Bucs 2024 Free Agency Tracker – UPDATED

Free company started in earnest on Monday, March 11 at midday ET when the open negotiating interval started and potential free brokers may start to barter with groups. Offers with new free brokers started to be signed and finalized on Wednesday, March 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Bucs kicked off free company with a bang – re-signing a number of essential gamers earlier than they hit the open market.

Pewter Report will observe Tampa Bay’s additions and losses to the roster within the coming weeks with the Bucs 2024 Free Company Tracker, which might be up to date with information and rumors as we come throughout info from our workforce and league sources.

THE LATEST RUMORS

UPDATED 3/16 3:15 pm ET: The Bucs don’t seem like accomplished including to their rebuilt secondary, as ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that free agent cornerback Tavierre Thomas is about to satisfy with Tampa Bay after not too long ago visiting the Lions in his hometown of Detroit.

Former Texans CB Tavierre Thomas – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

Tampa Bay already added a brand new robust security to its secondary this week with the signing of Jordan Whitehead, plus the workforce added cornerback Bryce Corridor on Friday. Whitehead will begin alongside All-Professional Antoine Winfield Jr. at security whereas Corridor will are available in because the No. 3 cornerback, a spot that beforehand belonged to Zyon McCollum earlier than he was moved as much as the No. 2 function after the Carlton Davis III commerce.

As for Thomas, he may present competitors at nickel cornerback, as that’s the place he’s seen nearly all of his work within the NFL. If the Bucs signal Thomas, a Ferris State product, it will give 2023 undrafted free agent Christian Izien some competitors this summer time. Izien began all 17 video games for Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers final season.

Thomas beforehand hung out with the Browns earlier than enjoying in Houston over the past three seasons. He signed a one-year cope with Houston final yr with a $1.5 million base wage. With bonus cash, his cap hit with the Texans in 2023 was $2,147,060.

UPDATED 3/16 9:00 am ET: The brand new additions of offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta don’t imply the Bucs are accomplished at attempting to improve the middle and guard positions this offseason.

Bucs G/C Ben Bredeson – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

Tampa Bay must discover a new beginning left guard after letting each Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie go in free company, in addition to backup Nick Leverett. And the Bucs would like to improve the middle place the place Robert Hainsey has been common at greatest over the past two years whereas filling in for the injured Ryan Jensen.

As of proper now, the plan Bredeson will compete at heart the place he began 5 video games final yr in New York, in addition to guard the place he had 10 begins for the Giants in 2023 after starting his profession with the Ravens. Opeta is strictly a guard candidate after seeing six begins at proper guard final season in Philadelphia.

There’s a probability that both Bredeson or Opeta emerges as a starter in Tampa Bay relying on how they carry out in coaching camp and the preseason, nevertheless it’s extra possible that they’re youthful, greater, stronger backup gamers than Stinnie or Leverett. Bredeson is 6-foot-5, 315 kilos, whereas Opeta is 6-foot-4, 305 kilos, however benched 39 reps of 225 kilos popping out of faculty.

The Bucs are anticipated to search for offensive line assist in the draft – probably within the first spherical the place Tampa Bay may draft Duke’s Graham Barton at No. 26 or use their newly acquired third-round choose to maneuver up and draft Jackson Powers-Johnson earlier within the first spherical. The Bucs may even double up on offensive linemen within the draft, choosing a middle and a guard, thus relegating Bredeson and Opeta to order standing the place they is perhaps higher suited.

UPDATED 3/15 5:00 pm ET: The Bucs had a serious concentrate on the inside offensive line on Friday afternoon. They signed Ben Bredeson, Sua Opeta and re-signed Justin Skule. Bredeson and Opeta play on the inside, so it’s an indication that the Bucs are doing every thing they will to improve in that space. Backup quarterback John Wolford was re-signed as properly. He’ll proceed his function because the third quarterback on the depth chart.

UPDATED 3/15 11:00 am ET: The Bucs added cornerback depth with the signing of Bryce Corridor, who performed the final 4 years with the New York Jets. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Corridor is nice scheme match for Todd Bowles protection.

