Bucs director of player personnel Rob McCartney and G.M. Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
INTRO: Bucs fans want general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles to be aggressive in free agency to add players that will help the defense improve and make a serious push for the Super Bowl in 2025. Tampa Bay might be aggressive in free agency, but the team may not be aggressive in the way that you think. Prior to heading to Indianapolis for a week’s worth of pre-draft coverage I wanted to set the table – and perhaps set expectations – for Bucs free agency, which begins in a few weeks. Enjoy!
FAB 1. Bucs Free Agency Approach May Not Be What You Expect
Your definition of a successful free agent signing and Jason Licht’s definition of a successful free agent signing are probably two different things.
When you say Josh Sweat, I’m guessing Licht thinks of pass rusher Michael Johnson, who signed a five-year deal worth $43.75 million with the Bucs in 2014.
When you say Charvarius Ward, I suspect Licht thinks of cornerback Alterraun Verner, who signed a four-year, $25.75 million deal with Tampa Bay in 2014.
When you say Zack Baun, Licht might be thinking of inside linebacker Bruce Carter, who signed a four-year, $17 million deal with the Bucs in 2015.
Do you want to know what Licht’s definition of a successful free agent signing is?
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Scott Reynolds/PR
It’s not necessarily signings.
It’s re-signings.
It’s paying money – sometimes top dollar – to Buccaneers who have already proven themselves in red and pewter.
It’s re-signing great players like Ali Marpet, Lavonte David, Mike Evans, Shaq Barrett, Chris Godwin and Vita Vea over the years, and even more recently with the likes of Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr., whom the team is expecting a big, bounce-back year from in 2025.
So when 2025 NFL free agency begins on Monday, March 10 with the start of the open negotiating period and begins in earnest on Wednesday, March 12 with players free to sign with other teams understand that the Bucs might be more active in signing free agents this year. It just might not be the types of free agents you hope for and expect.
Licht has told me before that he hates free agency, but he loves rewarding proven performers. And he’s grown to love one-year, prove-it deals like Barrett and Mayfield first played on when they arrived in Tampa Bay.
The free agent splash players typically don’t work out.
Bucs DT Chris Baker, GM Jason Licht & WR DeSean Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Licht has signed plenty of them in his 11 years as general manager, but far fewer recently. He’s learned his lesson the hard way with the likes of Johnson, Verner and Carter, in addition to left tackle Anthony Collins, who signed a five-year, $30 million deal in 2014, but lasted just one season because he was a turd.
Defensive tackle Chris “Swaggy” Baker was also a turd who also lasted just one year after inking a three-year, $15.75 million contract in 2017. That same year, Licht signed wide receiver DeSean Jackson to a two-year, $23.5 million contract and the results were lackluster. Jackson didn’t hit 800 yards in either season in Tampa Bay and averaged 45 catches for 721 yards and three touchdowns from 2017-18. The Bucs traded him away in the 2019 offseason after a pair of 5-11 seasons.
Licht’s big free agent splashes who actually hit over the last decade? Center Ryan Jensen in 2018, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in 2019 and quarterback Tom Brady in 2020. All three of those former Bucs earned at least $9 million per season.
But that’s it – that’s the list.
The last time Licht tried to make a big splash signing with an imported free agent was wide receiver Russell Gage in 2021, who signed a three-year deal worth $30 million. It turned out to be a terrible move in hindsight and a waste of money.
So why ask Licht, director of player personnel Rob McCartney and the Bucs’ brass to do something that rarely works? Not just in Tampa Bay, but rarely works around the league, too?
Bucs director of player personnel Rob McCartney – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Licht and his personnel staff and scouts do a far better job in the draft, which has proven to be far less risky than free agency – especially with some stellar draft classes over the last few years that have produced a ton of quality starters on rookie contracts.
I just want to give you some reasonable expectations when it comes to Tampa Bay’s upcoming free agency foray in a few weeks. Your definition of “all in” this year is going to be different than Jason Licht’s version of “all in.”
