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Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

Buccaneers To Sign P Riley Dixon

March 11th, 2025 at 3:48pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Buccaneers are signing former Broncos punter Riley Dixon to a two-year deal worth $6MM, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Dixon’s $3MM APY is tied for third-highest among all punters. After rotating between three punters in 2024, Tampa Bay was willing to pay up for some stability on special teams.

Originally a Broncos seventh-round pick in 2016, Dixon spent two years in Denver before being traded to the Giants for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2018. He signed an extension in New York to become one of the league’s highest-paid punters in 2019, but was released in 2022, a year before his contract expired. He then signed with the Rams for the 2022 season before returning to Denver for the last two seasons.

Dixon has never been one of the NFL’s best punters, but he’s never been one of the worst, either. He’s a consistent, reliable player who has hovered around the league average in yards per punt, touchback percentage, and percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

Dixon will bring that consistency to Tampa Bay in 2025, leaving Denver to find another punter this offseason. A number of options are available in free agency, though most are well into their 30s. The Broncos may look for a younger, cheaper addition through the draft.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign OLB Anthony Nelson

March 11th, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another offseason chock full of Buccaneers re-signings is upon us. Anthony Nelson will become the latest homegrown player to stick around.

The Bucs are giving the outside linebacker at two-year, $10MM deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The contract can max out at $12MM. Although these are modest terms in the grand scheme of NFL contracts, it is interesting since Nelson already played out a two-year, $10MM contract with the Bucs.

Considering where the cap has gone since Nelson re-signed with the Bucs in 2023, this can be deemed a pay cut. But Nelson will stay on a $5MM-per-year accord to help the Bucs as an auxiliary edge rusher. The former fourth-round pick has fared decently in that role before, having totaled 17.5 sacks over the past four years.

A 2019 fourth-round pick, Nelson won Super Bowl ring as a backup during the 2020 season and has helped the team transition after it moved on from Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett in recent years. The Bucs have since let Joe Tryon-Shoyinka walk, as the 2021 first-rounder committed to the Browns earlier Tuesday. Nelson could be in store for a bigger role as a result, but Tampa Bay is also bringing in Haason Reddick on a pricey one-year deal.

Reddick will be set to start opposite YaYa Diaby, but his addition should not tweak Nelson’s responsibilities too much. Nelson, 28, worked as a part-time starter in both 2022 and ’24, making 14 starts between those seasons, and was a 16-game contributor off the bench in 2023. Nelson is coming off a season in which he established a new career high with 13 QB hits. While he did not match his 2021-22 sack production (11.5) on his two-year deal (seven sacks from 2023-24), the Iowa alum upped his TFL count in that span. Nelson finished with 13 combined TFLs over the past two seasons, forcing a fumble in 2024.

A previous restructure on Nelson’s 2023 contract will lead to a Mike Evans-like arrangement, as Nelson will count as both an active contract and dead money on the Bucs’ 2025 payroll. Nelson’s deal voiding earlier this offseason will leave a $2.65MM dead money charge. But the Bucs will still keep their top rotational rusher in the fold behind Diaby and now Reddick.

The team had previously re-signed Lavonte David, Chris Godwin and Ben Bredeson. This comes after an offseason that featured David, Evans and Baker Mayfield re-ups and extensions for Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr.

Buccaneers, Haason Reddick Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Haason Reddick has not waited long to find a new home. Minutes after the start of the negotiating window, an agreement has been reached which will send him to Tampa Bay.

This will be a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He adds that the pact has a value of $14MM and includes $12MM in guarantees. After the way in which 2024 played out for Reddick, that represents quite the financial commitment. It wasn’t long ago that Reddick was one of the top pass rushing commodities on the open market. Just three years ago, Reddick signed a three-year, $45MM deal to join the Eagles after totaling 23.5 combined sacks over his final year in Arizona and his only season with the Panthers.

He earned every penny in his first two years in Philadelphia while also earning his first two Pro Bowl selections. That first season with the Eagles saw him finish fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting as he finished with career highs in sacks (16.0), quarterback hits (26), and fumble recoveries (3) while logging 11 tackles for loss and leading the league with five forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the 11th-best edge defender that season out of 119 graded players at the position. While his second year in Philadelphia wasn’t as impressive, it was still Pro Bowl-worthy, seeing him rack up 11.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 23 quarterback hits.

Drama quickly came to surround Reddick’s situation following that season, though, as the Eagles granted him permission to seek a trade, despite his lack of a request for one. In fact, Reddick claimed to want an extension with the team, but they ultimately traded him to the Jets. The trade didn’t quench Reddick’s thirst for an extension, though, resulting in a holdout from training camp as the Jets intended to let him play out his contract. As the holdout continued, Reddick even requested a trade from the team that had just traded for him.