Corridor performed the final two years with newly signed Jordan Whitehead within the Jets secondary and the 2 will reunite in Tampa Bay.

BUCS RE-SIGNINGS

ILB Lavonte David – one-year deal value not less than $9 million with incentives to hit $10 million
RB Chase Edmonds – one-year deal value $1.5 million
DT Greg Gaines – one-year deal value $3.5 million
K Chase McLaughlin – three-year deal value $12 million
QB Baker Mayfield – three-year deal value not less than $100 million with $50 million in assured cash
OT Brandon Walton – one-year deal value $985,000
WR Deven Thompkins – one-year deal value $985,000
FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – one-year deal value $17.123 million through the franchise tag
WR Mike Evans – two-year deal value not less than $41 million
OT Justin Skule – one-year deal
QB John Wolford – one-year deal

BUCS NEW ADDITIONS IN FREE AGENCY

Jets (former Bucs) SS Jordan Whitehead – two-year deal value $9 million with incentives to hit $10.5 million
Jets CB Bryce Hall – one yr deal
Giants OL Ben Bredeson – one-year deal
Eagles OL Sua Opeta – one-year deal

TAMPA BAY’S SALARY CAP ROOM

UPDATED 3/13 2:05 pm ET: In keeping with OverTheCap.com, the Bucs have $7,289,611 in obtainable cap area after the re-signings of Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Greg Gaines and Chase McLaughlin however earlier than re-signing Chase Edmonds and signing Jordan Whitehead. However that determine doesn’t account for Russell Gage’s launch, which creates an extra $6.448 million of cap area.

BUCS REMAINING FREE AGENTS

Here’s a record of the remaining Bucs free brokers. Inside linebacker Devin White, robust security Ryan Neal and left guard Matt Feiler usually are not anticipated to be re-signed by Tampa Bay – and there might be others who don’t return as properly.

G-C Nick Leverett – one-year cope with New England, monetary phrases not but disclosed

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and Devin White – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

OLB Shaq Barrett – one-year deal value as a lot as $9 million with Miami
ILB Devin White – one-year deal value as a lot as $7.5 million with Philly
DT Will Gholston
LG Matt Feiler
LG Aaron Stinnie – one-year cope with the New York Giants, monetary phrases not but disclsed
SS Ryan Neal
LS Zach Triner
WR David Moore
DT Pat O’Connor
OLB Cam Gill
CB Dee Delaney

CONTRACT RESTRUCTURES / CAP CASUALTIES / TRADES

Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

UPDATED: 3/11 – 6:20 p.m. ET: In an anticipated transfer, Tampa Bay has traded cornerback Carlton Davis III, who turns 28 in December, to Detroit. The oft-injured Davis had a $14 million base wage and is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract. Pewter Report has forecast this transfer for a while. Zyon McCollum is now anticipated to begin reverse Jamel Dean at cornerback in Tampa Bay.

UPDATED 3/11 – 6:05 p.m. ET: In an anticipated transfer, the Bucs parted ways with wide receiver Russell Gage on Monday. Gage’s choice yr in 2024 was not picked up and he turns into a free agent. The transfer creates $6.448 million in cap room.

Anticipate contract restructures to occur this week for gamers with excessive 2024 base salaries like defensive sort out Vita Vea ($15.5 million) and cornerback Jamel Dean ($12 million).

Tampa Bay may also create extra cap room this offseason by doing long-term contract extensions with Professional Bowl left sort out Tristan Wirfs and All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. and reducing the first-year base wage for every of these gamers.

The workforce picked up Wirfs’ fifth-year choice for 2024, so he’s presently below contract for $18.244 million in base wage and has a present cap hit of $18,606,582, which features a prorated quantity from his signing bonus again in 2020. The franchise tag quantity for Winfield is $17.123 million in 2024.

