Buccaneers To Host LB Devin Bush
Two teams who will be visiting with Devin White soon are also set to have this draft’s other high-profile Devin on their pre-draft itineraries. The Bengals met with Devin Bush on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding the Buccaneers are next up on the Michigan-produced linebacker’s schedule. White is expected to go off draft boards a bit sooner, but Bush is viewed as a solid first-round pick as well. Bush finished out the 2018 season with 66 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks. In 2017, the versatile linebacker posted 95 tackles, 10 for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He is the son of former Falcons, Rams and Browns safety Devin Bush Sr., a 1995 first-round pick who played in back-to-back Super Bowls in the late 1990s. The Bucs hold the No. 5 pick, while the Bengals’ first pick comes at No. 11.
- While Bush may be a solid first-round bet, White has climbed to the point of potentially becoming the first off-ball linebacker to be drafted in the top five since Aaron Curry in 2009. A consensus of White being as good or better than Roquan Smith as a prospect has formed, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding that he could be a fit at No. 4 for the Raiders or No. 5 for the Bucs.
Bucs’ McCoy Doesn’t Show For Workouts
Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy did not attend the first day of off-season workouts with the team on Monday, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. These workouts are entirely voluntary, but this could be a sign that McCoy won’t be involved in the club’s plans moving forward. 
Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Buccaneers planned to keep McCoy in the fold. But, recent comments from new head coach Bruce Arians cast some doubt on that front.
“He’s not as disruptive as he was four years ago,” Arians said. “But he’s still pretty disruptive. He’s still a good player….I got to evaluate him. I mean, guys at a certain age, it’s different. Usually, the age they get paid the most and production (doesn’t) match. We’ve got to find that out.”
McCoy, 31, ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 21 quarterback hits in 2018 and finished as the NFL’s No. 28 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. He’s signed through 2021, but Tampa Bay won’t incur any dead money if they cut him. Meanwhile, they’d save $13MM against the cap by shedding his contract.
McCoy still has something in the tank, but he might not be an ideal fit for the team given his salary and the club’s move to a 3-4 scheme.
LB Devin White To Visit Buccaneers
One of the top defenders available in a defense-heavy prospect pool, Devin White has begun to set up pre-draft visits. The Giants, Bengals and Buccaneers will host the LSU-developed linebacker, Amie Just of NOLA.com notes. All three teams pick in the top 11, and White has been often mocked to be off the board in between the Bucs’ No. 5 pick and the Bengals’ No. 11 choice. Although the Giants could use a young inside linebacker alongside Alec Ogletree, they have been linked to pass rushers at No. 6 — if they don’t, in fact, select their next quarterback then. The Bengals have a need on their defensive second level, which now lacks Vontaze Burfict. Tampa Bay lost Kwon Alexander but still has Lavonte David. Kendell Beckwith, White’s college teammate, missed all of last season.
Buccaneers, Mike Evans Revise Deal
The Bucs converted $3MM of Mike Evans‘ $20MM base salary in to a roster bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move will not create additional cap space for the Buccaneers in 2019, Greg Auman of The Athletic (on Twitter) notes, which is unfortunate given the team’s present situation. 
The Buccaneers have a league-low $2.74MM in cap space, so they could use some relief. There’s still more work to be done as the Buccaneers will want to explore the second and third waves of free agency while leaving adequate room to sign their incoming rookie class.
Evans, 26 in August, inked a five-year, $82.5MM extension with the Bucs last offseason. With incentives, Evans has the ability to earn nearly $96MM over the course of the pact.
Even with a fat new contract in hand, Evans did not rest on his laurels in 2018. The wide receiver earned his second career Pro Bowl nod as he hauled in 86 catches with a career-high 1,524 yards. He also set a new career best in yards-per-catch with 17.7 per reception and scored eight touchdowns.
Bucs Notes: McCoy, Copeland
- The Buccaneers had interest in edge rusher Brandon Copeland before he re-signed with the Jets, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets. Tampa Bay ranked 28th in the NFL with 31 sacks a season ago, so the club can certainly use some extra help in getting pressure. However, the Bucs have already signed Shaquil Barrett to a one-year deal, so Copeland could have been viewed as redundant. Copeland. who also drew interest from New England, Washington, and Detroit, only landed one year and $1.25MM from New York, so Tampa Bay could have probably outbid Gang Green if it had serious interest.
While previous reports have indicated the Buccaneers plan to retain Gerald McCoy, the veteran defensive tackle may actually not be safe, especially given head coach Bruce Arians‘ most recent comments to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “He’s not as disruptive as he was four years ago,” Arians said. “But he’s still pretty disruptive. He’s still a good player….I got to evaluate him. I mean, guys at a certain age, it’s different. Usually, the age they get paid the most and production (doesn’t) match. We’ve got to find that out.” McCoy, 31, ranked fourth among defensive tackles with 21 quarterback hits in 2018 and finished as the NFL’s No. 28 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. He’s signed through 2021, but Tampa Bay won’t incur any dead money by releasing McCoy (and would save $13MM against the cap).
Buccaneers To Sign Blaine Gabbert
The Buccaneers are expected to sign quarterback Blaine Gabbert in the next 24 hours, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic (on Twitter). Once signed, Gabbert will be primed to serve as the backup to starter Jameis Winston. 
