Offseason Analysis: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs collapsed last year, costing Jon Gruden his job. His voice may have grown old with the players. Raheem Morris is a new voice, and by all accounts is respected by the team.

Jeff Garcia will mostly likely not be back with the Bucs next year. Luke McCown was re-signed and will be given the opportunity to compete with Brian Griese to win the starting gig. Earnest Graham, Warrick Dunn, and Cadillac Williams (if he’s healthy) form a nice RB trio, but they’d be wise to add a young runner.

Antonio Bryant had a breakout year and is their top priority this offseason. They put the franchise tag on him and will likely work out a long-term deal. Michael Clayton is also a free agent, but he has yet to match his impressive rookie season. After disappointing for four years, I see no reason why he’d be back. The Bucs should add some youth at WR this offseason.

Jerramy Stevens is a free agent, but with Alex Smith and John Gilmore under contract, I don’t see the Bucs going after Stevens hard to re-sign. Left tackle Donald Penn is a restricted free agent. I don’t see him going anywhere.

Defensively, defensive linemen Kevin Carter and Jovan Haye and defensive backs Phillip Buchanon and Jermaine Phillips are free agents. The Bucs are likely to go away from the Tampa 2, so there could be a lot of changes on defense this year. The Bucs will bring in guys who fit their new philosophy.

KFFL Free Agent Tracker

Pos	Player Name	FA Status	Previous Team	Current Team
QB	Bruce Eugene	RFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
QB	Jeff Garcia	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
QB	Luke McCown	Re-signed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FB	Byron Storer	RFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
WR	Antonio Bryant	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
WR	Michael Clayton	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
WR	Cortez Hankton	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
TE	Jason Pociask	Re-signed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE	Jerramy Stevens	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
OT	Anthony Davis	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
OT	Donald Penn	RFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
OT	Julius Wilson	Re-signed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DL	Kevin Carter	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
DL	Jovan Haye	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
DL	Dre Moore	Re-signed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DL	Ryan Sims	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
LB	Sam Olajubutu	RFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
CB	Kyle Arrington	Re-signed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB	Phillip Buchanon	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
SS	Jermaine Phillips	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent
FS	Will Allen	UFA	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Free Agent