The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't have all the cap space to work with in free agency this offseason despite the league wide increase in money, but it should be sufficient enough for the Bucs to make one marquee defensive addition.
Tampa will have to use the draft and free agency, both, wisely in the offseason to rebuild a defense that has sagged miserably under Todd Bowles, who was legitimately once one of the finest defensive gurus in the National Football League. But the game has seemingly passed the former New York Jets head coach by, with how poorly he has done in developing the current crop of Bucs defensive players - and how he has done an even worse job of actually coaching them on Sundays.
Pro Football Focus has been picking the best free agent fits for the biggest names set to hit the open waters in March, and the famous NFL evaluation site believes that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the best fit for Jacksonville Jaguars star linebacker Devin Lloyd, who is unlikely to jam out to John Otto's grooves on the Matthews Bridge in 2026.
Buccaneers need to draft or sign a coverage linebacker
Lloyd is fully expected to hit free agency, and the Second Team All Pro linebacker will be one of the most coveted players on the market at any position. The Bucs desperately need at least one coverage 'backer to shore up a woeful defensive unit, and Lloyd's five interceptions last season make him an absolute dream free agent target for Bowles and Co.
In addition to the five picks from the linebacker position, Lloyd had 81 tackles for Liam Coen's playoff bound Jags. In his first three seasons in the NFL, the former Jaguars first round pick had more than 110 tackles in each campaign. Including the 2025 campaign, he has had three of four seasons with a minimum of seven passes defended.
Lloyd would be such a profound upgrade over what the Buccaneers currently have at linebacker. Lavonte David will likely be back for another season, but outside of him, the Bucs don't have anyone who could conceivably start in the NFL - and even David is starting to look a little long in the legs.
Realistically, Lloyd might be the only star the Bucs can go after at linebacker salary wise, but if they can only get one inside linebacker to supplement the draft class on the edge, Lloyd is the right guy to target.