Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Offseason Version 1.0: Upgrading the Defense

August 3, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik during training camp at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL offseason can be almost as fun as the regular season, as teams work their salary cap magic to sign and trade for the right players to bring hope and excitement to their fanbases. Mark Dominik has started to find his groove, bringing in talented veterans like Carl Nicks and Vincent Jackson, along with impact draft picks like Doug Martin and Adrian Clayborn. And while I am most certainly not Mark Dominik, allow me to do my best to project the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013 offseason, draft, free agency, and anything else I project may come up.

Buccaneers Free Agents:

• Michael Bennett – Re-signed for 6 million dollars per year
• Ronde Barber – Re-signed for 2 million dollars per year
• EJ Biggers – Allowed to sign with another team
• Dallas Clark – Allowed to sign with another team
• Sammie Stroughter, Roscoe Parrish – Allowed to sign with another team
• Andrew Economos – Re-signed to 800k dollars per year.
• Jacob Cutrera – Resigned to a cheap deal
• Jeremy Trueblood – Allowed to sign with another team
• LeGarrette Blount – Allowed to sign with another team
• Roy Miller – Re-signed for 4.5 million dollars per year
• Brandon McDonald – Resigned to a cheap deal/practice squad
• Daniel Te’o-Nesheim – Resigned to a cheap deal

Players Released

• Eric Wright, Released
• Quincy Black, Released
• Dan Orlovsky, Released

Players Signed

• Rex Grossman, QB, signed to a cheap contract
• Brian Leonard, RB, signed to a cheap contract
• Devery Henderson, WR, signed to a cheap contract
• King Dunlap, OT, signed to a 3.5 million dollars per year contract
• Cary Williams, CB, signed to a 8 million dollars per year contract
• Pat Chung, S, signed to a 2.5 million dollars per year contract
• Mike Williams, WR, signed to a 6 million dollar per year contract extension

Players Drafted

• First Round: Trade down to low first round, select CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
• Second Round: Select Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford  and Phillip Thomas, FS, Fresno State (Additional pick a result of trading down in first round)
• Third Round: Select Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford
• Fourth Round: Select Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M and Lavar Edwards, DE, LSU
• Fifth Round: Select Jon Bostic, LB, Florida
• Sixth Round: Select Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin
• Seventh Round: Select Cooper Taylor, Safety, Richmond

Quick summary: This means the defensive backfield has Johnthan Banks, Cary Williams, Ronde Barber, Leonard Johnson, and others competing for depth at corner. It would also include Mark Barron, Pat Chung, Ronde, and rookie Phillip Thomas providing a starting options at safety. Linebacker Quincy Black is replaced by Chase Thomas and competition from Bostic and possibly another free agent signing. Defensive line remains in tact with added depth in Edwards. Offensive line is rounded out with Dunlap at right tackle, or a current player could win the job as well. Wide receiver receives a slot upgrade in Swope, and running back gets depth in Leonard. Ertz becomes a franchise tight end and brings a boost to the position. Rex Grossman provides a slightly cheaper option than Orlovsky, and also provides more realistic compeition. The Buccaneers also sign a quarterback after the draft, to bring in more arms to test out.

So what do you think, Bucs fans? Would this be a successful offseason? What would you change, if you were GM? Let us know in the comments below!