincinnati has to pay Ja’Marr Chase and just franchise tagged Tee Higgins again, a sacrifice has to be made somewhere and the team has given him permission to seek a trade. Tampa Bay gets the 30-year-old here, and I’ll ink him to the three-year, $82.5 million deal our own Josh Queipo projects for him.
CB Jamel Dean to the Buffalo Bills for a 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 131) – I have to give love and respect to Dean for the play he has brought to the table over the years, as well as the role he played in the Super Bowl LV team. But at this point, I’m over the idea of waiting around and seeing if he’ll finally be able to make it through a season healthy. And even if he does, his lack of ball skills seem like they’ll be a problem forever.
So, I ship Dean off to Buffalo, a team that needs help at cornerback. Does the veteran corner have a fourth-round valuation? I’m not sure, but Pro Football Focus’ draft simulator gave me a high percentage of this trade being accepted, so I went with it. Dean is definitely a high-caliber corner when available, and considering Carlton Davis III was in a similar situation last offseason and fetched a third-rounder from Detroit, I’m content with bringing in No. 131 in this deal.
The move creates the need for a starting cornerback, but that’s something I address via the draft.
Unrestricted Free Agents Re-Signed
Bucs Wr Chris Godwin
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
WR Chris Godwin – 3 years, $60 million
I have no qualms about re-signing Godwin to a three-year contract worth $20 million per year. Yes, he suffered the second season-ending injury of his career last fall and is still on the road back to 100%. But to echo what Jason Licht said at the NFL Combine: I’m betting on Chris Godwin. This deal paired with the extension for Mike Evans gives me more time with the two best receivers in franchise history driving the offense.
LB Lavonte David – 1 year, $5.75 million
David’s coverage and tackling grades fell off a cliff last season, but assuming he still wants to play in 2025, I couldn’t live with myself as a general manager if I let him suit up for another team. David can still stop the run and rush the passer, plus he showed a resurgence as a playmaker last year. He may command more than the projected $5.75 million here, especially considering Bobby Wagner’s new deal in Washington. But bringing back the captain of the defense is a no-brainer.
OLB Anthony Nelson – 2 years, $12 million
Look up the definition of “steady depth” in the dictionary and you’ll find Nelson’s picture. The 2019 fourth-round pick has developed into a favorite of Todd Bowles’, and for good reason. He’s someone I’d trust as a spot starter in the event of an injury. He’ll chip in some sacks and play the run well, and he may just save the season with a late forced fumble if you need him to.
LG Ben Bredeson – 1 year, $5 million
Bredeson was fifth out of five in terms of play along the Buccaneer offensive line last year, but that’s less a knock on him and more a reflection of how good the rest of the group was. The veteran was a huge addition for the run game and as far as “weak links” of an O-line go, he’s pretty damn good. I think there’s room to let Elijah Klein challenge him for the job in camp, but I’d expect Bredeson to roll into Week 1 as the starting left guard.
QB Kyle Trask – 1 year $4 million
Bucs Qb Kyle Trask
Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: USA Today
Trask thrived with a lot of talent around him at Florida, and I think it’s safe to assume a core of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Cade Otton (along with a top-five offensive line) would give him more than enough to work with if he ever had to start in Mayfield’s place.
DT Greg Gaines – 1 year, $2 million
I like Gaines as a backup to Vita Vea. He’s good against the run and showed a bit more pass rush upside last year. He’s cheap depth and a good guy to have in the room.
OT Justin Skule – 1 year, $1.5 million
After that performance against the Lions in Week 2 last year, Skule was exceptional when called upon. He’s one of the better swing tackle options out there right now, and bringing him back on another affordable deal is simply good business.
G Royce Newman – 1 year, $1.17 million
Newman wasn’t needed last year given how durable Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson were at the guard positions. But I’d like to have him back for another year, as experienced depth is never a bad thing to have on a roster, especially along an offensive line tasked with protecting a $100 million quarterback.
CB Tavierre Thomas – 1 year, $1.5 million
Thomas is a very good presence on special teams, and given his low price tag, I’d bring him back. He’s a bottom-of-the-depth-chart cornerback, but there’s value in having him as a leader on special teams.
