Every Tampa Bay Buccaneers player set to become a free agent this offseason

Now that the offseason is unfortunately here for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the first order of business is preparing for what the free agency situation will be in March. Part of this involves looking at deals the Bucs might be able to restructure to free up some money to make moves, but it also means looking at players with expiring deals and assessing what happens next.

For a few guys, it feels like a no-brainer that they should be brought back while others might have already played their final down the the team.

Tampa Bay has over 20 players set to hit unrestricted free agency, with a handful more getting other designations. J.J. Russell, for example, is going to be a restricted free agent which means the Bucs will be be able to match any offer that he gets and bring him back, while anyone who is unrestricted won't have that sort of protection.

With about $11 million in cap space -- before restructures -- the Bucs have some big decisions to make on who comes back and who doesn't.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agents this offseason

Any and all lists about Buccaneers free agents should begin with Chris Godwin and Lavonte David. Both should absolutely be brought back if possible, and it seems that finding a way to make that happen will be a priority for Tampa Bay this offseason.

It's a bit of a trickier case with Godwin than David, who has returned twice on one-year deals and seems to be contemplating retirement. If he wants to play another year, it won't be anywhere other than Tampa, which makes the situation a little more cut-and-dry.

Godwin was on pace to cash in big time before he suffered a season-ending injury back in October. Had he continued playing on the level he was, chances are he would have been priced out of the Buccaneers' comfort zone and the conversation heading into the offseason would have been entirely different.

Instead, there's a real chance he returns on a deal not unlike what the team gave Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield. Think less about the overall money and more about the vibes; Godwin loves being in Tampa Bay and everyone in the building loves him just as much. Rather than leave, the two sides could come to an agreement on a deal that pays Godwin fairly without breaking the bank for the Bucs.

That's what happened with not only Evans and Mayfield, but Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tristan Wirfs as well. Tampa Bay is a well-run orginization, and gone are the days where free agents flee and the team isn't viewed as a destination.

Godwin will be a hinge on which the offseason swings, at least early on.

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