TAMPA BAY’S 2024 PERSONNEL NEEDS

With quarterback Baker Mayfield, huge receiver Mike Evans, security Antoine Winfield Jr. and kicker Chase McLaughlin again within the fold for 2024, the workforce nonetheless has some urgent personnel wants to handle this offseason. Free company begins now, adopted by the 2024 NFL Draft, and Tampa Bay’s wants occur to align completely with the power and depth of sure positions in free company.

Outdoors Linebacker

Patriots EDGE Josh Uche – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

The Bucs have moved on from getting older veteran Shaq Barrett and will use one other, higher move rusher to begin reverse YaYa Diaby, who had a promising rookie yr and led the workforce with 7.5 sacks. Tampa Bay will not be anticipated to go big-game attempting to find the highest edge rushers in free company however may goal value-type gamers like New England’s Josh Uche as a substitute. Or the workforce may at all times draft one other exterior linebacker subsequent month.

In-house choices to interchange Barrett embody former first-round choose Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who’s coming into a contract yr, veteran reserve Anthony Nelson and second-year gamers Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez, who’ve the workforce enthusiastic about their potential.

Left Guard

With Tampa Bay not re-signing Matt Feiler and on the lookout for an improve over Aaron Stinnie, left guard is a precedence this offseason. The Bucs invested over $30 million per yr into Mayfield and have to do a greater job of defending him in 2024. There are some free-agent choices, however the 2024 NFL Draft is deep at guard. Duke’s Graham Barton is presently the choose for Tampa Bay in Pewter Report’s newest Bucs mock draft.

Heart

The Bucs may use an improve over Robert Hainsey, who has been common at greatest because the workforce’s beginning heart for the previous two seasons. There was an enormous drop off in expertise from Ryan Jensen, who suffered a career-ending knee harm in coaching camp again in 2022, and Hainsey.

Free company occurs to be loaded on the place with former Rams heart Brian Allen and Titans heart Aaron Brewer being potentialities. There are additionally a number of high quality facilities within the 2024 NFL Draft, beginning with Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, and even Duke’s Graham Barton, who can play heart and guard on the subsequent degree.

Robust Security

Former Bucs S Jordan Whitehead – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ryan Neal was a bust and the Bucs might be shifting on from him this offseason. Tampa Bay must discover a complement to Antoine Winfield Jr. both in free company or the draft – each are loaded on the place. The Bucs wouldn’t thoughts reuniting with Jordan Whitehead if the worth was proper, however Winfield must be keen to take an enormous pay reduce to return to Tampa Bay.

The Bucs have a few in-house candidates in Kaevon Merriweather and Christian Izien, who began all 17 video games at nickelback final yr, however performed some robust security at Rutgers. He’s constructed like Winfield and Whitehead.

Inside Linebacker

The Bucs usually are not re-signing former first-round choose Devin White after two very inconsistent and disappointing seasons. This place turns into super-prioritized if free agent Lavonte David doesn’t return. Shedding one beginning inside linebacker is one factor, however Todd Bowles can’t fathom shedding each of his starters in the identical offseason. David must return, however the Bucs may signal a price free agent like Buffalo’s Tyrel Dodson or Houston’s Blake Cashman.

Tampa Bay has some in-house candidates to interchange White, together with Ok.J. Britt, who’s coming into a contract yr. Britt really unseated White as a starter down the stretch final yr. J.J. Russell is another choice and carried out properly in his lone begin rather than White final yr versus Carolina. SirVocea Dennis will even be within the combine, however he’s higher suited to ultimately change David at Mo linebacker moderately than play Mike linebacker.

Operating Again

Chase Edmonds was slated to turn out to be a free agent however the Bucs re-signed him on a one-year deal. But Tampa Bay wants extra expertise within the backfield behind Rachaad White in case he will get injured. The Bucs had been fortunate that White was wholesome for all 17 video games as there was an enormous drop-off in expertise on the depth chart.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn was reduce final yr and the Bucs may signal one other working again in free company and nonetheless draft one in April. Sean Tucker is again for one more season however was seldom used as a rookie and isn’t a lock to make the workforce.