Bryan Anger (Grade: A)
Heading into 2016, the Bucs badly needed to upgrade their special teams unit. Their change at the kicking position didn’t go too well this past season, but the switch at punter was an outstanding one. The team brought in 2012 third-round pick Bryan Anger on a one-year, $1.75 million contract. He came into training camp to compete with Jacob Schum and eventually beat him out.
Anger was one of the most consistent players on the Tampa Bay roster all year long. He punted 70 times, finishing with an average of 45.9 yards per punt. 37 of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line, while just five went for touchbacks. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate, with some (including myself) feeling that he was a big-time snub.
The Bucs were clearly happy with Anger’s 2016 production, as they signed him to a five-year, $17 million extension on New Year’s Eve. The low-risk one-year deal that they gave him before the 2016 season turned out to be a great one, as it gave them a consistent punter for the first time in a while. He proved a lot, which earned him a spot on the Tampa Bay roster for years to come.
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How would you grade the 2016 free agency class, Bucs fans?