His holdout continued into the season as he was dropped by his agency and had to sign new representation. It took until Week 8 of the season for Reddick and New York to come to terms on an agreement that would get him onto the field, at which point he faced heavy fines for his absences in the offseason. The lack of offseason prep time with the team seemed to affect the Pro Bowler. Only starting two games in 10 appearances, Reddick only logged one sack (really two half-sacks), two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. Out of 119 players at the position, PFF graded Reddick at 102nd.

The Buccaneers didn’t really want for pass rushing in 2025. The team’s sack-total of 46 was tied for sixth in the league. Tampa Bay does see a number of outside linebackers hitting free agency this week, though, as the contracts of Shaquil Barrett, Joe Tryon, and Anthony Nelson are all set to expire. While those three players only combined for six sacks in 2024, the depleted depth is a concern. Signing Reddick will address that concern, and if he can rebound to anywhere near the success he had found in Philadelphia, the $14MM, single-year price tag won’t feel quite as heavy.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign Chris Godwin

March 10th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers keep investing at receiver. A year after agreeing to terms with Mike Evans on a third contract, Tampa Bay will bring back Chris Godwin.

They have agreed to a three-year, $66MM deal to retain Godwin, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported during an NFL Network appearance. Godwin will see $44MM guaranteed on this accord.

Godwin is believed to have left some money on the table to stay in Tampa, and the Bucs will keep Baker Mayfield‘s receiving corps intact. The cap-rich Patriots were believed to be readying a pursuit, but Godwin rejoined the Bucs shortly after the legal tampering period began. The second-leading pass catcher in franchise history continues to follow Evans. Tampa Bay, however, has the younger of its two receiver staples potentially in place to succeed Evans as the No. 1 option — as Evans is back in a contract year.

Although Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle seven games into last season, he did not see a chilled market. A report last week indicated the eight-year veteran could have approached $25MM per year. Godwin’s new deal will check in just south of that number, but he once again betters Evans’ contract.

Godwin, 28, had previously done so when he inked a three-year, $60MM deal as Tampa Bay’s franchise player. The Bucs tagged Godwin twice earlier this decade, and despite drafting Jalen McMillan in Round 3 last year, their commitment to the Evans-Godwin partnership persists.

When Godwin went down last season, he ranked second in the NFL in receiving yardage (576 yards). Godwin had made it back from the ACL and MCL tears sustained in December 2021, but he did not quite look himself during the 2022 and ’23 campaigns. Still, Godwin surpassed 1,000 yards in each season, helping Mayfield rebound in 2023. The Bucs will give Godwin a chance to rebound and will pay plenty for this opportunity.

This takes the top wide receiver option, per PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list, off the market. Godwin being three years younger than Davante Adams made him the top prize this offseason, with Tee Higgins again off the market. Tampa Bay again proves it can retain talent despite imminent free agency. Godwin’s deal follows the re-signings of Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean after each had entered a legal tampering period unattached.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign G Ben Bredeson

March 10th, 2025 at 10:01am CST by Adam La Rose

Ben Bredeson was a pending free agent, but he will remain in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. The veteran guard has a three-year deal in place, NFL Network’s Sara Walsh reports.

Colleague Mike Garafolo adds the pact is worth $22MM. Bredeson will remain a full-time starter moving forward, collecting $12MM with his latest deal. This brings a substantial raise for Bredeson, who played for $3MM last season.

Following a Baker Mayfield arc with the Bucs, Bredeson impressed during his “prove it” season in Tampa. The Bucs have filled out their line with homegrown Day 1 and Day 2 picks, with first-rounders Tristan Wirfs and Graham Barton headlining a front also including second-rounders Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke. Bredeson was the exception last season and will continue to play that role, as the Bucs now have all five of their 2024 O-line starters under contract.

Bredeson, 27, has made a habit of impressing as a low-end investment. The former Ravens fourth-round pick ended up a Giant by his second season, via trade, and did not let the team’s round of draft choices and free agent signings beat him out for a job. Bredeson started eight games in 2022 and then 16 in ’23, as the Giants battled through major injuries (to Nick Gates and Shane Lemieux) and ultimately could not count on Joshua Ezeudu or Mark Glowinski. Bredeson’s fill-in work did not generate much of a free agent market last year, however.

