5 trade targets Buccaneers need to pursue at NFL trade deadline

As the Buccaneers injury situation continues to worsen, Jason Licht could look to the trade block for reinforcements ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield could use some help at the trade deadline.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield could use some help at the trade deadline. | Nic Antaya/GettyImages

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been among the teams most affected by injuries throughout the 2025 season. Injuries to the offensive line, secondary, and wide receiver group have been a key factor for Tampa Bay to overcome.

The Buccaneers were blown out 24-9 by the Detroit Lions in Week 7 in one of the team's most disappointing losses in recent memory. To make a bad situation worse, they also lost Mike Evans to a broken clavicle that could sideline him for the rest of the season, and Haason Reddick to knee and ankle injuries that are expected to sideline him for some time.

These significant injuries, on top of already existing depth issues, could force Jason Licht to step out of his comfort zone and sacrifice some future draft capital to bolster the team's roster in the midst of a potential Super Bowl run. Despite the loss to Detroit, Tampa Bay still sits at 5-2, but they'll need to add some reinforcements if they hope to make a deep playoff run.

5 best fits for Buccaneers at NFL trade deadline

DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

Crosby would be a perfect fit for the culture in Tampa Bay and could provide the dominant presence off the edge that the Buccaneers have long been missing.

In just 12 games last season, Crosby notched 7.5 sacks, which would've tied for the team lead in Tampa Bay. In his last two full seasons, he recorded 14.5 sacks in 2023 and another 12.5 sacks in 2022. Crosby's prime has been wasted on a non-competitive Raiders team, where he has reached the playoffs just once and never experienced a playoff win.

Crosby is only 28 years old, and remains under contract through 2029. Acquiring him would give Tampa Bay one of the league's premier pass rushers for the next few years and would solve one of the Buccaneers' most pressing needs in 2025, especially after losing Reddick to injury.

DE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last season, and tied for second for the league lead in 2023. He has notched an impressive 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons and made a name for himself as arguably the league's best pass rusher.

His relationship with the Bengals grew tense this offseason as the parties failed to reach an agreement on a long-term extension, causing Hendrickson to hold out. Eventually, Hendrickson gave in and restructured his contract for one-year, $30 million before hitting free agency after this season.

With the Bengals sitting at 3-4 and losing four of their last five games, and quarterback Joe Burrow expected to be sidelined until December, the team could find themselves out of contention in a competitive AFC.

If that becomes a reality, they could be wise to part ways with Hendrickson and get significant compensation for him rather than simply letting him walk in free agency after the season, and Tampa Bay has a chance to be the beneficiaries and upgrade their pass rush in a major way.

DT Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

Simmons is one of the league's most disruptive interior defenders, and has performed at an All-Pro level this season. He has recorded at least five sacks in four consecutive seasons and is about to cruise to a fifth-straight as he sits at 4.5 sacks through just seven games played.

After losing Calijah Kancey, who was on pace for a career season, to a season-ending injury, there has been a lot of pressure on Vita Vea as the anchor of the defense, Vea has certainly risen to the occasion, but adding another elite interior defender next to him in Simmons could take this defensive line to another level.

The Titans are one of the NFL's worst teams at 1-6 and should be looking to be sellers at the deadline in order to acquire assets to build for the future. They'd likely be reluctant to trade the roster's best player, but the Buccaneers would be foolish to not at least make an effort to acquire such a bonafide game-changer.

OLB Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins

Coming off an 11-sack season in 2024, Chubb currently leads the Dolphins with four sacks this season. At 1-6 and in organizational disarray, the Dolphins have no chance of contending in 2025, and are expected to be open to an all-out fire sale at the trade deadline,

Chubb is under contract through 2027, but has no guaranteed money remaining after 2025, which could make him an appealing trade target. He would also be obtainable for a much cheaper trade package than other big names at his position, such as Crosby or Henderson.

Chubb's teammate, Jaelan Phillips, is also an appealing trade target, but with a torn Achillies in 2023 and a torn ACL in 2024, Tampa Bay might shy away from a player with such a worrisome recent injury history. Still, Phillips is a lot younger and has sky-high potential, and could be worth a flier at the right price.

WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

After losing Evans to a broken collarbone that will sideline him for most of the season, Tampa Bay could use another vertical target that could command attention down the field and take some of the pressure off rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Shaheed is one of the NFL's fastest and most dangerous downfield targets, recording an eye-popping 17.5 yards per reception in 2024. His blazing speed is a constant threat to take the top off opposing defenses. In just six games played in 2024, he had five catches of 20 or more yards. he's recorded a reception of 58 or more yards in every season of his career, including a career-long 87-yard touchdown this season.

With the Saints at an NFC-worst 1-6 record, and Shaheed set to enter free agency at the end of the season, the Saints could look to get a return for him from a wide receiver-needy team. Tampa Bay could poach one of the most explosive players from their division rival, and bolster their own receiving corps in the process, adding some much-needed speed.

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