Unrestricted Free Agents Not Re-Signed
DL Adam Gostsis
DL Will Gholston
RB Chase Edmonds WR Sterling Shepard
C Robert Hainsey
OLB Joe Tryon Shoyinka
OLB Shaq Barrett
CB Troy Hill
ILB K.J. Britt
S Mike Edwards
S Ryan Neal
CB Bryce Hall
OL Sua Opeta
DL Eric Banks
Restricted/Exclusive Rights Free Agents Re-Signed
ILB J.J. Russell
Russell has been a practice squad success story in his time with Tampa Bay. The Bucs have had to rely on him more than they’d probably prefer to, but he’s always filled in with some solid play and even worked his way into the starting lineup late last season. Bringing him back to compete for a job in the inside linebacker room feels like an easy decision.
S Kaevon Merriweather
Todd Bowles loves Merriweather’s game, and I think he’s a good depth piece at safety. He’s not someone I’d love to rely on to start week after week, but as a spot starter and a rotational player, there’s plenty to like.
New Unrestricted Free Agents Signed
LB Dre Greenlaw – 1 year, $7 million
49Ers Lb Dre Greenlaw
49ers LB Dre Greenlaw – Photo by: USA Today
Greenlaw tore his Achilles during last year’s Super Bowl, so the 2024 season was ultimately a wash as he returned late before eventually being shut down at the end of what was a lost season for San Francisco. But the soon-to-be 28-year-old isn’t far removed from multiple seasons of high-level play, and given that he may need to reestablish his value next season coming off an injury, this is a great opportunity for both sides.
CB Mike Hughes – 1 year, $5.75 million
The Bucs need better depth at cornerback, and the former first-round pick out of UCF can be just that. Hughes is coming off one of his better seasons, grading out with a 71.9 overall grade from PFF, which included a 71.4 coverage grade and a 68.2 mark against the run. He would raise the floor of Tampa Bay’s cornerback room, providing more experience than the team had in the likes of Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk.
CB Nate Hobbs – 2 years, $8 million
Hobbs can do the dirty work from the slot position really well, and he’d be a welcome addition to the Tampa Bay secondary. By adding him and sliding him into the nickel role that he has played for Vegas over the first four years of his career, it would allow the Bucs to move Tykee Smith, a more natural playmaker, back to the safety position next to Antoine Winfield Jr.
WR Demarcus Robinson – 1 year, $2.15 million
Robinson has experience playing behind multiple stud receivers, having done so with the Rams over the last two years. Playing behind and in injury relief of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, he has 57 catches for 876 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last two years. He’d be filling a similar role in this Bucs offense, playing behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and potentially a rookie wide receiver. I like him as an upgrade over Sterling Shepard.
Adams’ 2025 Bucs Draft Picks
Heading into the draft, I no longer have my first- or third-round picks after dealing them to Cincinnati for Trey Hendrickson. But that trade did return a second-rounder (No. 49) and a sixth-round selection (No. 194). I also dealt Jamel Dean to Buffalo for one of the team’s fourth-round picks (No. 131).
Round 2 – East Carolina CB Shavon Revel
East Carolina Cb Shavon Revel Jr.
East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. – Photo courtesy of ECU
After trading Jamel Dean to the Bills, I have a need for a starting cornerback. I address that here, taking Revel out of ECU. The 6-foot-2 cornerback has the ideal size to play in Todd Bowles’ defense, and though he was only limited to three games in 2024 for the Pirates, he had two interceptions. He has good speed and strong instincts in zone coverage.
You can watch Revel’s highlights here.
Round 2 (From Cincinnati) – Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins
As early as this might seem to add another wide receiver over addressing other needs on defense, I had to take Higgins with the way the board fell. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver out of Iowa State is coming off a 1,183-yard, nine-touchdown season that followed a 983-yard, six-touchdown season.
He’s a big-bodied receiver with a good catch radius and would be a great heir apparent to Mike Evans in Tampa Bay. The Bucs’ receiver room lacks some size, and Higgins would add it. He wouldn’t be asked to be a top guy right away, which I think could help him in the long run, as would learning from Evans and Chris Godwin.
