Buccaneers Free Agency: Projecting Contract Offers for Tampa Bay

The 2-14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be looking to cut some dead weight this offseason, but there may be some players at the end of their contracts who deserve a second shot in Tampa Bay.

Free agency has not been kind to the Buccaneers in recent years. They missed more than they hit on players leaving other teams—like Dashon Goldson—and failed to keep the best players leaving Tampa Bay—like Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett.

There aren't many players the Bucs have to consider keeping around this offseason, but nearly all of them are from the Bucs' 2011 draft class. Considering all of them could be allowed to walk, the Bucs can't feel too good about the state of their roster.

Though none of the players from the 2011 draft class are worthy of lucrative long-term extensions, there is hope that they can be better players. Between former head coaches Raheem Morris and Greg Schiano, they never had great coaching staffs before Lovie Smith came on board. So they could benefit from an experienced NFL head coach.

Some of the players on the list have problems with injuries, and others just aren't consistent enough to be assured a spot on the roster. All of them will have something to prove next season.

Here are some possible contract offers for the Buccaneers' free agents this offseason.

Adrian Clayborn, DE

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Contract offer: One year for $1 million

Adrian Clayborn is a bust as a former first-round pick. That doesn't mean he can't salvage his career in Tampa Bay.

The former Hawkeye lost nearly half of his career to injury, first to a torn ACL and then a torn biceps before Week 2 in 2014.

Clayborn never became the pass-rush force the Bucs drafted him to be. He recorded only 13.5 sacks since the Bucs drafted him and looked weak after his return from knee surgery in 2013.

Nevertheless, Clayborn still has potential. Clayborn never had the benefit of a quality coaching staff and looked like he was regaining some of his natural explosiveness at the end of the 2013 season.

There won't be much demand for Clayborn's services given his injury history, but he could be valuable as a rotational player. He might be convinced to stay in Tampa Bay on a prove-it deal to show he still has something to offer an NFL team.

Da'Quan Bowers, DE

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Contract offer: Two years for $3 million

Da'Quan Bowers is another 2011 draft pick who didn't live up to his draft position. The former Clemson Tiger's lack of consistency leaves his future in Tampa Bay in doubt.

At times, Bowers blows up the line of scrimmage, playing with explosion and ferocity. Most of the time, though, he simply disappears.

The source of Bowers' disappointing career with the Bucs likely lies with his history of poor conditioning. Despite proving to be a serious impediment last season, Bowers' conditioning hasn't improved much through this season:

"

Lovie Smith says Da'Quan Bowers has gotten more reps at DT, needs to get in better shape to make case for starting ...

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 17, 2014"

"

A year after losing a starting job because of it, poor conditioning is a problem yet again for Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers http://t.co/UFGW9gHh2p

— Roy Cummings (@RCummingsTBO) June 6, 2014"

Any offer the Bucs make to Bowers must be incentive-laden while also indicating the possibility of a longer future in Tampa. Bowers could be a valuable rotational player on the defensive line, but it needs to be clear that the Bucs only want players who will put in the effort.

Luke Stocker, TE

Reinhold Matay/Associated Press

Contract offer: Two years for $2.5 million

Tight end Luke Stocker's career in Tampa Bay may appear unremarkable on the surface. Over the past year, the former fourth-round pick established himself as a vital role player for the Bucs offense.

Stocker spent the half of his Bucs career flitting in and out of injured reserve and otherwise failing to bring much to the Bucs offense.

The other half proved Stocker to be a powerful run-blocker both in-line and, as discovered this season, a fullback.

The Bucs already have tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Brandon Myers locked in for 2015. Myers' contract was restructured to add another year while also lowering his salary in 2015:

"

In restructuring contract, Bucs TE Brandon Myers got $500,000 now, lowered 2015 salary from $2.25-million to $1m.  Now $1.75m salary in '16.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 5, 2015"

Stocker shouldn't expect to get any more money than Myers given his lack of offensive production. Still the flexibility and road-grading Stocker brings to the Bucs offense might yield him a small extension.

Mason Foster, LB

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Contract offer: One year for $3 million

Mason Foster could be a quality starting middle linebacker next year, just not necessarily for the Bucs.

The former third-round pick has been a fixture in the Bucs defense since he was drafted in 2011. This past season, he struggled to adapt to Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 defense and missed several games due to injury.

Despite his unremarkable 2014 season, Foster is a difference-maker for the Bucs. The defense is plain better with him on the field.

The defense struggled as a whole in 2014, and Foster could bounce back in 2015. He may be worthy of a one-year extension to see what he can do with another year's experience.

Foster could draw significant interest on the free-agent market, so it may take a hefty price tag to keep him for just one year.

The final element of keeping Foster would be to draft another middle linebacker to compete against him and possibly supplant him.

Major Wright, S

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Contract offer: One year for $2 million

The last player on the list is the only one not from the Bucs' 2011 draft class. Safety Major Wright was an unexpected asset who may have more to offer in 2015.

Wright wasn't even on the Bucs roster on opening day this season, but he ended up playing a vital role in the Bucs' safety rotation down the line.

The trade of former first-round pick Mark Barron forced Wright into extended action where he was average. Wright isn't a playmaker, but he's not a liability, unlike certain overpaid, underperforming free safeties.

Dashon Goldson isn't likely to stay in Tampa Bay for much longer, not with an $8 million cap number, per Spotrac. While the Bucs are likely to address the safety position this offseason, they could use a veteran presence in the rotation.

Wright is by no means a game-breaker, but he knows Lovie Smith's defense as well as any Bucs player. The Bucs could hedge their bets on a new safety by giving Wright a relatively cheap short-term offer.