4 free agents Bucs could sign to replace Russell Gage
By Josh Hill
. Age: 33. T.Y. Hilton. 123. player. Hilton. . Last Team: Dallas Cowboys. T.Y. Hilton. 3
It wasn’t that long ago that T.Y. Hilton was one of the best receivers in the league. His years spent with Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts helped form a dynamic duo that powered a handful of playoff runs including one that went all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
Like those years, though, it seems his best football is behind him. That doesn’t mean Hilton — who is only 33 years old — can’t provide a serous veteran boost for the Bucs. Think if it along the lines of what the team did by bringing in Julio Jones last season, albeit to a lesser degree and with more actual necessity.
Working out a deal that doesn’t squeeze the Bucs on the money front seems very realistic with Hilton, who sat out most of the season last year before joining the Dallas Cowboys for a late playoff push. In Tampa bay, Hilton probably wouldn’t be the only WR3 option, which might appear to defeat the purpose if you look past the fact that he adds value to the group as a whole.
Imagine a rotation of Hilton and Trey Palmer, with the latter also benefiting from the tutelage of a veteran who Bucs fans wouldn’t mind if he one day emulated. It’s a sneaky fit, and not an obvious one, but it could be an addition that not only helps offset the loss of Gage but helps the Bucs long term.