It was a much quieter start to the third day of free agency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it was productive nonetheless. Much like last year, a theme has been centered on reunion as the Bucs have once again used resources to bring back players rather than go overboard splurging on external talent.
We saw a mix of this right off the bat with the Bucs signing Haason Reddick while also bringing back Chris Godwin. Ben Bredeson, Anthony Nelson, and Lavonte David have all been re-signed over the last few days as well, and those vibes continued on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay kicked off its third day of free agency by re-signing C.J. Brewer and Greg Gaines, both of whom have been key pieces of defensive depth for Todd Bowles.
Buccaneers bring back key pieces of defensive depth on low-wattage deals
Neither move is particularly seismic, especially in the shadow of what we’ve already seen the Bucs accomplish in free agency, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Gaines has been part of the defensive line rotation for two years and has settled in nicely, while Brewer returns as an exclusive-rights free agent.
Both guys came to Tampa Bay in 2023 and the fact that they’re back is yet another feather in the cap of how well developed the locker room has become over the last few years.
Gaines has played in 32 games in two seasons, while Brewer has made 12 appearances after being elevated from the practice squad last year. Between the two they have four sacks, with Brewer having half of those in his short season in 2024 which is a big reason why he’s back.
Tampa Bay has more money to spend than it has in previous offseasons but there’s still a limit on what the team can do. Moves like this help them plug holes on the defensive line while being able to take bigger swings in places like the secondary and pass rush — something we saw with a $14 million deal for Reddick.
If anything, bringing back Gaines and Brewer is proof of how great of a position the roster is in.
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