You can watch Higgins’ highlights here.
Round 4 – Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa
Oregon Ilb Jeffrey Bassa Bucs
Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa – Photo by: USA Today
Bassa is a perfect fit for what the Bucs need at linebacker. He can cover well and rush the passer, has a really strong football I.Q. and with Lavonte David and Dre Greenlaw to learn from in Year 1, he’d be well suited to step firmly into a starting role in Year 2. Without a third round pick, I have to wait and hope the former Oregon stud will be there at Pick No. 120, but the Consensus Board has him at 131, so I felt safe enough here to make this pick.
You can watch Bassa’s highlights here.
Round 4 (From Buffalo) – UCLA Edge Rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo
I love the idea of adding Oladejo here with the extra pick I added in the fourth round. Seeing him at the Senior Bowl, I was struck by what a presence he is at 6-foot-3, 259 pounds. He’s a linebacker-turned-edge-rusher, so there’s still some developing to do, but there’s plenty of upside to work with as he learns behind Trey Hendrickson, Yaya Diaby and Anthony Nelson.
You can watch Oladejo’s highlights here.
Round 5 – Penn State LB Kobe King
Penn State Lb Kobe King
Penn State LB Kobe King Photo by: USA Today
I double dip at inside linebacker here with the selection of King, who has starting potential down the road. He’s a big ‘backer at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, and he has good instincts and technique, which can help him overcome other limitations. The former Penn Stater can also play on all four special teams units, giving him some added value early in his career.
You can watch King’s highlights here.
Round 6 – Sacramento State IOL Jackson Slater
Hand up. Honesty time. While I do like Slater’s game and his versatility and small-school background make him a very Bucs-type offensive lineman, what first drew me to him was the fact that he told Pewter Report’s Matt Matera at the NFL Combine that he’s a bit of a baseball fan and that it would be cool to come to Tampa Bay and see the Rays play. That’s just good judgement from the Sac State product, and there’s plenty more to love about his game and fit in the Bucs’ offensive line room.
You can watch Slater’s highlights here.
Round 7 – Nebraska DL Ty Robinson
Tampa Bay could use some more depth along the defensive line, especially with Logan Hall in a contract year. With other, more pressing defensive needs addressed in free agency and earlier in the draft, I take a flyer on Robinson in the seventh round. The 6-foot-5, 288-pounder is physical and nasty with a high motor. He had a seven-sack season for Nebraska in 2024, and that type of production is hard to ignore, especially when it comes to a seventh-rounder.
You can watch Robinson’s highlights here.
UDFA – UCF CB Mac McWilliams
McWilliams could be drafted in the seventh round or even earlier on Day 3, but I’d love to be able to add him as an undrafted free agent. UCF asked him to step outside his comfort zone and play outside cornerback in 2024 after he transferred in from UAB, and he did a solid job. But he said himself at the NFL Combine that he’s more comfortable and at home in the slot. I think there’s a lot of potential in the former team captain for the Blazers, and given the chance to add a versatile defensive back as an undrafted free agent, I’d jump at it.
You can watch McWilliams’ highlights here.
Adams’ “Way Too Early” Bucs 53-Man Roster Projection
Bucs Qb Baker Mayfield
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today
QUARTERBACKS – 3
Baker Mayfield
Kyle Trask
Michael Pratt
Analysis: Mayfield, now a two-time Pro Bowler, is the guy. I feel comfortable in Trask’s ability to step in if he’s ever needed, and I like the idea of Pratt developing in the background as the team’s No. 3/emergency quarterback.
RUNNING BACKS – 3
Bucky Irving
Rachaad White
Sean Tucker
Analysis: This is one of the best running back rooms in the NFL, and I don’t really think there’s any reason to touch it this offseason unless there’s just an absolute can’t-miss opportunity to add another stud to the room.
