It wasn't an overly active free agency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it was still a pretty productive one.
The biggest moves the team made involved bringing back their own players. Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans were re-signed before the legal tampering window opened, while Lavonte David, Chase Edmonds and others were brought back after free agency had started.
Even external moves served as reunions, as the Bucs brought back Jordan Whitehead after he had spent the last few seasons with the Jets. Whitehead headlined a list of lowkey yet potentially impactful depth signings Tampa Bay made as it tries to run back the success of last season and build on the foundation that was laid.
It's easier said than done, but the Bucs opting to use most of the available money internally is an endorsement of the talent already in the building. As for the new guys, the first step toward getting them settled -- aside from putting pen to paper -- is picking a jersey number.
Buccaneers reveal new jersey numbers for free agents additions
One guy isn't getting a new number, but it's not the player you're probably thinking. Whitehead wore No. 33 during his first stint with the Bucs but is sticking with the No. 3 he wore while with the New York Jets.
Ben Bredesen is the player sticking with ol' trusty, opting to roll with No. 68 just as he has the last three seasons with the Giants. He wore No. 67 while with the Baltimore Ravens, so it's not like he's sliding too far from comfort.
Here's the rundown of everyone's new jersey numbers:
Player | Jersey Number | Position |
|---|---|---|
Jordan Whitehead | 3 | S |
Bryce Hall | 21 | CB |
Tavierre Thomas | 37 | CB |
Ben Bredesen | 68 | G/C |
Lwal Uguak | 75 | DE |
Sua Opeta | 76 | G |
Eric Banks | 93 | DE |
Randy Gregory was signed on Wednesday and doesn't have a jersey number assigned yet but he's going to have to pick a new number or pay up. He worse No. 94 while with the Cowboys, which is owned by Calijah Kancey, and No. 5 with the Broncos and 49ers, which belongs to Jake Camarda.
Of course, he could always pay to swap jersey numbers with Kancey or Camarda, but we'll see if it's that valuable to Gregory or if he just picks a new unmber to roll with.
Eric Banks has some big shoes to fill with his jersey number, as he's following in the footsteps of Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh with No. 93, while Sua Opeta is getting Donovan Smith's old number.