Pro Football Focus also ranked the Michigan alum 60th among guards in 2024. The Bucs will disagree with that assessment, as they continue to retain talent. Bredeson has now made 42 career starts, and this deal will provide a bit of security while also giving him a chance to eye a third free agency payday during his 20s.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign LB Lavonte David

March 7th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Like Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David is coming back for a 14th season. The Buccaneers are re-signing their standout linebacker, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Tampa Bay and David are in agreement on another one-year deal; this one will be worth $10MM, per Fowler. The all-time Bucs great will see $9MM guaranteed on this deal. Unlike Wagner, David has been a one-team player. The Bucs will again ensure he stays in Tampa to lead their defensive second level.

Predating the Tom Brady era by nearly a decade, David began his Bucs career when Josh Freeman was still calling signals. David will match Derrick Brooks for Bucs career duration by playing a 14th season. While David does not have the Hall of Famer’s accolades (partially because of an antiquated Pro Bowl formula involving linebackers), he has been an anchor for the Bucs’ defense. The former second-round pick continues to play at a high level well into his 30s.

This will mark a raise for David, who played the 2024 season for $8.5MM after being at just $4.5MM in 2023. The Bucs have seen David outlast nearly all of his LB peers, and the team that separated from a much younger talent (Devin White) will continue to employ a 35-year-old at the position.

David, who turned 35 in January, has now agreed to six Bucs contracts. He had signed a five-year extension in 2015 and a two-year deal as part of the Bucs’ mass retention effort in 2021. The Nebraska alum is now in a year-to-year phase, having contemplated retirement before his 2024 deal. David was viewed as truly on the fence about playing in 2025, but he met with the Bucs last month and has found common ground. Outside interest was believed to exist for David, but it is certainly not surprising he will stay in Tampa.

David’s one career Pro Bowl is among the oft-changed all-star game’s biggest indictments. Since the Pro Bowl grouped 4-3 outside linebackers with their pass-rushing peers, little room existed for David honors during his 20s. Todd Bowles shifted the Bucs to a 3-4 scheme in 2019 and has been able to count on David, even as the Bucs have seen their other ILB spot change in that span. Last season, David started 17 games and registered 122 tackles to go with 5.5 sacks — his most since the 2013 season.

Tampa Bay’s linebacking great does have three All-Pro nods on his resume, the most recent coming during the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning season, and has run his career sack total — despite never being a true rush linebacker — to 39. The Bucs have K.J. Britt due for free agency, but David will remain as a linchpin of a defense still housing first- and third-level mainstays in Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield Jr. Moving into third place in Bucs history with 198 games played with the team, David trails only Ronde Barber and Brooks for games played by a Buccaneer.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/25

March 7th, 2025 at 9:47pm CST by Ely Allen

More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

Carolina has tendered Mays with an original-round tender worth $3.26MM. A former sixth-round draft pick, the third-year center will be able field offers from the rest of the league. If an offer comes in, the Panthers would have the chance to match it or let the team sign Mays in exchange for a sixth-round pick. Mays started eight games in 11 appearances last year.

Houston flashed early, particularly when he tallied eight sacks in seven games (only two starts) for the Lions as a rookie. Since then, injuries and inconsistency have kept him from sticking in Detroit or Cleveland.

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

NFL Minor Transactions: 3/7/25

March 7th, 2025 at 8:59pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

FA Notes: Bucs, Mack, Dolphins, Holland, Panthers, Titans, Giants, Bills, Falcons

March 7th, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers did not see their Joe Tryon-Shoyinka first-round pick pay off, and the 2021 draftee is close to hitting free agency. As the Bucs prepares a pass-rushing plan for 2025, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler connects Khalil Mack to the team. Also mentioning the Bears (a previously noted Mack suitor), Fowler notes the Bucs are looking for pass-rushing help. The team has YaYa Diaby under contract for two more seasons, but it has struggled to find a complementary piece since Shaquil Barrett began to decline post-Achilles surgery. Anthony Nelson, who posted four sacks last season, is nearing free agency as well.

While the Bucs have D-line regulars Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, they will need to look for a second OLB starter. Mack rebounded from an injury-marred 2021 season by starting all but one game in three Chargers years. He soared to 17.5 sacks in 2023 but saw his usage rate drop and his sack total along with it (to six) in 2024. Mack, however, has been a durable player and one of this era’s best edge rushers. Although he considered retirement this offseason, the Chargers want him back. The 34-year-old’s market will be interesting.

