Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and the Glazers ownership do not often make massive splashes in free agency and in trades, and they have not made such a move in recent years. Even last season when the Bucs knew they needed to trade for a difference maker, they did not, and despite losing Mike Evans and now Lavonte David, they have been surprisingly quiet in free agency.
The Buccaneers only major additions have been Detroit Lions inside and outside linebacker duo Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad, veteran defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson, and potential breakout gadget running back Kenny Gainwell.
But while these four players are solid starters, none of them are superstars (though Gainwell could maybe become one). The defense is in need of a superstar after performing so poorly last season that they played a pivotal role in the collapse.
Myles Garrett may be available for trade
Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rarely make major moves, they made one of the biggest several years ago when they signed Tom Brady, who led them to a Super Bowl title after roughly 20 years without one. Perhaps the Buccaneers could move for another record breaking, NFL icon in 2026.
The Cleveland Browns have had multiple opportunities to move on from edge defender Myles Garrett, who is one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history and now holds the single season sack record to prove it. Garrett is a menace off the edge despite playing with a mostly average Browns defensive line around him, so he knows how to succeed despite not having a lot of great pieces around him.
Although the Browns have been paying Garrett pretty consistently instead of actively shopping him, 247 Sports writer Jack Duffin made an interesting observation about a recent, seemingly small cap maneuver that the Browns have made with their best player. The Browns have moved his $29.2 million option bonus from March 25 to seven day before the regular season this year, which would be Sept. 2.
That means the Browns no longer have to pay Myles Garrett $29 million of the whopping $32 million he is owed this season until September. Had his option kicked in on March 25, the Browns would have already paid it, making a trade senseless since he would already be paid the majority of his salary already. But now, the Browns have time to shop for a trade over the next six months if a team decides they want to make a move for Garrett, and then his salary will become another team's problem.
Like the Browns, though, the Buccaneers do not have much cap space to work with. Unlike the Browns, the Buccaneers are a playoff contender and may be an elite pass rusher away from being a Super Bowl contender. Garrett is the one guy who can truly transform this defense like not even Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby would have.
The chances of Garrett and Baker Mayfield reuniting in Tampa Bay are unlikely, given the Buccaneers would have to siphon players or find another way to accommodate Garrett's large salary - and they would have to give up several first round picks, which is not Jason Licht's M.O. But Garrett is tacitly available because of this move, because, well, why else would the Browns do this? And for Bucs fans looking on, he is the one player who could single handedly give the Buccaneers Super Bowl hopes if acquired.