Iowa State Wr Jayden Higgins
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins – Photo by: USA Today
WIDE RECEIVERS – 6
Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Jalen McMillan
Jayden Higgins
Demarcus Robinson
Kameron Johnson
Analysis: Evans and Godwin continue to lead the way with McMillan behind them, but the rest of the room is shaken up a big. Higgins is a big-bodied receiver with some big-time production in the Big 12, and Robinson is a proven commodity as a veteran depth piece. Here’s to hoping Johnson can stay healthy this year, but if not, having the likes of Ryan Miller and potentially Trey Palmer on the practice squad is a help.
TIGHT ENDS – 3
Cade Otton
Payne Durham
Devin Culp
Analysis: This is another room I left alone, outside of the contract extension for Otton. I think the fourth-year tight end has another solid year, and I’d like to see some more involvement from Durham and especially Culp in the offense this season.
OFFENSIVE LINE – 10
LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Ben Bredeson
C Graham Barton
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke
OL Elijah Klein
OL Luke Haggard
G Royce Newman
G/C Jackson Slater
OT Justin Skule
Analysis: The starting offensive line remains intact, with a good mix of experience and youth as depth behind those five. Klein and Slater are potential pieces for the future, while Skule and Newman have been there and done that at the NFL level and would be reliable if ever needed.
Bucs Dts Calijah Kancey And Vita Vea
Bucs DTs Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
DEFENSIVE LINE – 5
Vita Vea
Calijah Kancey
Logan Hall
Greg Gaines
Ty Robinson
Analysis: Ideally, I would’ve liked to add more here. But rolling into the season with a great starting trio of Vea, Kancey and Hall is a good place to start, and you know what you’re getting from Gaines while Robinson potentially has some juice to bring as a late-round pick.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5
Trey Hendrickson
Yaya Diaby
Chris Braswell
Anthony Nelson
Oluwafemi Oladejo
Analysis: The big move is obviously the addition of Hendrickson, who has produced 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons. He gives the Bucs an alpha edge rusher to pair with another potential alpha in Diaby. Nelson is your proven depth piece, while the hope is that Braswell and Oladejo eventually blossom into reliable rotational pieces, if not future starters. Being able to keep Markees Watts and/or Jose Ramirez on the practice squad would be a plus.
Oregon Ilb Jeffrey Bassa Bucs
Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa – Photo by: USA Today
INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5
Lavonte David
SirVocea Dennis
Dre Greenlaw
Jeffrey Bassa
Kobe King
Analysis: I love the mixture of talent in this room. At this stage of his career, David may be best used in a platoon if he’s agreeable to it. Having him play on early downs with Dennis rotating in on passing downs could make for a good balance, while Greenlaw is in position for a bounce-back season. Bassa is a future starter, while King would have to beat out J.J. Russell for that final spot. Having the loser of that battle on the practice squad would mean being six-deep at a position that was very thin just last year.
CORNERBACKS – 6
Zyon McCollum
Shavon Revel
Mike Hughes
Nate Hobbs
Tavierre Thomas
Mac McWilliams
Analysis: I like Hobbs in the slot, with McCollum and Revel (taking the place of Jamel Dean) starting on the outside. Hughes is the first cornerback off the bench, while Thomas has some positional versatility and can fill a spot in a pinch. McWilliams cracks the final 53 due to his ability to play in the slot in addition to his versatility to play outside.
Bucs Fs Antoine Winfield Jr. And Ncb Tykee Smith
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and NCB Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today
SAFETIES – 4
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Tykee Smith
Christian Izien
Kaevon Merriweather
Analysis: With the addition of Hobbs, Smith moves to safety to play alongside Winfield. Izien remains in his best role, which is a do-it-all spot starter at either safety or nickel, and Merriweather is back as the fourth safety.
SPECIALISTS – 3
K Chase McLaughlin
P Jake Julien
LS Evan Deckers
Analysis: Money McLaughlin is still money, and Deckers is a mainstay. After coming out of the CFL, Julien assumes punting duties and tries to hold on to that role for more than a few weeks, unlike the revolving door of punters last season.
What Did You Think?
Pr Crowdfunding Donate 2020 CopyDid you like my Bucs Battle Plan for the 2025 offseason? Does it adequately address Tampa Bay’s needs? Which additions did you like best? Let me know what you think in the article comments section below.
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