Buccaneers: Cheap outside free agents Jason Licht needs to offer now
By Rob Leeds
A depth option for the Buccaneers on defense
The Bucs do not have sufficient depth at pass-rusher. Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul are excellent, but the roster behind them is highly questionable.
Anthony Nelson is decent, but there is no reason to believe that Tampa won’t try to bring in some competition to push the young pass-rusher to produce. There are plenty of mock draft simulations that the Buccaneers will address the position in one of the early rounds of the draft, but a veteran free agent would also help.
This move would relegate Nelson to the fifth role on the depth chart, but every move to improve the roster helps during a year like this.
The Washington Football Team and Ryan Kerrigan experienced many successful years together, but the time had come for Kerrigan to move on. Washington likes their young core and doesn’t want a former leader on their heels. The Buccaneers can take advantage of this.
Kerrigan isn’t the dominant player that he once was, but a return to a 3-4 defense and a chance at a Super Bowl should be a compelling draw to come to Tampa. Kerrigan’s best years came from an upright position rather than with his hand on the ground, and the chance to contribute on a good team should mix for a great offer.
No one wants to close the book on Nelson yet, but if JPP or Barrett go down, the Bucs don’t have the bodies to keep their pass rush alive without another veteran to rely on.