Tag: Bucs free agency

Lavonte David says he’ll either return to the Bucs or retire for 2024

Whatever happens, don’t expect Lavonte David to wear another uniform — he plans on being a Buccaneer for life.

We may not know whether or not Lavonte David intends to play football in 2024, but one thing appears certain — he won’t put on any other uniform.

David recently spoke with WDAE on their sports radio show, and he was asked point blank if his two options were to come back to the Buccaneers or retire. David not only confirmed this in the interview, but he seemed to lean toward the former in the way he spoke about his upcoming year.

“Yeah you could say that,” David said. “It’s at the point right now in my career, you know, 12 years playing at one organization, a place that I’ve grown to be a man, where I started as a young man and I grew into a man, in the city of Tampa.”

David said that he loves the community in Tampa Bay and the work he’s been able to do for it, and that playing for a single franchise for his whole career is something valuable. And of course, he reiterated that he wants to do that and to retire as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

“Of course I would want to do that, I would want to stay a Buc for the rest of my career as long as I play,” David said. “At the end of the day, I do want to retire a Buc, but it’s just gotta be a mutual thing.”

David’s words (particularly “as long as I play”) seem to indicate that he’s leaning towards staying, but we’ll have to wait and see what his decision is as free agency draws nearer.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1364]

 

Projected market value for top Buccaneers 2024 free agents

Quite a few Bucs could earn some big money this offseason. See just how much four of Tampa Bay’s biggest free agents could make per year after free agency:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some decisions to make in the coming month.

The team has quite a few notable free agents, with players like Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield Jr. being major contributors in the team’s 2023 run that saw them reach the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs. The Bucs will likely want most of their free agents back, but whether or not they are able to do so will depend on what each player wants and what they can make work going forward in 2024 and beyond.

Spotrac estimates the market value per year for the top free agents of the league, and they’ve given four evaluations for the Bucs. Check out the ballpark number for four big Tampa Bay free agents down below:

Ranking the Bucs’ offseason needs for 2024

The offseason has arrived for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and there are some spots on the team that need more attention than others in free agency and the draft.

With the offseason in full swing, the Buccaneers will be deep into their roster building ahead of free agency and the draft. With at least six starters pending free agency and upgrades needed at several positions, general manager Jason Licht has his work cut out for him.

Some of Tampa Bay’s offseason priorities will be easier to identify than others. The offensive line’s struggles and the lack of reliable edge rush in 2023 were well documented. Some bigger priorities may not be as apparent as some positions have veteran starters who just need a new calendar in their lockers to get back on track.

The first piece of the puzzle will be Licht’s ability to keep certain pending free agents and willingness to let others go. Then the Bucs will look to the draft to address their long-term needs.

Here are the Bucs’ offseason needs from least concerning to most worrisome:

Gil Brandt says Bucs had the second-best offseason of 2020

See why Gil Brandt at NFL.com had the Bucs ranked second on his list of teams who had the best offseason, and find out who landed at one.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready to shed their losing ways and get back to the postseason for the first time since 2007. With Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and a solid class of talented young rookies, Tampa Bay looks like a team ready to contend. Not to mention, they retained key defensive players like Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett.

It’s hard to argue that Tampa Bay didn’t have successful offseason. What might be hard to argue is who had a better one? Gil Brandt over at NFL.com seems to think the Miami Dolphins had the best offseason of 2020, ranking the Bucs second on his list.

First, here’s part of what Brandt loved about the Bucs:

“Some might question exactly how much Tom Brady has left in the tank, considering he’ll be 43 by the time the season starts. But there’s no doubting the positive impact he’s already had on this team since signing on to play quarterback. There’s nothing like adding one of the best quarterbacks of all time to provide the rest of the players on this roster with the hope that this will be the year Tampa returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. One other piece of good news: The defense should be able to build off a strong finish to 2020, especially with the return of the franchise-tagged Shaquil Barrett and the re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh.”

As for why Brandt ranked the Dolphins ahead of Tampa Bay, it seems he’s a big fan of the roster rebuild taking place under head coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier. Plus, the fact that Miami was able to land a potential franchise quarterback (finally) in Tua Tagovailoa without giving up picks to move up to get him earned big points in Brandt’s book.

I doubt Tampa Bay and its fans cares about Brandt’s list. They are more than happy with the offseason they’ve had, as they should be.

[lawrence-related id=32678,32670,32664,32646]

Lavonte David is ready to ride with S Andrew Adams and the Bucs defense

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David is ready to ride into the 2020 season with this fellow teammates.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made some big moves in free agency to ensure their defense remains intact as much as possible. The Bucs not only used the franchise tag on NFL sack leader Shaq Barrett, but they also reached deals with both Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh. Those, of course, were the big names free agents, along with Tom Brady, that the Bucs secured.

But, there are other players on defense that are returning next year who may be flying under the radar, like safety Andrew Adams, who played in 14 games for the Bucs last season, starting 11. He finished the year with an interception and forced fumble. The Bucs announced this week that he would be returning as well in 2020.

Adams took to Instagram recently and gave a shout-out to his fellow teammates, including Lavonte David, who included Adams’ post in his own Instagram story.

Take a look at the screenshot below.

[lawrence-related id=29833,29816,29810,29803]

Buccaneers earn top marks in USA TODAY’s NFL free agency grades

See what Nate Davis of USA TODAY thinks of the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they made a big splash in free agency.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans have been stuck in the doldrums for over a decade, longing for a return to the glory days when their stifling defense made them a perennial contender for a Super Bowl championship.

