Tag: buccaneers news

Why Bucs should pursue OT Jack Conklin in free agency

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be wise to address their need at right tackle through free agency rather than the NFL draft.

The NFL Scouting Combine begins in Indianapolis this weekend, where this year’s crop of talent for the NFL draft will be on full display for executives and coaches from all over the league.

But before the draft rolls around in April, there’s the all-important free agency period. And, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they’ll likely be active players this year given the number of free agents they have hitting the market coupled with their projected $85 million in cap room.

While several early mock drafts think Tampa Bay could go with an offensive tackle at the 14th spot, there’s a big-name tackle out there in Jack Conklin that could be lured to Tampa Bay via free agency.

Per Nick Shook of NFL.com:

“Signing the accomplished right tackle would be a coup for Tampa Bay, too. Bruce Arians doesn’t like drafting offensive linemen, and the Buccaneers have a need at right tackle. That seems to make for an excellent fit with Conklin, who rebounded from injury to play well for Tennessee’s run-first offense in 2019. Conklin is Gregg Rosenthal’s No. 25 free agent in this class and would provide an immediate long-term solution at the position, replacing 34-year-old veteran Demar Dotson.”

Conklin was the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Tennessee Titans. As a rookie in 2016, Conklin played in and started all 16 games, earning first-team All-Pro honors. He again started 16 games in 2017, but tore his ACL in a playoff game against the New England Patriots, which limited him to just nine games in 2018. Last offseason, the Titans announced they would not be picking up Conklin’s fifth-year option, which is why he’s hitting the market now.

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NFL.com ranks Buccaneers’ rookie class as second-best of 2019

See why NFL.com thinks the Buccaneers’ rookie class was the second-best in the NFL in 2019.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not have made it to the postseason in 2019, but the second half of the regular season saw them playing some of their best football in ages. A 4-2 finish to the season has people thinking playoffs next year.

But that’s easier said than done. The Buccaneers have a number of big-name free agents, including quarterback Jameis Winston and linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks this past season. While free agency looms large for the Bucs, they also have the NFL draft coming up in a few months.

Last year, Tampa Bay reloaded on defense with players like Devin White, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean. The Bucs’ rookies were so impressive that NFL.com ranked them as the second-best rookie class of 2019, behind only the San Francisco 49ers.

Here’s their breakdown of the Bucs’ young rooks:

“White (91 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed, one pick, three forced fumbles) was a stud, proving himself worthy of the No. 5 pick. Murphy-Bunting (44 tackles, three picks) also proved to be a legitimate player as a rookie, as did Dean, who finished with 17 passes defended and two interceptions in 13 games. Edwards was a valuable contributor as well, recording 45 tackles, one sack and six passes defended. Gay solved Tampa Bay’s kicking problem, showing off his strong leg on multiple occasions in making five of eight attempts from 50-plus yards. Miller caught just 13 passes but made the most of them, recording 200 yards (15.4 yards per catch) and a touchdown in 10 games.”

Tampa Bay owns the 14th pick in April’s NFL draft, and Will Brinson of CBS Sports thinks the Bucs will look to LSU safety Grant Delpit to help their secondary. Hopefully, the organization will have just as much success this time around in the draft as they did last year.

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Throwback Thursday: Devin White becomes a Buccaneer

Take a look back at the 2019 NFL Draft to see the moment when LSU linebacker Devin White officially became a Buccaneer.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the 14th pick in April’s NFL draft after a 7-9 finish in 2019. Last year, the Bucs selected in the fifth spot, using the pick to take star linebacker Devin White out of LSU.

White was considered by many to be the best linebacker in his class, and several analysts pegged White to be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. White’s rookie year got off to a rough start, however, as he battled tonsillitis in the week leading up to the home opener against the San Francisco 49ers, and then suffered a knee sprain in Week 2 that sidelined him for three games.

But White came on strong in the second half of the season, winning defensive rookie of the month in November and December and capping off his season with a 91-yard fumble return touchdown in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. It was White’s second fumble recovery touchdown of the season and the longest in franchise history.

White is the cornerstone of this young Bucs defense, and the team is hopeful he’ll be their leader on and off the field for years to come. For now, though, take a look back at that fateful moment on draft night in 2019.