Gabbert, 30 in October, spent last season as Marcus Mariota‘s primary backup but was released by the club earlier this month. In eight games (three starts), Gabbert completed 60.4% of his passes for 626 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions. The 2011 first-round pick has had stints with the Jaguars, 49ers, Cardinals, and Titans during his eight-year career, and he’ll don a new uni in 2019.
Gabbert entered the league as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2011 draft, but he hasn’t lived up to the billing. In 48 starts, he has a career 13-35 record and a 56.2% completion percentage. He also has a nearly 1:1 TD-INT ratio.
However, he could be a worthwhile emergency option behind Winston, who has been largely healthy save for shoulder trouble in 2017.
Buccaneers Hire Two Female Coaches
- The Buccaneers are making a historic move. Tampa Bay is hiring Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust as the first full-time female assistant coaches in franchise history, the team announced in a release. Locust will be an assistant defensive line coach, while Javadifar will be an assistant strength and conditioning coach. The Bucs are now the first team in NFL history to have two women as full-time coaches. New Bucs coach Bruce Arians has emphasized the need for greater diversity on NFL coaching staffs, and is now practicing what he preaches. Arians had said he would do something like this, so it isn’t surprising.
Contract Details: Ingram, Suggs, Kendricks
Here are the latest details from some agreed-upon contracts during the second wave of free agency. All links courtesy of the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, unless otherwise noted.
- Mark Ingram, RB (Ravens): Three years, $15MM. $6.5MM guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus. $500K of $4MM 2020 base salary is guaranteed, per Wilson (on Twitter).
- Terrell Suggs, LB (Cardinals): One year, $10MM. $7MM guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus. $3MM 2019 base salary (link).
- Donte Moncrief, WR (Steelers): Two years, $9MM. $3.5MM signing bonus. $5MM due in 2019, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).
- J.R. Sweezy, G (Cardinals): Two years, $9MM. $3MM signing bonus. $1.5MM 2019 base salary; $3.5MM 2020 base (link).
- Jake Ryan, LB (Jaguars): Two years, $8MM. $1MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus. Non-guaranteed $5.5MM option due on the 22nd day of the 2020 league year (link).
- Adarius Taylor, LB (Browns): Two years, $5MM. $1MM signing bonus (link).
- Mychal Kendricks, LB (Seahawks): One year, $4.5MM. $2MM base salary. $250K training camp bonus. $250K bonus for being on Seattle’s 53-man roster in Week 1. $1MM in incentives (playing time, sacks), Wilson tweets.
- Shaquil Barrett, LB (Buccaneers): One year, $4MM. $3MM guaranteed. $1MM in incentives for playing time, sacks (link).
- Tyler Eifert, TE (Bengals): One year, $4MM. $1.2MM signing bonus. $1MM base salary; $2.5MM incentives related to catches, yards and touchdowns (Twitter link).
- Dwayne Harris, WR (Raiders): One year, $1.6MM. $275K signing bonus. $400K incentive based on return average (link).
- Kevin White, WR (Cardinals): One year, $1.5MM. $400K signing bonus. Max value: $2.5MM, per Pelissero (on Twitter).
- Dan Bailey, K (Vikings): One year, $1MM. $250K guaranteed. $1MM incentive based on field goal success rate (link).
- Cedric Ogbuehi, T (Jaguars): One year, $895K. $90K signing bonus (link).
- Antone Exum, S (49ers): One year, $855K. $50K signing bonus (link).
- Eli Rogers, WR (Steelers): Rogers’ 2018 contract tolled; he is due $720K in 2019 (link).
Bucs Meeting With S Clayton Geathers
Clayton Geathers is going through his second free agent meeting of the week, traveling from Dallas to Tampa. The Buccaneers met with the UFA safety on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
Limited by injuries during his four-year career with the Colts, Geathers was a starter for most of his time in Indianapolis. While the Colts expressed interest in re-signing the former fourth-round pick, he is being allowed to test the second-wave market.
Geathers played 853 snaps for the Colts last season, his most significant work sample. Injuries limited the Central Florida product to 14 total games between the 2016-17 seasons. Pro Football Focus graded Geathers as the No. 51 safety last season. Geathers, 26, has yet to record an NFL interception.
The Colts have re-signed multiple 2018 starters — cornerback Pierre Desir, defensive lineman Margus Hunt and guard Mark Glowinski — but each of those players was brought in by the Chris Ballard regime. Ryan Grigson drafted Geathers, perhaps impacting the team’s decision to let him test free agency.
Tampa Bay is coming off another poor coverage season, ranking 26th in pass defense — a year after a last-place showing. The Bucs have already signed former Packers safety Kentrell Brice, potentially impacting their decision to add Geathers. Recent draftees Justin Evans and Jordan Whitehead comprise Tampa Bay’s top safeties presently.
Buccaneers Sign Kentrell Brice
The Buccaneers have signed former Packers safety Kentrell Brice to a one-year deal. Brice visited the Texans and Colts last week, but the Bucs ultimately won out.
The safety started a career-high 10 games last season (in 14 appearances) and compiled 50 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus wasn’t too fond of his performance, ranking him in the bottom-six among 93 eligible safeties.
Brice, a former undrafted free agent out of Louisiana Tech, spent his entire three-year career with Green Bay up until today. He’s not a splashy add, but the Bucs plan to make more significant additions in the draft. The Bucs own the No. 5 pick in the draft and own all of their original choices through the first five rounds.