NFL Trade Deadline: Buccaneers trade and free agent needs
By Rob Leeds
Wide receiver
The Buccaneers don’t have enough depth at wide receiver with the current injuries plaguing the roster. Tampa Bay has already lost both of its starting receivers at separate times and most other players in the unit throughout the season.
Tampa Bay is one bad stretch of luck away from having no talented and available receivers, and the offense will collapse without the necessary pass-catchers ready to go.
The Buccaneers’ best bet is to find at least one more consistent option before the trade deadline passes. Tampa Bay needs one more veteran option to give the roster some insurance against injuries, and there are numerous options on the free-agent market and through trades.
An interesting trade candidate at the moment is Bengals speedster, John Ross. Ross is unhappy with his current usage in Cincinnati, and Tampa Bay could be one of the teams that offers an out.
As previously mentioned, the Bucs don’t need their current draft picks as much as an average year, and using a later pick to bring in a player with Ross’ ceiling makes perfect sense.
If Tampa Bay already believes that Ross is beyond saving, they could pursue a free agent, of which there are many. Mohamed Sanu has some experience playing with Brady and could be the veteran option that Tampa Bay needs. Sanu would be a cheap leader and could fit perfectly as a depth option.