The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the makings of a playoff team entering 2020, but they’ll have to make the right moves this offseason to ensure their strong finish to 2019 doesn’t go to waste.
The Bucs have several big-name free agents hitting the open market, including pass rushers like Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and (vastly overlooked) Carl Nassib. Linebacker Shaq Barrett, who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks, is also slated to become a free agent, but all indications point to him and the Bucs striking a long-term deal at some point this offseason.
Locking up Barrett was the top priority on Bill Barnwell’s list of offseason moves the Bucs should make. Rebuilding the defensive front was right there on the list, too, and in his explanation, Barnwell points out the fact that the Bucs could be in play for one of the top free agents on the market, thanks to their projected $85 million in cap space.
Per Barnwell:
“Bringing back Suh and Nassib wouldn’t be the worst idea, although Suh has been happy to settle for one-year deals with the highest bidder in recent years. Pierre-Paul is likely to leave after restructuring his deal following his offseason car crash. Even if they spend $30 million per year on a quarterback, the Bucs also have the cap space to compete with the rest of the league on the top-end pass rushers in free agency, including Jadeveon Clowney and Chris Jones.”
Why wouldn’t a free agent like Clowney consider playing in Tampa Bay? Not only would he be playing for arguably the best defensive coordinator in the league in Todd Bowles, but also, no state income tax! I don’t think that gets talked about enough when it comes to free agents looking for a new home.
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