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Jameis Winston summons the wisdom of Yoda to explain parenting

See what Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston had to say on Instagram about parenting.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is eagerly awaiting to learn his fate with the franchise that selected him first overall in 2015.

After five seasons and zero playoff appearances, the Bucs can part ways with Winston this offseason if they decide it is time to move on. But even though Winston threw 30 interceptions last season, he did become just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards. Several former NFL quarterbacks, including former Bruce Arians pupil Carson Palmer, have advocated for Winston’s return, saying he could have a massive Year 2 in Arians’ system.

While the stress of the unknown may be getting to the quarterback at times, he’s fortunate enough to have another, more important, full-time job to keep him distracted: being a dad.

And, as Winston’s latest post on his Instagram story hilariously shows, parenting is always full of questions… especially when it comes to babies sitting on dogs.

Take a look.

Wise words, Yoda. Wise words. (Also, that’s a sick Yoda outfit.)

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The Bucs’ interest in Philip Rivers seems legitimate

Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers actually turn to veteran Philip Rivers to be their quarterback in 2020?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be on the cusp on making a return to the postseason, somewhere they haven’t been since 2007.

Despite finishing only 7-9, Tampa Bay went on a surge in the second half of the season after a 3-7 start. The biggest story of the year was, of course, the play of quarterback Jameis Winston, who captivated the league with his exciting, yet turnover-filled play. The former Heisman Trophy winner threw for over 5,000 yards, but also became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw at least 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season.

Tampa Bay is still deciding whether or not to bring Winston back in 2020. One name that has been floated around as a possible replacement for Winston is former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who recently moved his entire family out of their San Diego home and to Florida.

And, according to ESPN reporter Jenna Laine, the Bucs’ interest in Rivers seems legit.

Per Laine:

“The Philip Rivers rumors aren’t circulating just because Rivers and his family moved to Florida. League sources say the Bucs’ interest in the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback is legitimate, although Rivers has been plagued by many of the same issues that Winston has — interceptions. He has thrown 198 picks since 2004, third most of any player in that span. He also has thrown the second-most interceptions over the past five seasons (76), behind only Winston’s 88.”

Rivers does throw picks, but he’s proven he can get his team into the playoffs and even win. He’s a veteran and experienced quarterback who would definitely bring some swagger and confidence to that Bucs locker room.

But again, I’d feel more confident in Winston leading the Bucs in 2020 than Rivers, simply because it will be Winston’s second year in Arians’ system. I don’t think the Bucs or Arians want to go through another season of trying to get a quarterback comfortable in the offense.

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Where do the Bucs land on ESPN’s way-too-early 2020 NFL Power Rankings?

See why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be optimistic heading into the offseason.

With Super Bowl LIV in the books, the 2019 NFL season is officially over. The 100th year of the NFL concluded with a dramatic game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, which ultimately saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs come out victorious.

Now, every team will look ahead to the 2020 season, using the upcoming offseason — namely, the NFL draft and free agency — to try and revamp their roster in their quest to make it to Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay next year.

So, how do the Buccaneers stack up against the rest of the league heading into the offseason? In ESPN’s way-too-early 2020 NFL Power Rankings offseason poll, the Bucs come in at No. 19, and the reason they should be optimistic heading into 2020 is because of their strong finish to the 2019 season.

“They won five of their final eight games (and four of their final six), suggesting that coach Bruce Arians is starting to turn things around. And while the quarterback situation is currently unsettled with Jameis Winston, the Bucs’ defense figures to take the next step as Arians said that keeping that group intact is a priority.”

It’s been a while since Bucs fans have entered an offseason with this much optimism. Hopefully, Bruce Arians can help them remain focused on the task at hand.

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Jameis Winston’s latest Instagram story might offer a glimpse into his current state

This latest Instagram story from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston may offer a look into his current state of mind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston was hoping the 2019 season would be the defining moment of his career, when he’d finally prove to everyone that he was worthy of being the first overall pick in 2015.

But Winston’s season was filled with extremes both high and low, as he threw for over 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns, but also had a league-leading 30 interceptions. Now, he’ll have to wait and see what the Bucs decide to do with him since he was playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract.

The uncertainty is probably causing Winston some stress, since millions of dollars are on the line here. And, this latest post on Winston’s Instagram story might give us a glimpse into his current state of mind, which is to say, trying to maintain positivity through uncertainty.

