Grading every Tampa Bay Buccaneers offseason move so far, including Carlton Davis trade
By Brad Smith
Bryce Hall, CB
Contract: One-year deal
Grade: B
Days after signing Whitehead, Tampa Bay another player from the Jets' secondary in Hall. The contract is a one-year deal, and reunites Hall with Whitehead in Tampa Bay to offset the departure of Davis III.
After a forgettable rookie season, Hall quickly emerged as the Jets' top cornerback in his second season. Starting in all 17 games, Hall recorded 79 tackles, four tackles for loss and 16 pass breakups, the sixth-most in the league. Since then, Hall's play has been reminiscent of his uninspiring 2020 campaign, with combined marks of seven tackles and two pass breakups in 14 starts in the past two seasons.
Newest Buc CB Bryce Hall has the intangibles to be a solid, versatile depth piece. 6’1 202lbs who was buried in depth chart. Started all 17 games in 2021 with 16 pass def, 0.5 Sack and 79 tackles
— Ashlie (@EMT_Ashlie) March 15, 2024
Uses length well to play through the ball. #BaldysBreakdown from year as starter pic.twitter.com/sfudhMHXsH
While the financials of the deal are undisclosed, Hall is a true low-risk, high-reward signing. Whether Hall will be able to return to his spectacular 2021 season remains to be seen, but will still provide depth and solid play in one of the Buccaneers' three starting cornerback slots.
Jordan Whitehead, S
Contract: Two-years, $9M
Grade: A+
With some of the money gained from trading Davis III the Buccaneers used to sign Whitehead, which marks a return for the 27-year-old back to Tampa Bay. After spending the past two years in New York, Whitehead returns to Tampa Bay, where he spent his first four NFL seasons.
During his two-year tenure as a Jet, Whitehead recorded 186 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 17 pass breakups and six interceptions in 34 starts. (34 games). Last season, Whitehead was especially great as the Jets' starting strong safety, posting 97 tackles, nine pass breakups and four interceptions, all career-highs.
#Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead on him remaining a Tampa Bay fan over the last two years and wanting to return upon hitting free agency pic.twitter.com/1lKuUKcTzs
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 14, 2024
Back in Tampa Bay, Whitehead will reunite with Winfield Jr to form one of the NFL's top safety duos. As Bryce Hall, Christain Izien, and Dean will strive to fill Davis III's void, Whitehead will be a key factor in disrupting the pass and run at strong safety. To retain Whitehead at only the $4.5 million per year pricetag, the 30th highest in the league, and this is a home-run signing for Tampa Bay.