Here is the latest from the free agent market:

  • A player who will command more in total than Mack, Jevon Holland is likely this year’s top safety available. PFR’s No. 6 free agent, Holland escaped the franchise tag deadline and may be poised to follow Robert Hunt and Christian Wilkins out of Miami. The Panthers and Titans are expected to show interest in the four-year Dolphins starter, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes. Holland’s market is likely to stretch past $15MM per year and could reach $20MM AAV, Wolfe adds. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the highest-paid safety, at $21MM per annum; no one else has reached $20MM. The Dolphins are still interested, but the former second-rounder will carry a robust market. If Holland leaves, the Dolphins would need two new safety starters; Jordan Poyer is not expected back, per Wolfe.
  • The Giants are bracing to lose Azeez Ojulari in free agency, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy writes. Considering their investments in Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, it has looked for months like Ojulari would depart. Despite an extensive injury history, Ojulari has been productive when available. He registered 22 sacks on his rookie deal, including six last season as he filled in for an injured Thibodeaux. After holding onto Ojulari at the deadline, the Giants would only recoup a compensatory pick — depending on the team’s FA activity — once he leaves.
  • The Falcons finished 31st in sacks last season, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter notes they are doing heavy research on defense in the draft. This comes after Atlanta’s effort to trade back into Round 1 for a defender, after the surprising Michael Penix Jr. pick, failed. As the team changes DCs for a third straight year, Fowler adds it is expected to also pursue defensive upgrades in free agency. The Falcons are expected to let Matt Judon hit the market, and Ledbetter adds fellow OLB Lorenzo Carter is also likely to hit free agency. A pass-rushing overhaul, as Grady Jarrett may be on the trade block, may be afoot in Atlanta.
  • Count the Panthers as a team also readying to bolster its defense in free agency, Fowler adds. Carolina fell from fourth in total defense to 32nd last season, and while they are again retaining DC Ejiro Evero, the DC should have more to work with in 2025. After Carolina traded Burns and did not do much to replace him, it is safe to expect a pass-rushing pursuit to commence. Safety Xavier Woods will be among the Panthers who will test the market next week, The Athletic’s Joe Person tweets. He will join kicker Eddy Pineiro in doing so.
  • Preston Smith has lingered in free agency for a bit, after his Steelers release, but Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes the Bills are believed to have interest. Although Smith (4.5 sacks last season) signed two healthy Packers contracts, it will not take too much to land the 32-year-old EDGE after he disappointed as a Steelers deadline addition.

Patriots Expected To Pursue Chris Godwin

March 7th, 2025 at 2:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although many big-name receivers are available in free agency, Chris Godwin is probably the top prize — now that Tee Higgins is again out of play. PFR’s No. 7 free agent in this year’s class, Godwin is indeed expected to draw major interest.

Leading the way in cap space, the Patriots are expected to be a lead the way in driving Godwin’s market, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. Considering the work the Pats did at wide receiver last year, it is unsurprising they are readying for a major pursuit to help Drake Maye on a rookie contract.

Maye’s rookie deal plays into one of the strongest hands in free agency history. The Patriots lead the way in cap space, by a wide margin, with more than $125MM. They chased Calvin Ridley last year, seeing the Titans outbid them, and explored the trade market. New England is believed to have submitted the top AAV to Brandon Aiyuk, at around $32MM, but the late-summer trade chip opted to stay with the 49ers on an extension. With Pats target Higgins again franchise-tagged (and again being kept out of trades), the team may need to focus on Godwin.

The longtime Mike Evans sidekick’s price will be high, as the cap has climbed another $24MM. The Godwin derby could go beyond $25MM per year, Giardi adds, even though he is coming off a dislocated ankle. Godwin, who played out a three-year deal worth $60MM, also suffered ACL and MCL tears in 2021 but responded with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Although Godwin was second in the NFL in receiving yards when he went down last year, as he had looked like his pre-ACL-tear version, a second major injury could induce some pause.

Godwin is going into an age-29 season and has four 1,000-yard years on his resume. The Super Bowl-winning wideout will have options. One of them appears to be a return to the Buccaneers, with Jason Licht expressing a desire to retain him once again. Franchise-tagged twice, Godwin has never hit free agency previously. The Bucs were able to keep Evans and Baker Mayfield off last year’s market, but time is running out here. Godwin can begin talking to other teams at 11am CT Monday. While the Bucs were able to convince Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean to re-sign after they had hit the market earlier this decade, Godwin’s price may be too high for a team still paying Evans and one that handed out market-setting deals at left tackle (Tristan Wirfs) and safety (Antoine Winfield Jr.) last year.

The Giants figure to need a Malik Nabers complementary piece, and the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy notes they were interested in Godwin as a trade target back in 2023. Though, Dunleavy expects the Giants to be priced out here. New York is still on the hook for more than $20MM in Daniel Jones dead money, and its cap-space figure ($45MM-plus) is dwarfed by the Patriots’ number.

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