3 free agents who would make the Buccaneers instant Super Bowl contenders
By Brad Smith
Connor Williams, OG
Last season, the Bucs' offensive line was the 26th best in the league, with a -4.95 grade from NFL Lines. Due to this, general manager Jason Licht and Tampa Bay addressed their offensive line with several additions through free agency and the draft.
Starting in free agency, the Bucs signed former Eagles guard Sua Opeta and former Giants guard Ben Bredeson each to one-year, $3.75 million contracts, while re-signing tackles Justin Skule and Brandon Walton.
Later, at the 2024 draft, Tampa Bay heavily invested its draft capital into the offensive line as well. For the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Bucs selected an offensive lineman with one of the first two picks, adding Duke's Graham Barton with the No. 26 pick. Five rounds later, Tampa Bay doubled down on the o-line, taking UTEP's Elijah Klein in the sixth round.
With the additions of Opeta, Bredeson, Barton, and Klein, the Bucs' offensive line will be much improved from last season. Barring a contract dispute, Tampa Bay will enter 2024 with one of the league's premiere tackle duos in Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, along with guards Cody Mauch and Robert Hainsley.
Still, the collection of injuries, contract disputes, and unfamiliarity in the system can cause major issues within any team's offensive line. Until the Bucs and Wirfs come to terms on a contract extension, Tampa Bay's offensive line will be without their top linemen and a key blindside protector for Baker Mayfield.
Although Williams is listed as a guard, the seven-year vet has played all along the offensive line since entering the league in 2018. In 83 games (77 starts) with Dallas and Miami, Williams has taken 5064 snaps, allowing 43 penalties and 15 sacks. Williams was particularly impressive in 2022, his last full season, giving up six penalties and three sacks in 1,056 snaps for a team-high 78.2 PFF grade.
In 2023, Williams got off to another strong start, allowing seven penalties and only one sack in 497 snaps through the first nine games for a career-high 86.5 PFF grade. In week ten, Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury, the main reason why Williams hasn't found a new home in free agency. The Bucs have the cap space to take a one-year flier on Williams, who could bolster the Bucs' offensive line in 2024.