The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s talk Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key acquisitions: G Shaq Mason, WR Russell Gage, SS Keanu Neal, DB Logan Ryan, OT Fred Johnson
Re-signed: WR Chris Godwin, C Ryan Jensen, CB Carlton Davis, RB Leonard Fournette, DE William Gholston, WR Breshad Perriman, RB Giovani Bernard, QB Blaine Gabbert, OT Josh Wells, G Aaron Stinnie
Departures: G Ali Marpet, G Alex Cappa (Bengals), S Jordan Whitehead (Jets), TE O.J. Howard (Bills), RB Ronald Jones (Chiefs)
Remaining free agents: TE Rob Gronkowski, DT Ndamukong Suh, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Richard Sherman, LB Kevin Minter, DT Steve McLendon, CB Pierre Desir
Analysis: What an offseason for the Bucs. Tom Brady retires, all hope appears to be lost and the team was looking like its gonna be at the bottom of the league again, then 40 days later he is risen out of retirement and all is well. With so many free agents, it looked like they weren’t going to retain their core like they did last offseason, but they’ve somehow been able to retain a few of them, but not all.
They were able to retain wide receiver Chris Godwin, who received the franchise tag for the second straight year, and later signed a three-year, $60 million extension, locking in the young Pro Bowler. They also brought back center Ryan Jensen, who’s turned into a Pro Bowl player and a trusted snapper to Brady.
One of the biggest surprise returns was cornerback Carlton Davis, who many thought would sign elsewhere after not receiving the franchise tag. But he returns on a three-year, $45 million contract, solid pay day for the 25-year-old starter.
Another one of Brady’s weapons returns in Leonard Fournette, who signed a three-year extension. He is now the clear lead back after Ronald Jones signed with the Chiefs. Passing back Giovani Bernard also returns. They also brought back Breshad Perriman, who’s been a solid WR3.
William Gholston also returns for his 10th season with the team, along with backup QB Blaine Gabbert, and backup offensive linemen Josh Wells and Aaron Stinnie.
Even though they were able to retain key guys like Godwin, Davis, Jensen, and Fournette, they had to lose a few key players. The big name on defense is starting strong safety Jordan Whitehead, who was a four-year starter after entering as a fourth-round pick.
On offense they lost the aforementioned Jones, who was a solid starter for a bit, but Fournette overtook him. They also let O.J. Howard talk after a disappointing tenure as a first-round pick who showed flashes, but injuries and depth chart issues took over and he lost playing time to Cameron Brate and Gronk, especially because of Brady. He’s now in Buffalo for a fresh start.
The biggest loss is on the offensive line, with the surprise retirement of left guard Ali Marpet after seven seasons and the departure of right guard Alex Cappa, who signed with the Bengals. This was a very good offensive line for Brady, who values a good consistent line, but he gets an old friend back to soften the blow.
In a surprising move, Brady’s old team, the Patriots, traded longtime starting guard Shaq Mason to the Bucs for the fifth-round pick, an absolute steal. Mason is a very good guard who wasn’t being paid a whole lot ($14 million over the next two seasons). Brady is getting what he wants and gets a trusted right guard. Still TBD on the other guard, if they go with a young guy in house, a veteran free agent (Trai Turner, Quinton Spain, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif), or the draft.
The other outside additions were former Falcons WR Russell Gage, who improved every season and turned into a trusted target for Matt Ryan and eventually had to become the WR1 there. He can settle back into a WR3/slot role behind Godwin and Mike Evans after signing a three-year, $30 million deal.
They also brought in another old friend of Brady’s in Logan Ryan, who’s had a very good career with the Patriots, Titans, and Giants. He was surprisingly cut by N.Y. at the start of free agency, and gets a chance at a starting job at safety or cornerback. He’ll be playing alongside fellow FA addition Keanu Neal, who spent 2021 with the Cowboys as a linebacker, but he’ll be moving back to his strong safety position, where he was a Pro Bowler with the Falcons for five years.
Conclusion: So many guys were brought back, some very nice new additions, a couple key departures, but still a lot of hope in Tampa. After coming up short in the Divisional Round, Brady and the Bucs get another chance at a ring. There’s still some important free agents unsigned. Gronk is probably coming back, he is not playing with anyone other than Brady, he’s just waiting til after the minicamps and OTAs. Ndamukong Suh, JPP, and Kevin Minter were important starters on defense that they’ll either need to bring back or replace, likely in the draft. But there’s no other reason to believe in the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers than Tom Brady. Bruce Arians may have retired, but Brady was steering the ship, we all know that. Guy is immortal and can do anything, and with his upcoming age 45 season, should once again succeed and compete in a weaker NFC.
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