Although many Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are dreaming of a bold trade for Las Vegas Raiders disgruntled superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby, the kind of rich, Micah Parsons level trade return the Raiders are looking for is unlikely to be met - or even entertained - by Bucs General Manager Jason Licht. But there are some great pass rushers available in free agency, and according to reporting from ESPN's insider duo of Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler over the weekend, Trey Hendrickson and Odafe Oweh are about to hit the open market as their teams will not use franchise tags on them.
Hendrickson isn't getting as much coverage by the NFL insiders because, well, splashy trades make more headlines, but he may be the biggest pass rushing and overall defensive catch in the offseason this year. Like Crosby, Hendrickson appears interested in spreading his wings elsewhere, and while he will be very expensive, bordering on exceedingly difficult to keep, the Defensive Player of the Year candidate is an absolute stud you can build a defense around.
Although the Buccaneers are monitoring potential draft candidates at the edge rusher positions with the No. 15 overall pick, it feels more likely for the Bucs to go with an inside linebacker in the first round of the draft. The very best pass rushers like David Bailey and Ruben Bain Jr. are destined for the top 10, and the Bucs clearly need someone to transform their pass rush who is proven.
Odafe Oweh is a sleeper for the Bucs
Hendrickson is coming off an injury plagued season, but before that, he had back to back 17.5 sack seasons, leading the league in sacks in the 2024 campaign. He is above the age of 30 and therefore less attractive of a player than Crosby, but in terms of pure pass rushing production, you can't ask for better than Hendrickson.
But when it comes to players who can fit the Bucs, Oweh might make the most sense. If the Los Angeles Chargers are not franchising him, then that is the gain of the rest of the NFL teams needing a pass rusher, and the Bucs had better make sure they snag someone like Oweh over the division rival Carolina Panthers.
The Charger is the kind of player who can change the complexion of a playoff race. He pretty much did for the Chargers last season, tearing up the NFL in the back half of the season and torturing the New England Patriots offensive line in the postseason after the Chargers acquired him for a mere pittance from the Baltimore Ravens during the season. He's a high-upside target for the Bucs.