That’s not to say that there won’t be a big name signing in free agency, as I think a player like Ward or inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw would be a great fit in Tampa Bay. Especially if Greenlaw came on a cheap, one-year prove-it deal, considering he missed most of 2024 recovering from an Achilles injury during the Super Bowl the year prior.
But there is a way that the Bucs can go “all-in” with a far less risky approach. In some ways, it’s what the Eagles did last year in free agency en route to winning the Super Bowl. Read Fab 2 for those details.
FAB 2. Free Agent Lessons Learned From The Super Bowl Champion Eagles
People point to the Eagles as a team that went “all in” on the Super Bowl in 2024 in free agency, but the reality is that Philadelphia had drafted exceptionally well over the previous three seasons to build the nucleus of the Super Bowl roster and then hit on a couple of free agents as supplements.
Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
There is no doubt that running back Saquon Barkley, defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and inside linebacker Zack Baun were massive hits. But Barkley and Gardner-Johnson were the only splash signings that hit.
Gardner-Johnson signed a three-year deal worth $33 million and Barkley signed a three-year deal worth $37.75 million. But many forget that that Philly also signed 25-year old edge rusher Bryce Huff to a three-year contract worth $51.1 million – an average of $17 million per season.
Huff, who was coming off a 10-sack season with the Jets, was a bust with the Eagles, delivering just 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2024. He was so bad that he only saw action in 12 games – and was a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LIX.
Baun wasn’t even the big splash linebacker signing in Philly last offseason. That was former Bucs linebacker Devin White, who signed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million. Baun’s deal was only one-year for $3.5 million and he turned into the Eagles’ equivalent of what Shaq Barrett was with the Bucs in 2019.
Yet Baun beat out White, who was released in September without ever playing a down in green and white. White couldn’t even beat out Oren Burks, another inside linebacker who was signed to a cheap, one-year prove-it deal in free agency for just $1.125 million. When Nakobe Dean went on injured reserve, it was Burks and Baun who helped Philadelphia win the Super Bowl.
Eagles LB Zack Baun – Photo by: USA Today
But those players – Barkley, Gardner-Johnson, Huff, White, Baun, Burks – weren’t the only free agents the Eagles signed last year. General manager Howie Roseman also signed center Matt Hennessy, defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher, cornerback Tyler Hall, quarterback Will Grier, tight end C.J. Uzomah and wide receiver Parris Campbell. Hennessey, Mustipher, Hall, Grier and White didn’t make the team. So nearly half of the free agents the Eagles signed didn’t even make the 53-man roster.
Uzomah didn’t make much of an impact and finished the year on injured reserve. Campbell was cut on August 27 and signed to the Eagles practice squad. He was then promoted to the active roster in October.
Wide receiver DeVante Parker was also a new free agent addition, but he retired on May 20 after being signed to a one-year deal on March 14.
So out of 13 free agent signings, only four were true hits in Barkley, Gardner-Johnson, Baun and Burks. And one of those four, Burks, didn’t emerge as a starter until Dean went on I.R. at midseason.
The Eagles’ biggest free agent signing, Huff, proved to be the biggest flop in 2024.
Eagles Free Agent Hits In 2024
RB Saquon Barkley
DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
ILB Zack Baun
ILB Oren Burks
Eagles Free Agency Misses In 2024
DE Bryce Huff
ILB Devin White
C Matt Hennessy
DT P.J. Mustipher
CB Tyler Hall
QB Will Grier
TE C.J. Uzomah
WR Parris Campbell
WR DeVante Parker
So what can general manager Jason Licht and the Bucs learn from the Eagles? It’s better to flood your team with a bunch of lesser free agents on one-year prove-it deals because every free agent signing is not going to be a hit. In fact, most won’t be hits. The prime example in Philly was at inside linebacker with White, Baun and Burks.
It’s far less expensive when a team misses with this approach, and with multiple, low-risk free agents signed in a shotgun approach, it only increases the chances of landing a rare hit.