But now that quarterback Tom Brady has boarded the ship, the winds of fortune are beginning to change for the Bucs. Couple the addition of Brady with the re-signing of Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, as well as the tagging of Shaq Barrett, and Tampa Bay looks like a legitimate threat to the rest of the league.

Nate Davis of USA TODAY has loved what he’s seen so far from the Buccaneers in free agency, which is why he awarded them an A- in his NFL free agency grades.

Per Davis:

“The stunning import of Brady energizes the previously dormant franchise and a fan base now realistically floating Super Bowl aspirations. A defense that retained DL Ndamukong Suh and pass rushers Jason Pierre-Paul and franchise-tagged sack king Shaq Barrett will benefit greatly simply because TB12 won’t compromise it the way his predecessor, turnover machine Jameis Winston, did. And GM Jason Licht still has about $20 million to potentially patch holes at running back, defensive back and offensive tackle.”

Jameis Winston doesn’t need to wear sunglasses after all the shade Davis just threw his way. It may sound harsh, but the numbers don’t lie. Winston’s 30 interceptions last year were a detriment to the team’s success, despite the fact that Tampa Bay finished tied for third in scoring (28.6 points per game). A 7-9 finish on the year made it just one winning season in five for Winston, which likely made the Bucs’ decision to move on from him a little easier.

While Brady prepares to take over one of the league’s best offenses, Winston continues searching for a home. Hopefully, he’ll get another chance to prove himself in the not too distant future.

[lawrence-related id=29707,29694,29676,29668]

Ndamukong Suh returning to the Bucs on a one-year deal

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing back another major piece of their defense by agreeing to a one-year deal with Ndamukong Suh.

When Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, he mentioned one of the team’s offseason goals was to try and keep their defense together, namely, the front seven. Given that the Bucs ranked first in rush defense in 2019, allowing just 73.8 yards per game on the ground, it felt like a big request.

Arians’ words seemed more wishful thinking than anything else, given how many unrestricted free agents the Bucs had, namely on the defensive side of the ball. Well, after retaining both Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, the Bucs went ahead and brought back the behemoth, himself, Ndamukong Suh.

Suh’s return means the Bucs will once again boast one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts. The Tom Brady signing was huge for the Bucs, but it is clear they are still prioritizing their defense. Tampa Bay is in “win now” mode.

[lawrence-related id=29616,29602,29587,29579]

John Breech of CBS Sports thinks Bucs have ‘best selling point’ when it comes to QB Tom Brady

See why John Breech of CBS Sports believes the Buccaneers are the most attractive landing spot for soon-to-be free agent Tom Brady.

Until free agency begins on March 18, the NFL rumor mill will be in full swing. Lately, one of the hottest rumors out there has New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady considering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a future home. And why not? The team has two star receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, a promising tight end in O.J. Howard and a young, up-and-coming defense.

While some may find it hard to envision Brady suiting up for the Bucs, where there’s smoke, there could be fire. And, John Breech of CBS Sports, speaking on the Pick Six Podcast, added fuel to that fire by saying Tampa Bay offers Brady the ideal situation.

Per Breech:

“A, it gets you out of the AFC; there’s no Patrick Mahomes to worry about … (and) you don’t want to go up against Belichick. No. 2, Bruce Arians, his pitch is going to be, ‘Look, man, I’m 67 years old. I’m not coaching for five more years. I’m coaching for, like, two more years … I want to win right now, (and) I’ve got all these offensive weapons. I just feel like the Bucs have the best selling point as far as the most potential to win right now.”

It’s hard to argue with Breech’s reasoning. Tampa Bay looks like an appealing destination for any quarterback, especially one looking to win a Super Bowl right now like Brady is. Time will tell if the Golden Boy is seriously considering Tampa Bay, but for now, I suppose no news is good news for Bucs fans.

[lawrence-related id=28753,28746,28737]

Jameis Winston’s impending free agency could make NFL history

See why Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston could find himself a part of history when free agency hits this offseason.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need to address their list of unrestricted agents once the free agency period opens in a month. One of the biggest names on that list is quarterback Jameis Winston, who had a roller-coaster season to say the least as he threw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

Given that Winston was playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, the Bucs can let him walk if they decide it’s time for a change. Winston seems to be doing everything he can to keep the Bucs interested, even going so far as to get LASIK surgery recently to correct his nearsightedness.

The Bucs haven’t decided yet, at least not publicly, whether they’ll bring Winston back for a second year in Bruce Arians’ system. So, if and when Winston hits the open market, he could find himself a part of NFL history, as he won’t be the only 5,000-yard quarterback looking to get paid.

Per NFL.com’s Grant Gordon:

“The latest [5,000-yard passer] was Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, a one-man roller coaster who led the NFL with 5,109 yards passing. Among the top-class contingent he joined in the 5,000-yard club are Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Saints signal-caller Drew Brees. The three of them are impending unrestricted free agents and in the history of the game, no 5,000-yard thrower has ever achieved that feat and gone on to play for another team. Winston might well be the No. 1 contender for that to happen. Or perhaps it’s Brady. Either way, it’s never happened before.”

Given that there have only been eight players in NFL history — with Winston being the eighth — to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, the fact that three of the quarterbacks ever to do so are hitting the open market at the same time is mind-boggling.

As for whether or not Winston is the most likely contender to switch teams, let’s just say it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Brady and Brees, both of whom have won Super Bowls for their respective teams, remain where they are. Winston, however, has yet to lead his team to the postseason in five years.

Winston Watch 2020 is in full swing, folks.

[lawrence-related id=28275,28256,28247,28239]

Bill Barnwell says the Bucs could compete for Jadeveon Clowney

Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the space to lure pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Sunshine State?

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.

[lawrence-related id=28224,28213,27512,27761]