The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis as teams prepare for April’s NFL draft. But before that all-important day there’s the free agency period, and this year’s class is shaping up to be one of the best ever with players like Tom Brady, Dak Prescott and Jadeveon Clowney just a few of the big names on the list.
Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling of NFL.com tried to make sense of it all by listing their top 101 free agents of 2020. A few Buccaneers found themselves on the list, including linebacker Shaq Barrett, who led the NFL last season with 19.5 sacks. Barrett landed all the way at No. 5.
“Hard to expect a repeat of his 19.5-sack coming-out party, but that’s not to suggest Barrett is a one-year wonder. He busted out of the gate with nine sacks in September, closed strong with seven more in December and constantly battered quarterbacks throughout the 16-game race.”
As for quarterback Jameis Winston, he landed at No. 26, which seems like a solid spot for the much-maligned QB with the big arm.
“Winston never saw a sliver he couldn’t exploit, clinging to a gunslinging style which gooses his receivers’ counting numbers as well as his opponents’ takeaway totals. Can that recklessness be coached out of him without forfeiting the fearlessness necessary for big plays? To this point in his career, he’s thrown his team into more trouble than salvation.”
Jason Pierre-Paul came in at No. 32 and Ndamukong Suh at 66. Suffice it to say, the Bucs will have some tough financial decisions to make next month, ones that could have drastic ramifications on the 2020 season.
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