The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the building blocks of an outstanding offensive line.
Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke form one of the league's best tackle combinations, while first-round pick Graham Barton is a Day 1 starter at center.
If there's an area where they can upgrade, it's at guard. The Buccaneers signed Ben Bredeson to an affordable one-year contract, but is he ready to start at left guard? He is now on his third team in five years and struggled in 16 starts for the New York Giants last season. Per PFF, Bredeson allowed 39 pressures and five sacks and gave up six penalties, earning an awful overall grade of 42.1.
Playing alongside Wirfs should help, but the Buccaneers should continue to consider their options. Fortunately, an upgrade is available.
Buccaneers should sign free agent offensive lineman Connor Williams
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free agent Connor Williams is talking with "multiple teams" ahead of his return from a torn ACL. It's unclear whether the Buccaneers are among them, but they absolutely should be.
Former Cowboys and Dolphins free-agent center Connor Williams, who is coming off season-ending knee surgery, expects to be ready for the start of the season and is in discussions with multiple teams about where to play in 2024. He plans to pick his new team before training camp…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 18, 2024
The 27-year-old has experience at guard and center. He played center for the Miami Dolphins and is coming off an outstanding 2023 season. Before suffering the ACL injury, he allowed only six pressures and one sack on 280 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.
Despite spending the last two seasons at center, Williams had previously played four years at left guard for the Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.
It would leave the Buccaneers with a nice problem. Should Williams play guard or center? He can do both, and so can Graham Barton. Whether it's Williams at left guard and Barton at center or vice versa, the offensive line would take a step forward.
We all know about the Buccaneers' embarrassment of riches at wide receiver, while Baker Mayfield is coming off arguably the best year of his career.
The next step is to ensure Mayfield is given time in the pocket. Wirfs, Goedeke, and Barton give the Bucs three reliable starters (although Barton hasn't played an NFL snap yet).
Add Williams to the mix, and the starting five could become one of the league's best.