Last year a theme for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency was reunion. We're seeing the sequel to that this offseason, as the Bucs are once again focusing on retaining key talent rather than scouring the open market for new additions.
That hasn't stopped the team from making big moves, though. Haason Reddick was brought in on a $14 million deal to help fix Tampa Bay's pass rush issues, which was a bigger splurge than we expected. Most of the moves that have been made are internal ones, most notably a new deal for Chris Godwin which keeps him in Tampa Bay through the 2027 season.
He's not the only Buccaneers player coming back on a new deal.
Buccaneers re-sign Anthony Nelson to two-year, $10 million deal
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and confirmed by Greg Auman, the Buccaneers are bringing back pass rusher Anthony Nelson. It’s a two-year deal worth a maximum of $12 million, which is a massive vote of confidence for a versatile member of Todd Bowles’ defense.
It's a move that comes on the heels of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka leaving to join the Cleveland Browns on a one-year prove it deal. There was uncertainty about whether or not Nelson would also bolt in free agency, but he's back for his eighth year in Tampa Bay instead.
Nelson has been a key piece of depth for the Bucs defense over the course of his career. He hasn't always been perfect, but he finished last year with the second-most quarterback hits of his career and four sacks to boot. That's right around his season average, which is a nice thing to have as part of a pass-rush rotation.
It's less about how many sacks Nelson gets as opposed to when he's able to bring pressure. Two years ago he forced a pivotal safety in the Wild Card win over Philadlephia which helped power a playoff run that installed confidence the team is still boasting.
He hasn't been perfect, something we've seen at times when he gets burned off the edge on runs, but he's depth the team clearly values both on the field and in the locker room. Tampa Bay's pass rush is going to get overhauled this offseason, but Nelson being there as a common thread is something that could pay off and is a testament to how well-respected he is in the building.
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