Seemingly out of nowhere the past few seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found talent that keeps them a step ahead of their competitors in the NFC South.
Two seasons ago, they struck gold with the signing of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Last year, it was a surprise fourth-round running back that reshaped their offense.
They have yet to fully prove they have done it again, but free agency has delivered a player that may fall into that same category. The Bucs signed linebacker Haason Reddick to a one-year $14 million deal last week.
Reddick's holdout last season limited his impact, so there is cause for some concern there. But general manager Jason Licht may have found a wild card piece that can change the team's outlook fro next season.
In fact, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler thought very highly of the move, going as far as labeling it the best one of the first week of free agency.
"Tampa Bay got out of its draft-and-develop comfort zone and invested $14 million in a one-year deal with Reddick, who had four consecutive double-digit-sack seasons before last year's holdout sabotaged his 2024 campaign with the Jets.
"With a full offseason, he should get back on track. And the Bucs know they are at their best with an elite pass rush, as they proved during their 2020 Super Bowl run."
Super Bowl expectations should be tempered for now though there is plenty of reason for excitement in Tampa Bay. Reddick's pass rushing prowess from the edge is a much needed addition to Todd Bowles' defense.
The Bucs ranked in the top 10 across the league in sacks last season with 46. But the team's sack leaders came primarily from their defensive front.
That is not the worst outcome certainly. Nonetheless, Bowles' tendency to scheme blitzes should present opportunities for his edge rushers to benefit as well.
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If Reddick's reputation translates onto the field, the Bucs should see a revival in that area of the defense and uplift that side of the ball altogether.
As Fowler mentions, the brilliance in the Reddick signing not only comes from the team adding an impact player. Rather, Licht has aggressively pursued an option that helps his team get back to fitting the identity of his head coach.
Assuming the Bucs' offense carries over similar marks from last season (a separate challenge in its own right), there should be plenty of optimism for this team heading into 2025.
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This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM.