We still have eight weeks left in the regular season, but already eyes are starting to turn toward what could happen this upcoming offseason. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that will mean using free agency to help answer some big questions that are already perplexing fans who are watching the season teeter on the brink.
Finding some pass rush help will be paramount, but that's been a quest the team has been on for years. Linebacker depth -- or the lack thereof -- has started to hurt Tampa Bay's struggling defense and will be another area that will likely be addressed.
If there's one area where things seem to be working the best it's on offense, which is why it's so interesting that the first big free agency rumor around the Bucs is on that side of the ball.
The Bucs lost Chris Godwin earlier in the season, an injury that was a bummer not only because of what it did to the flow of the offense but how it potentially alters his trajectory. Godwin is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and while the Bucs could bring him back it could be another wide reciever coming off a season-ending injury they spend some money on.
Stefon Diggs is a 'sneaky target' for the Buccaneers in free agency
Bleacher Report tossed out a few potential landing spots for upcoming free agents and rather surprisingly linked Stefon Diggs to the Buccaneers. It's still super early so these sorts of predictions are nothing more than conversation fodder to chew on, but the idea of Diggs to the Bucs is a pretty tasty idea.
"Diggs could be a sneaky target for the Buccaneers, should they lose Chris Godwin in free agency. They are projected to have $31.1 million in cap space, and Diggs might accept an incentive-laden contract that fits with their financial plan."
Diggs isn't the player he used to be, but adding him to Liam Coen's offense alongside Mike Williams and a hopefully improved Jalen McMillan could be a deadly combo for Baker Mayfield. Let's not rule out the possibilty of the Bucs double dipping and bringing back Godwin too and totally loading up the offense.
Of course, any argument that can be made for Diggs taking an incentive-laden deal coming off an injury can be made for Godwin too. When he was injured the immediete thought went to how it impacts his free agency, but if there's a team that has proven it does right by its players it's the Buccaneers.
That means we could see Jason Licht work out a deal with Godwin that brings him back to Tampa Bay on a deal that pays him well but also helps the team's cap situation. It wouldn't be unlike what Licht did with Evans and Mayfield this past offseason.
Diggs is an intersting option, though, if Godwin gets away and signs somewhere else.
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