Take a look.

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Why Winston returning to the Bucs is the only logical thing for both sides

See why Dan Parr of NFL.com thinks Jameis Winston returning to Tampa Bay makes the most sense for both sides.

You remember Murphy’s Law, which states “anything that can go wrong will go wrong”? I feel like that law applies to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jameis Winston this season.

Entering the year, the front office hoped that the hiring of Bruce Arians would be just the thing to turn Winston’s career around, and hopefully give them clarity on whether or not he’s the long-term answer under center. But when the final whistle blew in Week 17, the team seemed further away from a decision than ever. That’s because Winston went out and had one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory. Not only did he surpass 5,000 passing yards, becoming just the eighth player ever to do so, but he also became the first quarterback ever to throw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season.

Winston was playing on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, so the Bucs can let him walk if they decide to go a different route. So, where would Winston rank among quarterbacks on the open market? In their ranking of the top 8 free agent quarterbacks, NFL.com has Winston listed at No. 7, ahead of only Marcus Mariota.

Here’s what writer Dan Parr thinks about Winston:

“Famous Jameis threw for a career-high 33 TD passes last season (second-most in the league). The problem is, he also hit the 30 mark in INTs, becoming the first 30-30 player ever. That’s not the kind of history you want to make. He continues to tease with some rapturous quarterbacking at times, but net-neutral QB play is not going to be enough for a team to be a consistent winner in this era of professional football. That’s right. It’s not going to lead to enough tasty Ws. The man is too often a victim of his own poor decision making to sniff the top tier.”

As for where he thinks Winston will ultimately end up landing this offseason, Parr says the only logical choice is Tampa Bay.

Per Parr (as fun to type as it is to say):

“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it makes perfect sense for the Bucs to begrudgingly welcome Winston back on a one-year deal. Tampa Bay holds the 14th pick in Round 1, which most likely will put them out of range to land one of the top quarterbacks available in this year’s draft (SEE: Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft 1.0). Unless they plan to go all in on trading up to land one of those rookie passers, Winston will probably be their best option for 2020. Sorry, Bucs fans.”

I think there are more than a few Bucs fans who want to see Winston back in 2020. After all, several former quarterbacks, including Carson Palmer and Hall of Famer Steve Young, think Winston could have a big Year 2 under Bruce Arians.

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Shaq Barrett is ‘confident’ he’ll be back with the Buccaneers

See what Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett had to say at the Pro Bowl today about his impending free agency.

Shaq Barrett had one of the most memorable seasons in Buccaneers history this season, breaking the franchise’s single-season sack record that had stood since 2000. Barrett’s 19.5 sacks also led the league this year, earning him Second-Team All-Pro honors and a trip to the Pro Bowl. And, it’s probably earned him a big contract this offseason.

The soon-to-be free agent, who signed a one-year deal with the Bucs last offseason, will certainly draw the interest of clubs from around the league. But, Barrett has maintained throughout the season that he prefers to stay in Tampa Bay, and Bruce Arians, himself, has said Barrett “ain’t going nowhere.”

At the Pro Bowl today, Barrett reiterated that point.

Barrett returning to Tampa Bay seems all but certain, but until he puts pen to paper, nothing is a slam dunk. Still, if you were debating whether or not to buy that Shaq Barrett Bucs jersey, I think it’s safe to say you’ll get some good use out of it in the years to come.

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Ndamukong Suh is living his best life in wine country

See how Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh spent his birthday weekend.

The NFL’s Wild-Card Weekend saw some major upsets that’ll make next week’s divisional round all the more intriguing for those still involved in the postseason.

But, for those teams and players not fortunate enough to take part in the playoffs, the weekend provided a little time away from the game to get their bodies and minds back in order.

Take Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, for instance. The big man, who helped turn the Bucs’ rush defense into the best in the league this season, spent the weekend enjoying wine in Napa Valley with his lovely fiancee, likely celebrating his birthday, which just so happens to be today.

Take a look.

View this post on Instagram

Wine country always gets me🍷

A post shared by Ndamukong Suh (@ndamukong_suh) on

Suh signed a one-year deal with the Bucs last offseason to replace the hole left by veteran Gerald McCoy. Given how well Tampa’s defensive front played this season, you can be sure the Bucs will try and bring Suh back for another go in 2020.

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