A perfect free agent target is just sitting there for the Bucs to sign
The Bucs don't have to make a ton of moves, but there's a smart one just sitting there for them.
By Josh Hill
Usually the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't make splashy moves in free agency, which seems like what the case will be this year. The biggest move the team has made in recent years was signing Tom Brady, which was seismic but also uncharacteristic.
The Bucs have taken swings in the past, but we're all still a little sore from the year the team went all-in on a class that included Alterraun Verner, Michael Johnson, Josh McCown, and Anthony Collins -- all of whom busted.
In recent years Tampa Bay has been far more concerned with retaining talent rather than adding it, which is why the biggest tasks this offseason have been re-signing Antoine Winfield Jr., Baker Mayfield, and Mike Evans.
With those deals taken care of -- aside from working out a long-term deal with Winfield -- the Bucs shouldn't avoid free agency completely.
Buccaneers are a perfect landing spot for AJ Dillon
Spending money and spending it wisely are two very different things, the latter of which Jason Licht has shown a knack for being able to do. When the Bucs do dip into free agency they tend to add impact players and AJ Dillon could be someone worth exploring this offseason.
Green Bay surprisingly agreed to sign Josh Jacobs when the tampering period opened on Monday, which might spell the end of Dillon with the Packers. It could also mean the path to him coming to Tampa Bay is as wide open as ever.
Tampa Bay once again had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league, and the entire infrastructure needs to be rethought. Rachaad White and Tristan Wirfs are locked into roles but outside of that everything should be up for discussion which is where Dillon comes into play.
White is firmly established as the leadback but one thing that's been missing has been a sidekick to add some extra dynamic to the backfield. Chase Edmonds was hurt for most of last year and the combination of Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Sean Tucker failed to amount to anything. Tucker will fight for a roster spot this summer while Vaughn was released before the season was over.
Dillon would come to Tampa Bay as a potentially perfect complementary back to White. The Bucs don't need to replicate what he does when he's not on the field, they need someone who adds something to the mix.
It wouldn't be unlike what Dillon did up in Green Bay alongside Aaron Jones. One area he'd instantly help improve is short-yardage situations, where his bulk could come in handy for moving the chains and on the goal line.
He also might come cheap. The running back market hasn't been fruitful the last
Last year was Dillon's worst since his rookie season, finishing with fewer than 700 yards while battling injuries all year. We've seen what he's capable of in seasons prior, though, and the dynamic he offered next to Jones is something that Skip Peete might be able to work with.
Peete turned Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard into one of the best running back duos in the league, and both are similar to Dillon and White. While Zeke was a bowling ball runner, Pollard was a dual-threat weapon and together they dominated. Last year was a bit of a disappointment for Peete, but Liam Coen will be working with him and brings an offense over from LA that benefited from using multiple backs in different ways.
Dillon's down year potentially meaning he'll be discounted sweetens the deal even more. It's a splashy move in that he's a known entity to fans, but it's the type of lowkey move that could end up finally helping the Bucs fix their run game.
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