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Buccaneers’ Free Agent Decision Report: Bradley McDougald

By Alan Schechter

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Bradley McDougald (30) against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Bradley McDougald (30) against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Bradley McDougald (30) takes the field prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Bradley McDougald (30) takes the field prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Why McDougald Should Stay

McDougald isn’t recognized as one of the best safeties out there, Pro Football Focus only ranked him 42nd at the position in 2016. What he has become, however, is consistent and durable. As far as durability goes, he has been active for every game over the last two seasons, starting 31 of them. There is something to be said about a player that can be counted on each week to be out there. As far as consistency, his ability as a tackler has been solid, putting up 87 tackles in 2015 and 91 in 2016. That is a guy that is around the football.

Don’t count out the ability of McDougald to make a play in the clutch as well. Over the last two seasons, he has clinched a game with an interception. In 2015, it was a 10-6 victory over the Cowboys. In 2016, it was a 14-5 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Granted, the 2015 Cowboys were nothing close to the 2016 Cowboys, but clinching a game is still clinching a game. To know that no moment is too big for a player is huge. It means he checks off one of the important boxes, the one for reliability.

The Bucs are an up and coming football team. They just won nine game and but for a couple of breaks, could have been in double-digits. They need to build around their most consistent players and let them grow together. The argument could be made that Bradley McDougald is one of those players.

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