A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough Bucs question. This week’s prompt: What should the Bucs do next in free agency?
Scott Reynolds: Bucs Should Do Absolutely Nothing Until After The Draft
Bucs Gm Jason Licht And Head Coach Todd Bowles
Bucs GM Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers
I think the Bucs have done enough right now in free agency with the splash signing of outside linebacker Haason Reddick, the re-signings of wide receiver Chris Godwin, left guard Ben Bredeson and inside linebacker Lavonte David. That’s essentially four starter holes that have been filled. Right now the only starting spot that’s open is either strong safety or nickelback – depending on where Tykee Smith plays in 2025.
The Bucs have also shored up some depth at cornerback with veteran Kindle Vildor and at inside linebacker with veteran Anthony Walker, in addition to the re-signing of last year’s practice squad linebacker Deion Jones. Tampa Bay also signed swing tackle Charlie Heck when Justin Skule left for Minnesota. So the Bucs have spent some money in addition to finding some value free agents.
It’s been a nice mix in free agency personnel-wise so far, which is not necessarily general manager Jason Licht’s strong suit. Licht and his staff of scouts have crushed the NFL Draft in recent years on all three days – finding quality, impact starters as well as key reserves with promising futures in Tampa Bay as they develop. I would wait until after the draft to access where the roster is before spending any more money and adding more players to the depth chart. Look for Tampa Bay to address the secondary, inside linebacker, edge rusher and perhaps defensive tackle next month.
The third wave of free agency always occurs after the draft – following the initial wave of big money over the first three days and the second wave of free agency when the big money runs out. Following the draft, teams will sometimes part ways with highly paid, older veterans because they have used premium draft picks on cheaper, younger – and sometimes better – talent.
Tampa Bay is armed with six draft picks. Let’s see how the team fares and what positions are addressed in the draft before diving back into free agency. Who knows? The Bucs could find three more starters or upgrades in the draft, plus some quality depth with cheap rookie deals rather than shelling out larger sums for veteran free agents.
Matt Matera: Another Safety In The Mix Would Help
Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather
Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs have already re-signed Kaevon Merriweather this offseason and may certainly address safety in the draft, but unless they go with a safety in the first or second round, is that enough? The Bucs are loaded with talent at safety with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. It very much looks like Smith will move from nickel cornerback to strong safety and play alongside Winfield in 2025.
Winfield missed nine games last season due to injuries while Smith was out for four, which shows the need for additional depth at the position. Adding in the missed time due to injury from Jordan Whitehead (five games) and reserve Mike Edwards and that’s a lot of time for a team’s top safeties to be out for.
With the Bucs letting go of Whitehead, Merriweather as the next man up at strong safety. Merriweather didn’t exactly turn heads when was saw time on defense. Tampa Bay also has Christian Izien but he’s likely slotted to compete for the nickel cornerback vacated by Smith or backing up Winfield at free safety.
Tampa Bay also can’t rely on practice squad players Marcus Banks or Rashad Wisdom to work out either. There’s still a handful of veteran players that could be added through free agency. That includes Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon, Chuck Clark and Marcus Williams. It would make more sense for the Bucs to sign someone early and have them ready for training camp rather than a midseason signing that would take longer to acclimate to the defense.
Bailey Adams: Keep Stacking Depth At Cornerback
Bucs Cb Jamel Dean
Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
The Bucs have done a solid job in free agency thus far, keeping their key internal free agents, making a big splash for their pass rush in signing Haason Reddick, and adding some depth at both linebacker and cornerback. But while the signing of Kindle Vildor is a step in the right direction for the team’s depth at cornerback, I’d like to see Tampa Bay keep exploring the market at corner to find another depth piece.
We just saw last year how dire things can get when you don’t have enough depth at cornerback, and while the addition of Vildor and the potential of drafting another corner in April will certainly help the room, I think one more addition could really have the position in great shape heading into 2025. A room with Zyon McCollum, Jamel Dean, Vildor, a rookie and one more veteran? Yes, please.
Realistically, Tampa Bay doesn’t have to do much else with its roster until the draft. But I still think there would be value in waiting things out and finding a gem in free agency who could help the team’s depth at corner. Guarding against injury as much as possible by having capable relief when Dean inevitably misses a game or two or another corner gets banged up and needs an in-game replacement is a smart idea. And I’d love to see the Bucs do even more.
Josh Queipo: Bucs Should Bring Back Cornerback Bryce Hall
Bucs Cb Bryce Hall
Bucs CB Bryce Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs are addressing their depth concerns. The linebacker room is better at the bottom than it was last year. Anthony Walker Jr. and Deion Jones should bring a steadier and more experienced hand than K.J. Britt and J.J. Russell. The cornerback room similarly struggled last year. Tampa Bay cannot be in a position to allow Tyrek Funderburk and Josh Hayes play again on defense in 2025.
But even with the addition of the hyper-competitive Kindle Vildor, one of the two aforementioned young corners is still a part of the team’s two-deep. It’s extremely likely that the team will select at least one cornerback early in the draft. But that should not stop the team from adding low-risk options to the roster.
Bryce Hall is just that. He’s a veteran, low-risk option that should either beat out Funderburk and Hayes for a fifth cornerback spot on the lineup or push one or both of them to earn that spot.
We already know the Bucs like Hall, in so much as they signed him to be CB3 last year. Assuming that he is fully healed from his season-ending leg injury from last year – and that admittedly is a big assumption – he would probably slot in as CB3 ahead of Vildor once again. Hall has the best upside of the four corners mentioned if he’s back to being 100%. He has the best tape of the bunch. And he helps improve depth heading into the draft, where results are uncertain.
Adam Slivon: Add Another Starting-Caliber Defensive Piece
Bucs Olb Anthony Nelson And Chargers Rb Gus Edwards
Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson and Chargers RB Gus Edwards – Photo by: USA Today
Defense wins championships. That’s the saying, right? Looking at the Bucs’ defense as it stands, it’s clear that there is still work to do to reach that level. Signing Haason Reddick is step in the right direction, while Anthony Walker and Kindle Vildor add depth at positions of need. They don’t completely solve the problem though. Tampa Bay should further address the unit in free agency with another veteran signing of a starting-caliber player.
Looking at outside linebacker, the Bucs have four players locked in next season in Reddick, Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, and Anthony Nelson. There is still room to add another draft pick, but signing a veteran pass rusher wouldn’t hurt. If it’s not Shaq Barrett, one of Preston Smith or Za’Darius Smith makes sense. With a Jamel Dean return looking more likely with each passing day, another veteran cornerback in the room would further shore up depth. Maybe it’s re-signing Bryce Hall and giving him another chance or taking a bigger swing in someone like Stephon Gilmore. At safety, adding a high-quality backup (three-time Pro Bowler Quandre Diggs is available) would be ideal.
It’s hard not to like how Jason Licht has approached free agency thus far. The floor of the defense has been raised. To improved its ceiling and mitigate from forcing inexperienced players as much as last year, adding another veteran defensive piece at a position of need would lessen the expectation that the 2025 NFL Draft will fix all the remaining issues. They can provide competition and leadership, which will in turn make the unit stronger next season.
Check out the latest episode of the Pewter Report Podcast where we discussed the press conference of Bucs’ legend Lavonte David and the revamping of the inside linebacker room.