FAB 3. Bucs Should Flood Multiple Positions In Free Agency
Who would you rather have in free agency – Philadelphia All-Pro inside linebacker Zack Baun for around $14 million per year over three years, or Lavonte David, Dolphins linebacker Tyrell Dodson and Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo – each on a one-year deal with all three contracts totaling about $13 million?
Jets ILB Jamien Sherwood – Photo by: USA Today
For the price of one potential superstar, the 28-year old Baun, who had one great season with the Eagles last year, the Bucs could re-sign the 35-year old legend in David and add the 27-year old Sherwood and take a chance on a very athletic 26-year old in Deablo who may just need a change of scenery.
I’d be even more interested in Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, 25, instead of Dodson if his price tag was closer to $7.5 million than $10 million. But swap Sherwood in for Dodson and the Bucs could have him, David and Deablo for likely around $15 million.
If one had a crystal ball and could see into the future and know that Baun would be just as good in Todd Bowles’ scheme as he was in Vic Fangio’s scheme, then Baun would be the easy pick in free agency, right?
But Jason Licht doesn’t have a crystal ball. No one does.
If Baun turns out to be a one-year wonder in a contract year and is a bust in Tampa Bay, then the Bucs’ inside linebacker position is still a huge problem area in 2025. Signing multiple free agents improves the chances of landing on one or two who can actually play.
Instead of adding one free agent linebacker to a room that currently has SirVocea Dennis, Deion Jones and Antonio Grier Jr. and likely J.J. Russell, who will be a restricted free agent and likely re-signed, why not make it an absolute battle royale in terms of competition with three new veteran additions – or in this case, two newcomers along with David’s return?
Dolphins LB Tyrel Dodson – Photo by: USA Today
Sherwood has had one year as a full-time starter in New York, but it was a doozy. He had 158 tackles, including an NFL-high 98 solo stops, along with 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and three forced fumbles. At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, and with 4.76 speed, Sherwood isn’t a fit for every scheme. He’s a relatively underpublicized linebacker who could fetch anywhere from $7.5 million to over $10 million per year in free agency due to his age (25), production and upside.
The 26-year old Dodson is known for his coverage ability, evidenced by 82.9 and 88.4 coverage grades over the last two years, according to Pro Football Focus. After four years in Buffalo, he signed with Seattle and then was traded to Miami during the season. He had three interceptions in five games with the Dolphins, but struggles to shed blocks in the running game. Still, he’ll likely be cheaper than Sherwood at between $4 million – $5 million per season, and is faster with 4.6 speed.
Deablo, who was an All-ACC strong safety at Virginia Tech at 6-foot-3, 223 pounds, has 4.45 speed and solid coverage skills. The former third-round pick has been a two-year starter in Las Vegas where he’s had 169 tackles, two sacks, four passes defensed and eight tackles for loss and a fumble recovery over the last two seasons. Give this athletic, 26-year old a one-year, prove-it deal worth $1.85 million and see if a change of scenery can take his game to another level.
Having David, Dodson/Sherwood, SirVocea Dennis and Deablo competing with Deion Jones, J.J. Russell and Antonio Grier Jr. for four roster spots looks like a much better and more athletic linebacker room.
Tampa Bay could use this volume approach at other areas of need on defense in free agency, including outside linebacker and cornerback.
Raiders CB Nate Hobbs – Photo by: USA Today
While signing 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward might be a very solid idea, he’ll cost the Bucs close to $14.5 million per year. The team could sign Buffalo cornerback Rasul Douglas for an average of $11 million per year and hope he rounds back into form like he played with the Packers from 2021-23. And Tampa Bay could also sign Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs to a one-year, prove-it deal worth around $2.6 million and get two veteran defensive backs instead of one in free agency.
A cornerback position that includes Zyon McCollum, Douglas, Hobbs and a rookie via a premium draft pick would be a very solid four-deep at the position.
