With the entire NFL turning their attention now to the 2020 season, teams are preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of the month and the start of free agency next month.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several big-name free agents who can hit the open market, so the front office needs to be wise about where they spend their money. Bringing back the league leader in sacks from 2019, Shaq Barrett, is a good place to start, but what about the quarterback position?
It’s no secret that Jameis Winston has failed to live up to expectations during his five years in Tampa. The question now is whether or not the Bucs want to invest one more season in the former Heisman Trophy winner. Tampa Bay may very well be seeking a short-term deal with Winston, possibly even just one year. Winston, meanwhile, is likely hoping to get some long-term security.
Perhaps it is because of this standoff and uncertainty that Bill Barnwell of ESPN, in his 2020 free agency predictions and the dominoes that could fall, thinks the Bucs may very well end up investing in veteran Philip Rivers, with a three-year, $90 million deal.
Per Barnwell:
“It warms my heart to see Rivers and Bruce Arians come together for one ride into the sunset. It’s a great fit for both player and scheme, as both would throw the ball vertically every play if they could. This deal has minimal guaranteed money after 2020, freeing up the Bucs to pursue another quarterback in 2021 if it doesn’t work out.”
Is Rivers really that big of an upgrade over Winston, though? He does have playoff experience, but he throws interceptions almost as often as Winston.
And, Barnwell thinks that if the Bucs manage to land Rivers, they could try and bring in Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, Rivers’ old teammate, on a four-year, $36 million deal.
“If Bruce Arians tries to bring in Philip Rivers to play quarterback, the second-year coach might consider adding Rivers’ former teammate to play alongside him in the backfield, too. Gordon would be an upgrade on Ronald Jones and the sort of receiving back Arians hasn’t had since David Johnson’s breakout year in 2016.”