The Pewter Plank
FanSided

5 players the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should have never let walk

By Cory Kinnan

1988: Doug Williams #17 of the Washington Redskins calls an adible at the line of scrimmage during the 1988 NFL season game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The Redskins defeated the Bears 34-14. (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
1988: Doug Williams #17 of the Washington Redskins calls an adible at the line of scrimmage during the 1988 NFL season game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The Redskins defeated the Bears 34-14. (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 11: Tackle Donald Penn #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers salutes after grabbing a short pass for a touchdown in the 1st quarter against the Miami Dolphins November 11, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 11: Tackle Donald Penn #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers salutes after grabbing a short pass for a touchdown in the 1st quarter against the Miami Dolphins November 11, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /

4. OT Donald Penn

The Buccaneers’ offensive line has been in shambles for multiple consecutive years now, and while they were struggling one of their former players was a part of a successful offensive line in Oakland. Donald Penn signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2014 on a two-year, $9.6 million deal, a number the Buccaneers could have finagled financially.

Penn went undrafted back in 2006, and made his way to the Buccaneers the next year at the age of 24. All he did from there was manage to start the next seven seasons, missing only four games in 2006. While Penn was 31 when he hit the open market in 2014, the Buccaneers should have retained him, especially at the price he was signed for.

He has since spent the last five seasons with the Raiders, before being released this offseason. In his five-year tenure with the Raiders, he fell just short of a Super Bowl in 2015 after Derek Carr broke his leg, and has been named to two additional Pro Bowls.

Penn has stated that he would like to continue to play for another year or two. Could a reunion for a year in Tampa Bay be in the making as they are still looking to sort out their offensive line?

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