For the most part the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sat out the free agency gold rush this year. Rather than spend its cap space on trying to outbid other teams, Jason Licht strategically secured the return of some key players who he hopes can help the Bucs run things back, and then some.
Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans were the biggest players the Bucs needed to bring back, with Antoine Winfield Jr. getting franchise-tagged to buy more time for an extension. Those weren't the only guys Tampa Bay re-signed, as Lavonte David, Chase McLaughlin, and Chase Edmonds headlined a group of veterans who signed up for another tour of duty in Tampa Bay.
The Bucs did look at some outside help, but even that kept with the theme of reunions. Jordan Whitehead was the big external addition, returning to the Bucs after a few seasons up in New York with the Jets.
After a few weeks of biding times, the Bucs jumped back into the free agency pool with the team's first traditional signing.
Buccaneers sign Randy Gregory to one-year deal
On Wednesday the Bucs agreed to a one-year deal with former Cowboys and 49ers pass rusher Randy Gregory.
The Bucs have agreed to terms with outside linebacker Randy Gregory on a one-year deal.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) April 3, 2024
Edge rush remains a key area of need for the Buccaneers after the first few waves of free agency, and Gregory helps the team address it. He'll join a pretty talented room that includes Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and figures to work his way into being a key part of that rotation.
Coming to Tampa Bay also reunites him with George Edwards, who is the Bucs outside linebacker coach and was with Gregory during his best years in Dallas.
The trouble with Gregory is those best years are pretty far in the rearview. He's shown flashes during stints with the Broncos and 49ers but nothing like what he did with Dallas. Gregory ran into some issues with the league's substance abuse policy, which bogged down the early years of his career, but he broke out in 2021 under Edwards' coaching.
Gregory recorded 5 sacks, 10 combined tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hits in just seven games with the Cowboys after earning the starting defensive end role. If the Bucs can get him to tap back into that, then he's going to be a menace off the edge for Todd Bowles.
The question is whether or not he can get back to that level, but it's a flier absolutely worth taking for the Buccaneers.