5 moves Buccaneers need to make after salary cap increase
By Josh Hill
Sign a cornerback to challenge Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean
Just because the salary cap went up by $30 million doesn’t mean the Bucs should abandon their careful approach to offseason spending. It does mean the team has room to make at least one big move to try and give the roster a boost, and one area that could happen is at cornerback.
Carlton Davis has already been tabbed as a potential trade candidate, but even if the Bucs keep him they need to find a way to upgrade that position this offseason. Neither Davis or Jamel Dean played like the top corners they’re supposed to be, which means Tampa Bay could look at the free agent market to make a splash and land a big fish.
It’s not that Davis or Dean need to be replaced, as they’re top corners when playing up to expectations. Bringing someone in could help challenge them to recapture their magic and build the room out even better.
L’Jarius Snead is probably out of the question and Jaylon Johnson is probably getting franchise tagged by Chicago, but the Bucs could find some great value in the middle of the cornerback pack. Kendall Fuller would be a nice addition to the room and could challenge both David and Dean as the top cornerback on the team next year. Chidobe Awuzie is also another No. 1 cornerback option the Bucs could chase to spice things up, but the competition for a young impact player will be pretty thick.
Another option could be to find a veteran to be an adult in the room, something that Stephon Gilmore or Steven Nelson could be. This could also be something the Bucs don’t need to overthink, as the mid-tier is full of guys like Adoree’ Jackson, Kenny Moore II, and Keisean Nixon as well a potential reunion with Sean Murphy-Bunting on the table too.