3 free agents the Buccaneers absolutely have to target during 2026 offseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the NFL's most disappointing stories in 2025. After starting the season at 6-2, the team collapsed down the stretch, finishing 8-9 and snapping a streak of five consecutive playoff berths and four straight division titles

The offense was a major disappointment, but they have the personnel in-house to get back on track quickly, especially under a new offensive coordinator in 2026. The biggest weakness lies in the defense, where the team needs to make major upgrades at inside linebacker and pass rusher in order to elevate the unit to the next level.

There are several free agents available that could make an immediate impact in Tampa Bay, and Jason Licht can't shy away from making a splash in free agency.

3 players Buccaneers must target during free agency this year

Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals

When Hendrickson requested a trade last offseason as he and the Bengals were dealing with a contract dispute, the Bucs were constantly linked as an ideal fit.

Tampa Bay has had a significant need at edge rusher for several years now, and Hendrickson was viewed as a seamless fit that would immediately upgrade Tampa Bay's weakest position group. Eventually though, Hendrickson agreed to a one-year $30 million extension with the Bengals and trade talks were put to rest.

Hendrickson had a down year in 2025, appearing in only seven games due to injury, and notching just 4 sacks and a forced fumble. But prior to this season, Hendrickson had recorded 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons and a minimum of 8 sacks in five consecutive seasons. But despite his small sample size this season, Hendrickson still ranked sixth among all EDGE defenders with an elite 90.0 pass rush grade via Pro Football Focus.

Tampa Bay took a similar chance on Haason Reddick last offseason after Reddick had a down season in 2024 with the Jets after four straight double-digit sack seasons. The experiment failed as Reddick posted just 2.5 sacks with the Bucs, but that failure shouldn't scare them away from taking another big swing on an elite player like Hendrickson to upgrade their pass rush this offseason.

Kaden Elliss, LB, Atlanta Falcons

After spending the first four seasons of his career in New Orleans and the last three seasons in Atlanta, Elliss can continue his NFC South tour in Tampa Bay. The team has a major need at inside linebacker, and Elliss could step in as an immediate-impact player.

Elliss is a durable player who has played in all 17 games in each of the last four seasons. He recorded 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2025. He's recorded 20.5 sacks over the course of his career, and shines as one of the most effective blitzers in the NFL, making him the perfect fit for Todd Bowles' blitz-heavy defensive scheme.

Pro Football Focus grades Elliss in the top third of linebackers, ranking 31st out of 88 qualifying players at the position. His elite 84.6 pass rush grade ranks 4th at the position, highlighting his prowess getting after opposing quarterbacks.

At 30 years old, Elliss isn't a long-term solution at the position, and they'd still need to draft another linebacker, but he's a perfect fit for what the Buccaneers defense needs right now and would provide a major upgrade in terms of coverage and pass rush.

With Lavonte David expected to retire, that would leave SirVocea Dennis as the team’s projected starting inside linebacker. Dennis ranked as PFF’s 72nd-best linebacker in 2025 and graded as one of the worst coverage linebackers in the league, finishing 84th out of 88 qualifying players. The team can't afford to count on him as their top option going forward, and Elliss represents exactly the kind of veteran addition the defense needs heading into the new season.

K'Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, New England Patriots

Chaisson has emerged as a high-end rotational player who would significantly raise the floor of the Buccaneers’ pass rush.

Chaisson broke out in 2025, setting a new career high with 7.5 sacks in his first season with the Patriots. The year before, he recorded five sacks with the Raiders, continuing a steady upward trajectory in his production.

For context, YaYa Diaby led Tampa Bay in sacks this season with seven, meaning Chaisson outproduced every defender currently on the Buccaneers’ roster. He’ll be just 27 years old when next season kicks off and has improved each year of his career, making it worth the gamble that he’ll take another step forward and potentially develop into a double-digit sack player. His price tag would also likely come in well below that of top-tier options like Trey Hendrickson.

Chaisson has also made a name for himself in the midst of New England’s playoff run. In their two postseason games, he’s posted three sacks, a forced fumble, and a massive QB hit that led to a pick-six, showing up as a true game changer in the postseason when it matters most.

Chaisson is the type of high-upside value signing who could quietly transform Tampa Bay’s edge rotation and inject much-needed juice into the pass rush.