3 free agents the Buccaneers should snag before the playoffs
By Rob Leeds
Marcell Dareus
The Buccaneers could always use depth on their defensive line. After the loss of Vita Vea for the season, the line has been able to make up most of the slack, but Vea’s absence is still painfully evident.
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The Buccaneers were able to use Rakeem Nunez-Roches in this role as a placeholder, and they traded for Steve McLendon to also soften the blow from Vea’s injury.
Nunez-Roches has been decent as a starter, and McLendon has been better off the bench, but the Buccaneers could always use another veteran on the line to support or play alongside these two. Ndamukong Suh and William Gholston can’t be on the field for every play, and quality starts to dip when they are off the field.
The Buccaneers could sign Marcell Dareus to serve as an insurance policy for any of the starters currently on the line, and he could play well from a backup role.
Tampa Bay doesn’t need significant reps from someone line Dareus, but this isn’t the time to sit on any cap space. The Buccaneers have to spend every remaining penny if they want to stay prepared for the competition they will face in the playoffs, and Dareus is a stable fit on paper.