PFF Analyst Grades Bucs 2024 Free Agency

The Bucs, for the most part, have been busy re-signing their own players this offseason. Thus far, the team has brought back quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and John Wolford, receivers Mike Eavans and Deven Thompkins, running back Chase Edmonds, offensive tackles Brandon Walton and Justin Skule, linebacker Lavonte David, defensive tackle Greg Gaines, kicker Chase McLaughlin and long snapper Zach Triner.

Additionally, they used the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to ensure he did not hit the market where he was likely to receive a record-setting contract. Now the team is working towards extending Winfield’s contract this offseason.

Tampa Bay has complimented those 10 re-signings with just five external free agents in offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta, cornerbacks Bryce Hall and Tavierre Thomas, as well as strong safety Jordan Whitehead in a homecoming of sorts.

We at Pewter Report have been very complimentary of the team’s moves so far. We have gone so far as to say it may be their best free agency offseason ever.

1/2 for those who have felt Bucs haven’t done enough so far bc most of their moves have been their own guys…@TheKyleDe and I wrote up 105 contract projections for this FA period for @AtoZSports. The team has now signed the #2, 5, 13, 52 and 57 guys on that list. Plus McLaughlin.

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) March 13, 2024

Industry Analyst Loves Bucs’ Moves

As it turns out, Pewter Report has not been the only media outlet to think the Bucs are on the right track this offseason. Pro Football Focus salary cap analyst Brad Spielberger is also a fan of the moves Tampa Bay has made.

In a recent article grading all 32 NFL teams’ offseason’s thus far, Spielberger gave the Bucs an A-minus. Only two teams received better grades from him (the Texans and the Commanders both received A’s). Here is what he had to say about the Bucs:

“This contract is a win for Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers and the NFL at large. A true mid-tier market is developing at quarterback, which had long been a challenge. Tampa Bay gives itself an out after each year, and Baker gets the major payday he deserves.

[Mike] Evans just keeps on rolling along and emphatically proved his worth in something of a prove-it year after the two sides were unable to agree on an early extension. The “win” from his perspective is that this could amount to a one-year, $29 million contract. The win from Tampa Bay’s side is keeping the total value in check.

This is a very nice reunion for the Bucs. [Jordan] Whitehead, whom they drafted in 2018, has played more than 900 snaps in each of the past five seasons and has a ton of versatility. In his final two seasons in Tampa before going to the Jets, he played free safety and strong safety at about the same rate, whereas in New York he was primarily used as a free safety. Having him and Antoine Winfield Jr. on the backend should give Todd Bowles two versatile safeties who can play all over the field and cause confusion for opposing offenses.”

With Spielberger’s background in contract analysis, his primary viewpoint when analyzing the moves is in the value and structure of the contracts involved. With Mayfield and Evans, Spielberger hails the ingenuity of Bucs assistant general manager Mike Greenberg in keeping the overall value of the contracts reasonable while mitigating how long the team has to be tied to each player in the event their play drops off.

Bucs Still Have Work To Do

The team has addressed several potential needs by largely bringing back key pieces of their 2023 playoff team. And the additions of Tavierre Thomas, Bryce Hall and Jordan Whitehead has given the team a starting strong safety alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. while improving the depth of the secondary overall has helped in a key area that was inconsistent last year.

Bucs G/C Ben Bredeson – Photo by: USA Today

Interior offensive linemen Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson address depth at the position, but it still remains a glaring hole interior on the roster. Neither Opeta, nor Bredeson, look to be the answer as starters.

The draft has several intriguing options in the early rounds and the Bucs could look there for a solution to compliment 2023 second-round pick Cody Mauch, last year’s breakout surprise, Luke Goedeke, and Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs. There are still a couple of starter-caliber options available in free agency. Kevin Zeitler, Connor Williams and Dalton Risner all could be players that provide an improvement over last year’s starters Aaron Stinnie and Robert Hainsey.

And Tampa Bay still has several areas where it can improve.

The Bucs lack a true difference-maker at outside linebacker. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are both entering contract years, but are more backup players than starter material opposite YaYa Diaby.

The team has allowed last year’s starting linebacker Devin White sign with the Eagles. Backup K.J. Britt may step into White’s place as he did late last year. But the team could also look to challenge him.

Receiver depth is one place where they could look to bring in a veteran to challenge Trey Palmer, who is entering his second year in the league.

But one thing is for certain, the Bucs’ brass is off to a great start.