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Buccaneers Should Sign Dwayne Bowe

By Justin Schmick

Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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On the field, Dwayne Bowe‘s 2015 season was a disaster, catching just five passes.  The Buccaneers should give Bowe a look, as he would love to prove that last year was a product of his environment.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going into the 2016 NFL season with high hopes, already making a couple of key signings to help quarterback Jameis Winston, whom is going into his second season as Bucs’ quarterback.  They signed both running back Doug Martin and offensive guard J.R. Sweezy to five-year deals.  This gives Winston a proven running back to hand the ball to, and a solid guard to allow Winston some more time to complete a pass.  Already on the roster both Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson figure to see their fair share of passes, but another passing target is needed.  Could the recently released Dwayne Bowe be that guy?

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Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (80) works out during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (80) works out during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Bowe is coming off of his ninth NFL season, which is one that he would like to forget.  Bowe signed a contract with the Browns that was to pay Bowe $12.5 million over two seasons with $9 million of this being guaranteed.  Bowe caught just five passes which calculates to $1.8 million a catch over his seven games with the Browns.  Until this past season Bowe had a very solid career with the Kansas City Chiefs, accumulating 7155 yards on 532 receptions, with 44 of those receptions going for touchdowns.  Also a very underrated statistic is the fact of the 532 receptions, 367 of them went for first downs.

Bowe may be just the big-bodied receiver the Bucs need to give Jameis Winston another option to throw to and could open up more space for Jackson and Evans to work down field.  Given the Cleveland Browns inadequacies at the quarterback position in 2015 and for most of their existence, and the fact that Bowe had a solid eight years before arriving in Cleveland, one could argue that Bowe is the type of bargain player that could help the Bucs on offense.

Next: Bucs Sign Daryl Smith

The Bucs are still looking to add key players to fill in holes on both offense and defense.  This will certainly be addressed in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft.  Bowe can certainly take care of their receiving needs and allow the Bucs to focus on other parts of the team during the NFL Draft.  The possibility of Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Dwayne Bowe as the Bucs receiving threats could make for a very exciting passing game.  Bowe will set out to prove that his poor 2015 season was the result of the Browns’ inadequacies, rather than his skills declining.

Stats by NFL.com

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