I’m not sure that the Bucs will be pursuing Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat or aging Chargers star Khalil Mack in free agency because of their hefty price tags. But Tampa Bay could target Chiefs edge rusher Josh Uche for around $3 million and hope that a change of scenery could turn him into the next Shaq Barrett. And then pursue the 26-year old athletic Raiders edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson with a one-year, prove-it deal worth $1.25 and hope for the same result.
Yaya Diaby and Chris Braswell would be locks to make the team, and then Uche and Chaisson could compete with Anthony Nelson, who is likely to re-sign, along with holdovers Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez for the final three roster spots. Then draft another edge rusher with a premium draft pick and make it even more competitive.
That’s how a “flood it” strategy in free agency – as well as the draft – could work this offseason at inside linebacker, cornerback and outside linebacker without crushing the Bucs’ salary cap.
But if I was Licht and I was going to sign one splash free agent, I would choose Ward as he’s proven he can be a very good cornerback in two stops already in Kansas City, the team that drafted him, and San Francisco. I wrote about Ward in this week’s PR Roundtable.
FAB 4. The Sneaky Free Agent The Bucs Should Sign
I suspect that the Bucs will move on from veteran defensive tackle Will Gholston this offseason. Gholston turns 34 in July and is losing a step. There is a chance that the Bucs will re-sign fellow reserve defensive tackle Greg Gaines to another cheap, one-year deal. Gaines is good friends with Vita Vea and both were college teammates together at Washington.
But the Bucs could use an upgrade of talent at the bottom of the defensive tackle depth chart.
Chargers DT Poona Ford – Photo by: USA Today
The team has two excellent starters Vita Vea, who made the Pro Bowl in 2024, and Calijah Kancey, who was the team’s leading sacker with 7.5 last year. Logan Hall figures to be DT3 once again in 2025, especially after recording a career-high 5.5 sacks in a breakout year. Now, Hall is entering a contract year and could price himself out of Tampa Bay with another solid season.
The Bucs should lean into an incredibly deep defensive tackle draft this year and draft Hall’s eventual replacement. But the Bucs should also shore up the position in free agency with the signing of veteran Poona Ford, who is coming off a good rebound year in his first season with the Chargers.
Ford, who just turned 29, could likely be had for a one-year, $6.5 million deal. His addition would be worth it to bolster Tampa Bay’s depth chart at defensive tackle in case of an injury to Vea or Kancey.
Having Vea, Kancey, Hall and Ford as the top four defensive tackles on the depth chart along with Gaines as DT5 and a rookie would make the position the deepest on the depth chart. And if Ford proves to be a good fit, he can be signed again in 2026 – perhaps to replace Gaines next year in free agency.
Ford is 5-foot-11, 310 pounds and is coming off a 39-tackle, three-sack season that also included a career-high eight tackles for loss and five pass breakups, in addition to his first career interception. Adding Ford may seem like a luxury right now, but it’s an affordable luxury with a modest price tag and safeguards the position in case there is a rash of injuries that strike defensive tackle the way the secondary was ravaged with injuries last year in Tampa Bay.
FAB 5. Pewter Report Will Be Live At The NFL Scouting Combine
The Pewter Reporters will be reporting live from Indianapolis next week at the NFL Scouting Combine. We will be traveling to Indy on Monday, so there won’t be a Pewter Report Podcast until Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET when the Pewter Report staff will react to Jason Licht’s and Todd Bowles’ press conferences.
Make sure you tune in to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel for our podcasts from Indianapolis all next week:
Tuesday 4:00pm ET: Jason Licht/Todd Bowles Press Conference Reaction
Wednesday 4:00pm ET: DL/LB Coverage
Thursday 4:00pm ET: DB/TE Coverage
Friday 4:00pm ET: RB/WR/QB Coverage
And be sure to visit PewterReport.com all week for Bucs draft and free agency coverage, as well as our Bucs Combine Interview Tracker, which will begin on Wednesday morning.
