A Super Bowl window always has its costs, and for the Bucs, the bill comes due. $55 million over the cap, Tampa will have few resources to replenish its roster in free agency so they will be on the hunt for any bargains they can find.
While the Bucs can retain most of their offense, they are missing a key piece: a quarterback. Kyle Trask is the the only passer under contract, but he has yet to attempt more than 10 passes in the NFL, let alone start a game.
On defense, the Bucs are set to lose numerous starters and depth players. The secondary in particular could be devastated by free agency with Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal all on expiring contracts.
The Bucs will have to be very judicious with how they address these roster holes. Primary targets will include aging veterans, reclamation projects and borderline starters—anyone willing to take a smaller paycheck.
While most players in these categories are inexpensive for a reason, there are some hidden gems that could provide good value at a low cost.
Here are a few budget free agents the Bucs should sign: