Buccaneers Rumors

Buccaneers To Sign OL Ben Bredeson, CB Bryce Hall

March 15th, 2024 at 12:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two former New York residents are heading to Tampa to compete for Buccaneers jobs. The Bucs are signing offensive lineman Ben Bredeson and cornerback Bryce Hall, according to Pewter Report and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, respectively.

Bredeson spent last season as a full-time Giants starter at guard, while Hall is a former Jets starter who also played out his rookie contract in New York. Bredeson is joining the Bucs on a one-year deal worth up to $3.5MM, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.

Amid an injury-ravaged season on the offensive line, the Giants relied on Bredeson as a 16-game starter. The Giants put Bredeson — a 2020 Ravens draftee acquired in a trade a year later — in competition for guard and center spots last summer. As expected, second-round pick John Michael Schmitz won the center job. But Bredeson was in place at guard as turnover occurred across Big Blue’s front.

As could be expected on a line that gave up the second-most sacks (83) since the league began charting them in the early 1960s, Bredson graded poorly in 2023. Pro Football Focus viewed the Michigan alum as one of the NFL’s worst guard regulars last season. He has 25 starts on his resume, however. The Bucs have not re-signed guards Matt Feiler or Aaron Stinnie — during an offseason that featured higher-priority player-retention tasks — opening the door for Bredeson to compete for a starting job or settle in as a swing backup.

The Jets chose Hall in the 2020 fifth round and used him as a starter in 26 games. Twenty-four of those came over Hall’s first two years, as the Jets refrained from investing in corners. That changed in 2022, via the D.J. Reed signing and Sauce Gardner draft pick, relegating Hall to a bench role. Hall did return a fumble for a touchdown last season but only played 138 defensive snaps.

The Bucs traded Carlton Davis to the Lions this week. While Hall could conceivably be thrown into a competition to replace the veteran cover man, it seems likely the Bucs will bring in a higher-profile option as the favorite to start opposite Jamel Dean.

Eagles To Sign LB Devin White

March 14th, 2024 at 6:54pm CST by Ben Levine

As expected, Devin White won’t be returning to the Buccaneers in 2024, but the linebacker will be sticking in the NFC. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, White is signing with the Eagles.

It’s a one-year deal for the linebacker, according to Schefter. The contract has a max value of $7.5MM.

The former first-round pick had a productive first four seasons in Tampa Bay. After forcing three fumbles and scoring two touchdowns as a rookie, White followed that up with three-straight seasons of 120-plus tackles. He earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020 after compiling nine sacks, and he added 38 tackles in three playoff games en route to a Super Bowl championship. That Super Bowl win also featured a crucial pick-six on Patrick Mahomes.

White made a Pro Bowl after finishing with a career-high 18 QB hits in 2021, and he added another 124 tackles and 5.5 sacks to his resume in 2022.

Set to play the 2023 campaign on his fifth-year option, the former fifth-overall pick sought out a massive extension last offseason. A deal didn’t materialize, and White ended up requesting a trade from the organization. Little interest was shown around the league, and White ultimately played out the 2023 campaign on his expiring contract.

The linebacker did little to increase league-wide interest with his play. He ended up splitting snaps with K.J. Britt down the stretch, and he didn’t start either of the team’s two playoff games. White finished the campaign with a career-low 83 tackles, with Pro Football Focus ranking him as the league’s third-worst linebacker in 2023.

White should have an opportunity to bounce back in Philadelphia. The team only returns a pair of inside linebackers in Nakobe Dean and Ben VanSumeren, so White should be in line for a significant role in 2024.

Baker Mayfield Discusses Bucs Contract

March 13th, 2024 at 10:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Before agreeing to a new three-year, $100MM deal with the Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield was uncertain if he’d be returning to Tampa Bay for the 2024 season.

After inking a one-year prove-it deal with the organization last offseason, Mayfield rehabilitated his value with a bounce-back season. There wasn’t any guarantee that the Buccaneers front office would be willing to pony up the money it’d take to retain the quarterback, but the two sides ultimately agreed to a new deal before the start of free agency.

“There were times that the couple days prior we didn’t know if we were going to get it done before free agency hit. So it was a lot of ups and downs,” said Mayfield (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “Unfortunately I had to think about that. I had to think about the fact that we would be here for the birth of our daughter before we even move. We wanted to be back, but if it wasn’t going to be the right fit for us, we were going to let God take control again and that was the big thing. We tried to be as patient as we could. I would be lying if I said we were happy the whole time, but it worked out how it’s supposed to…”

Mayfield admitted that he started to think of backup plans in case a deal with the Buccaneers fell through. Ultimately, it was a text sent by Mayfield to GM Jason Licht that got the wheels in motion, and the front office was quick to draw up an offer after learning of the quarterback’s clear desire to stick with the organization.

“He had us circled as the best place to go and we had him circled as the best player to come and follow the legend, Tom Brady,” Licht told reporters. “Not many quarterbacks would have the confidence to do that, but Baker certainly did. We love his leadership – we love his ability on the field – but his leadership, his ability to rally the team, the city, the fanbase has been surreal.”

Considering the Buccaneers took a chance on Mayfield, it wasn’t a surprise that the QB wanted to stick around after rehabilitating his value. Mayfield admitted that he “had fun playing football again” last season, and he opined that the coaching staff allowed him to be the “best version” of himself. The quarterback also put a clear emphasis on stability; in addition to being wary of a move with a child on the way, Mayfield revealed that he was previously experiencing “dark times” after bouncing between four teams in less than a calendar year.

With the weight of a contract year now off his shoulders, Mayfield will look to build off his strong 2023 campaign. The 28-year-old finished this past season with career-highs in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044), and touchdowns (28). More notably, he helped guide the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record and a postseason victory, only the second of his career.

Bucs To Bring Back S Jordan Whitehead

March 13th, 2024 at 12:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Buccaneers’ offseason blueprint brings a heavy retention vibe, they will bring back another familiar face. After two seasons with the Jets, Jordan Whitehead is coming back to Tampa.

The six-year veteran safety will rejoin the Bucs on a two-year deal that can max out at $10.5MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. In base value, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports Whitehead will be tied to a two-year, $9MM deal that features $4.5MM guaranteed at signing. This checks in south of Whitehead’s Jets deal (two years, $14MM) from 2022.

A 2018 Bucs draftee, Whitehead was a regular for four seasons before departing for New York. He will return to play alongside franchise-tagged safety Antoine Winfield Jr. The Jets expressed modest interest in retaining Whitehead but did not view the two-year starter as a top priority. As for the Bucs, they wanted to retain Whitehead in 2022, ESPN’s Jenna Laine tweets.

Whitehead started all 34 Jets games over the past two years. In 2023, he stood out in an ugly season for the team. Whitehead intercepted four passes — three in the team’s season-opening win over the Bills — and broke up nine more. Pro Football Focus rated Whitehead 39th among safeties last season. But Whitehead is better remembered for his Buccaneers contributions.

Whitehead started all four playoff games for the Super Bowl LV-winning team, forcing two fumbles during that four-game bracket, and has posted at least two INTs in each season this decade. He teamed with Winfield as a starter during the Bucs’ romp over the Chiefs, a win that has aged better given the AFC power’s accomplishments since, and started 55 games for the team since joining Winfield, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting as Day 2 draft investments in the Bucs’ secondary.

Despite being a six-year veteran, Whitehead will be 27 throughout the 2024 season. Ryan Neal, who joined Winfield as a starter last season after the Seahawks parted ways with him, is a free agent. This clears the runway for Whitehead to reprise his role alongside the All-Pro talent.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign LB Lavonte David

March 12th, 2024 at 4:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

A retention-based Buccaneers offseason will continue with one of the best players in team history. Lavonte David is staying in Tampa on another one-year deal.

The standout linebacker will stick around on a contract including $9MM in base value, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This will represent a raise on David’s one-year agreement from 2023, which produced a $4.5MM payout.

This marks David’s fifth contract with the Bucs. A long-term extension in 2015 gave way to two- and one-year deals in 2021 and ’23. Despite moving toward his mid-30s, the 12-year starter has maintained his place as one of the game’s top off-ball linebackers. After the Bucs franchise-tagged Antoine Winfield Jr. and re-signed Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield, they are circling back to David — their longest-tenured player and one of the longest-serving Bucs in franchise history.

One of this era’s best off-ball ‘backers, David’s Pro Bowl count is lacking (one) due to the NFL still grouping rush linebackers and non-rush ‘backers together. David, however, is a three-time All-Pro who is the team’s second-leading tackler. Only Derrick Brooks (1,713) has more than David (1,480) among Buccaneers.

David played 15 games last season, rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall linebacker. David’s 134 tackles were his most since 2015. On a Bucs team that saw Winfield contribute six sacks, David added 4.5 to help the cause.

Following his role on the team’s Super Bowl LV-winning effort, the stalwart defender has been central in the Bucs’ run of NFC South titles. As Devin White gradually fell out of favor despite a strong start, David has remained at the forefront at linebacker. With White likely leaving — presumably for a “prove it” pact — the Bucs will rely on David once again; the Nebraska alum is going into his age-34 season.

David did not sound especially interested in testing the market, indicating his decision was Buccaneers or retirement. The Bucs will run it back for at least one more year, allowing David to continue his run as one of the best players in team history.

Bucs To Bring Back RB Chase Edmonds

March 11th, 2024 at 8:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chase Edmonds enjoyed an unstable stretch following his Arizona departure, being traded and then cut. The veteran running back has since found some stability.

The Buccaneers are bringing back Edmonds, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Edmonds spent the 2023 season as a Bucs contributor, working behind starter Rachaad White. The ex-Cardinals draftee will aim to reprise that role next season. Edmonds will sign a one-year, $1.5MM deal that includes a $2MM max, ESPN’s Jenna Laine tweets.

Playing sparingly on offense, Edmonds gained 257 yards from scrimmage on 63 touches last season. This came with an injury interruption, but the Bucs reinserted the former Cardinals fourth-rounder into their RB rotation down the stretch. Edmonds played 35 playoff snaps and logged 14 touches.

The Dolphins signed Edmonds to a two-year, $12MM deal in 2022 but shipped him to the Broncos as salary filler in the Bradley Chubb trade. Changing coaches again in 2023, the Broncos cut Edmonds to create cap space in Sean Payton’s first offseason. Edmonds, 27, played on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum last season.

Edmonds posted 850- and 903-yard seasons (from scrimmage) during his final two Cardinals offerings but has not been a regular back anywhere else. The Bucs still think enough of the Fordham alum to keep him in a new offense, as Liam Coen is stepping in for Dave Canales.

Bucs To Trade CB Carlton Davis To Lions

March 11th, 2024 at 5:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Mentioned as being interested in cornerback help, the Lions might not be the team that trades for L’Jarius Sneed. Detroit will, however, stay focused on the trade market to help out here.

The Lions are set to acquire Carlton Davis from the Buccaneers, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Buccaneers will receive a 2024 third-round pick. In addition to Davis, they’ll send Detroit a 2024 and 2025 sixth-round selection, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine.

One season remains on Davis’ second Bucs contract, which he agreed to during the 2022 legal tampering period. Coming up recently as a trade chip, Davis will help out a Lions team that experienced injury- and performance-related issues in coverage last year.

Davis will bring plenty of starting experience to Detroit, with the former second-round pick having started 75 of his 76 regular-season games for Tampa. The defensive back hasn’t been able to make it through a full regular-season unscathed, although he has been on the field for nine postseason games over the past four seasons.

The 27-year-old got into 12 games this past year, finishing with 52 tackles and a pair of interceptions. He also compiled another 11 stops in two postseason games. Pro Football Focus ended up ranking Davis only 68th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks, although the site has never been particularly fond of his performance (Davis peaked as the 21st cornerback in 2021).

Davis inked a three-year, $45MM deal with the Buccaneers in 2022. He’ll count for about $14.3MM against the cap in 2024 before hitting free agency next winter.

Bucs To Re-Sign DT Greg Gaines

March 11th, 2024 at 4:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Having taken care of their top offseason priorities with respect to retaining incumbent players, the Buccaneers are turning their attention to depth contributors. Defensive tackle Greg Gaines is re-signing on a one-year deal, per the 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov.

Gaines joined the Buccaneers last offseason on a one-year, $3.5MM deal. The defensive lineman will now stick around Tampa Bay for a second season with the organization.

Gaines emerged as a dependable defensive piece for the Buccaneers, getting into 17 games (two starts) while appearing in more than 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. He finished the regular season with 24 tackles and one sack, and he added another sack in two playoff games. Pro Football Focus only ranked Gaines 94th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although the site was much higher on his performance early in his career.

The former fourth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rams. He started 25 games for the organization between 2021 and 2022, compiling 8.5 sacks between those two campaigns.

Gaines will likely continue serving as an important depth piece behind Vita Vea in Tampa Bay. Greg Auman of FOX Sports opines that Gaines’ new contract could mean that Will Gholston isn’t back with the organization next season.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign K Chase McLaughlin

March 11th, 2024 at 10:10am CST by Adam La Rose

Chase McLaughlin had a strong debut season with the Buccaneers in 2023, and he will remain in place for years to come as a result. The veteran kicker has agreed to a new deal, as first reported by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It is a three-year agreement, ESPN’s Jenna Laine adds.

McLaughlin initially joined the Bucs last offseason, but he was not the unquestioned kicker at the time. Rodrigo Blankenship served as competition during the summer – as had been the case for that pair during their time together with the Colts. The latter was waived in August, however, paving the way for McLaughlin to hold down kicking duties.

The 27-year-old had bounced around to several teams prior to his Tamp a stint, despite delivering relatively solid accuracy on field goal attempts along the way. McLaughlin enjoyed a career year with the Bucs, however, going 29-for-31 on field goal tries (including seven-for-eight beyond 50 yards). He was also perfect on extra point kicks, upping his value compared to the one-year pact he played on in 2023. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports this new deal is worth $12.3MM, marking a sizable raise from each of McLaughlin’s previous pacts.

Tampa Bay had used Ryan Succop in the kicking game for three years prior to signing McLaughlin. The former had a strong season in 2020, but his field goal accuracy declined in the following years. That led to the efforts to find a younger option, and McLaughlin fit the bill perfectly given his 2023 performance. In an offseason which has seen the Bucs retain several key players, he will join the list of contributors seeing their futures clarified.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. received the franchise tag as expected, meaning he will remain in Tampa Bay for at least the 2024 campaign (although a long-term deal is of course a priority for the team). Wideout Mike Evans avoided free agency on a two-year agreement, meanwhile, and quarterback Baker Mayfield finalized a massive raise via a new deal on Sunday. McLaughlin understandably found himself lower in the pecking order for a re-up, but one has nevertheless arrived before free agency or even the opening of the negotiating window.

Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2024 at 10:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Baker Mayfield will not reach free agency. The Buccaneers’ efforts to retain their starting quarterback have produced a lucrative new pact. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the sides are finalizing a three-year, $100MM contract featuring $50MM guaranteed.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds this pact -which the team has since confirmed – could reach a maximum value of $115MM. Even if that does not take place, this new deal marks a massive raise for the former No. 1 pick in his bid to cash in following his successful debut Bucs campaign and find stability in the process. After playing in Tampa on a one-year, $4MM deal last year, Mayfield has certainly accomplished that goal.

Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero notes Mayfield’s $30MM salary in 2024 is guaranteed in full. $10MM in 2025 is guaranteed at signing, meanwhile, and a further $10MM comes in the form of an injury guarantee which is set to vest next year. The 28-year-old will see $40MM in 2026, and he can earn $5MM in incentives every year of the pact, per Schefter.

Mayfield easily surpassed expectations after winning out a training camp competition with Kyle Trask in the summer. Mayfield posted career highs in passing yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28) last season. His play helped lead the team to another NFC South title and a run to the divisional round of the postseason. Aiming to retain several main elements of their core, the Buccaneers faced the challenge of keeping Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. in the fold.

Evans landed a two-year accord after being linked to a free agency endeavor. Winfield, meanwhile, has received the franchise tag and as such will either play out the 2024 season on the tag or agree to his own long-term deal. Mayfield will join that tandem for next year and beyond as he looks to prove his first performance in Tampa Bay was not a fluke.

The Browns’ Deshaun Watson acquisition facilitated Mayfield being traded to the Panthers in 2022. His time in Carolina was short-lived, however, and his struggles led to a release and a late-season cameo with the Rams. The Oklahoma product parlayed that into a flier from Tampa Bay under new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. The latter has since departed (to take over the Panthers as head coach), but Mayfield was involved in the search for Canales’ replacement. That pointed to the player-team relationship being extended, and sustained talks in recent days has brought an deal together.

General manager Jason Licht confirmed the Bucs’ intention of keeping Mayfield in the fold, which has at all times been the expected outcome of this situation. Mayfield’s asking price was pegged as approaching (or perhaps surpassing) $40MM per year, and the base value of the pact falls short at $33.3MM. Maximizing its value would create an AAV of $38.3MM, though, a figure which represents legitimate franchise passer compensation and by far the most lucrative deal of Mayfield’s career.

Of course, the ripple effect of today’s news will be felt around the league. Mayfield was projected to be the second-best quarterback on the market, behind only Kirk Cousins. Many teams which could be suitors for the latter were connected to the former as a backup plan, but attention will now shift even further to Cousins and Minnesota. A new Vikings deal could come to bear in the immediate future; failing that, however, teams such as the Falcons will be able to negotiate a Cousins pact knowing Mayfield is not an option.

Tampa Bay entered Sunday with less than $15MM in cap space, a figure which will be affected by the particulars of the Mayfield deal. The Bucs are not expected to be big players on the open market with respect to outside additions considering their financial situation. Retaining each member of the Mayfield-Evans-Winfield trio was atop the offseason priority list, though, and it has now been achieved. Mayfield’s ability to replicate his 2023 success will be a major talking point for the Buccaneers next season and beyond given the investment made in him by the team.

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