Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 10 free agency signings in team history

Number 6: Ryan Jensen – C (2018-?)

The Buccaneers defense and Tom Brady will always get the lion’s share of the credit for the 2020 Super Bowl season, but part of the reason that Tom Brady was so great, other than the greatness he already had that he brought to Tampa, was and is his offensive line. When the Buccaneers signed Ryan Jensen to a four-year, $42 million contract ($22 million guaranteed) in 2018, they made him the highest-paid center in football. The heavy price tag has been worth it.

With the Jensen signing, Ali Marpet was then kicked down to left guard to accommodate Jensen, and thus the foundation of a Super Bowl championship offensive line was established. With Alex Cappa maturing before our eyes and Donovan Smith finally coming into his own, the stage was set for the drafting of Tristan Wirfs, who has already established himself as arguably the best right tackle in the game after one season.

All of this started with the Jensen signing though, who has become trusted by Brady, and a veteran in the offensive line room. Brady can find a lot more comfort knowing Jensen, one of the best centers in the NFL, will be sending him the snaps as he continues to Benjamin Button his way through his NFL career.