Four free-agents the Buccaneers could sign before training camp begins
Let’s be honest, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t have much cap space as we trek towards the beginning of training camp.
With the addition of Tom Brady, as well as some other moves such as trading for Rob Gronkowski and bringing back Shaquil Barrett, Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, the Buccaneers are facing very little wiggle room when it comes to the cap and the 2020 season.
The Buccaneers have yet to sign a rookie yet- and they know what those contracts will cost per the CBA- but that still doesn’t mean that they couldn’t restructure a few deals to make one or two more free-agency signings before it’s all said and done.
Here’s a look at four realistic free-agents the Buccaneers could sign before training camp. These are ranked for from least-likely to most-likely.
4. Darron Lee, LB
There’s one particular area that the Bucs need to build depth and that’s along the front-seven. They’ve got plenty of talent in the linebacker core with Shaq Barrett and JPP on the outside and Devin White and Lavonte David on the inside.
But there’s basically no depth or experience after that.
Darron Lee basically played primarily as a special teamer last season with the Kansas City Chiefs and has seemingly regressed since his starting days with the franchise just a year prior. That being said, sometimes all you need is some new scenery.
If Lee can’t find a match between now and the beginning of training camp, Tampa Bay could sign him to a relatively small one-year deal and that would at the very least give the Bucs quality depth and experience at the linebacker position.
3. Ezekiel Ansah, EDGE
As we said previously, the biggest position that the Bucs need to develop depth defensively is along the front-seven.
Tampa Bay has talent at the starter positions, but not much experience otherwise. That’s where Ezekiel Ansah could thrive.
Ansah has had two very forgettable years in which he only played a combined 18 games and recorded just 6.5 sacks. That means the Bucs would be able to sign him for cheap.
Though Ansah, at age 31, may just be past his prime, that still doesn’t mean he couldn’t contribute in a back-up role. He has been a pass-rushing specialist during the entirety of his career and getting to play a second-string role would absolutely bode well for him staying healthy and being able to focus on what he does best.
2. Isaiah Crowell, RB
Many Tampa Bay fans have insisted that the Buccaneers sign a running back, and that makes since in some respects.
You’re without Peyton Barber and there are certainly questions about Ronald Jones II and if he can develop into an ‘every down back.’ That being said, Devonta Freeman is just not realistic.
You don’t draft a player like Ke’Shawn Vaughn if you’re going after Freeman.
But, let’s say that Vaughn is just not quite ready. Isaiah Crowell could be the perfect answer.
Crowell is a running back who is able to fight for extra yardage. His ability to step in as a 3rd down back, as well as his receiving skills, would be a perfect fit and his contract would make a lot more sense for the Buccaneers in the place of trying to bring in Freeman.
1. Clay Matthews, EDGE
The name that continues to be thrown around when talking about free-agents to Tampa Bay is Clay Matthews, and it still makes a lot of sense.
Many believe that Matthews is going to ask for a high-dollar salary to come down to Tampa, but the truth of the matter is that no one is going to pay the aging veteran a ‘starter-level salary.’
The appeal of playing with Tom Brady, though. Well, that speaks for itself.
If Matthews is going to play another NFL season, it’s going to be with the Buccaneers and his edge-rushing ability- along with his experience and leadership- will be valuable assets for that Tampa defense as it looks to build depth in the front-seven.
It may sound crazy, but Clay Matthews seems like he might be the most realistic free-agent to the Bucs this offseason at this point.