Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Perfect Free-Agent Fits for Bucs
Another early offseason has begun for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite an overhauled front office, coaching staff and roster that had many experts calling for the team to challenge for a playoff spot in 2014.
But the Bucs didn't make the playoffs, instead going just 2-14 and sitting atop the 2015 NFL draft order thanks to having the worst record in the league this season. There were a few bright spots, but overall, Tampa Bay's new regime got off to an ugly start in its first campaign.
At the heart of the failure to meet high expectations was the underwhelming performance of many of Tampa Bay's top free-agent signings. High-priced players in their prime and experienced veterans alike fell far short of the success the Bucs had in mind when they joined the team last offseason. This problem isn't new to Tampa Bay fans, however, as previous general manager Mark Dominik had his share of big-money misses in free agency over his tenure.
According to Spotrac.com, the Bucs are currently set to have the seventh-most cap room in the NFL heading into this offseason, which means they should have plenty of opportunity to balance some economical role-player additions with perhaps a few more marquee names.
Of the players set to hit the market this year, who would fit best in pewter and red? Here's my take.
LB Rolando McClain
1 of 5
A former top-10 pick who ended up out of football for two seasons, McClain has experienced a resurrection in Dallas this season, taking over for an injured Sean Lee and putting together one of the better seasons in the league by a middle linebacker.
Over 12 starts this season, McClain finished second on the team in tackles with 81 while bagging two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack.
He's a bit heavier than you'd expect from an effective Cover 2 middle linebacker at 260 pounds, but his 6'4" frame carries it well. McClain's performance this year was well-balanced against both the run and pass. At one point late in the season, Pro Football Focus graded him the fifth-best middle linebacker in the NFL against the run and the seventh-best against the pass, per FanSided.
It's easy to draw parallels between success under Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and potential success under Bucs head coach Lovie Smith, both of whom worked on the same staff under Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay. Mason Foster's contract is up, but he's struggled with injuries and might not be the athlete the Bucs need to get deep and cover the deep middle in the Tampa 2.
If McClain hits the market, Tampa Bay would be wise to reel him in fast.
CB Darius Butler
2 of 5
As Ronde Barber proved over his 16-year career in Tampa Bay, you don't have to be the biggest or fastest to make a huge impact on the game as a cornerback, especially in the Tampa 2, which allows instincts to trump athleticism when it comes to the nickel spot.
Lovie Smith isn't likely to find the next Barber anytime soon, but he needs to do better than the likes of Leonard Johnson and Isaiah Frey, both of whom failed to make any significant contribution from such a key position in the Bucs' new-old defense.
Should Tampa Bay look to free agency to fill this void, the Colts' Darius Butler would likely be the best option. Undersized for the outside at just 5'10", 188 pounds, Butler has had success at the nickel spot for Indianapolis, scattering 46 tackles, nine pass deflections and two forced fumbles over 14 games this season.
Butler will be 29 when the 2015 season opens up, but he's still likely to have a few solid years of production left in the nickel role. If the Bucs prefer to go the veteran route rather than drafting a new nickel corner, Butler would be their best bet.
G Mike Iupati
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I know, I know.
"But, Carl Nicks!"
Yes, Nicks ended up being one of the biggest free-agent busts in recent memory after signing a lucrative deal with the Bucs, only to retire due to injury after making just nine starts in Tampa Bay.
Don't get me wrong; for the most part, Tampa Bay should focus on finding economical role players during this year's free-agency period. But the 2014 season proved what happens when you wait to address a huge area of need until it's too late.
The Bucs didn't take a guard until the fifth round of the 2014 draft, despite desperately needing to find a starting replacement for Nicks. They swung a late-preseason trade for Logan Mankins from the Patriots, but his performance this season showed why the Pats were so willing to part with him.
The Bucs need to avoid the dumpster-diving at guard this offseason and swing for the fences, and Iupati is this year's middle-of-the-plate fastball. The 17th overall pick in 2010, Iupati has made 75 starts in his NFL career, but he's still only 27 years old. He's a mauler in the run game and would be a huge improvement over anything the Bucs currently have on the roster.
He might cost a pretty penny, but the Bucs can afford to drain the reservoir for at least one big name this offseason, and it should be Iupati.
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DE Anthony Spencer
4 of 5
When Tampa Bay signed Michael Johnson to a big-money deal in free agency this year, the team expected a bit more than four sacks and nagging injuries.
There's time for Johnson to improve, but the Bucs' pass rush needs a shot in the arm. They have a promising young talent in Jacquies Smith, who racked up 6.5 sacks in the final eight games of the season, but an experienced rusher could be a wise investment in case Smith turns out to be a flash in the pan.
Spencer has been slowly working his way back from microfracture surgery on his left knee but has already flashed his knack for making big plays in the backfield, strip-sacking Matthew Stafford last week in Dallas' big playoff win over the Lions.
Combining Spencer's injury concerns with his age—he'll be 31 next season—it's unlikely he'll command a huge payday in free agency this offseason. If the Bucs can snag him at a value, he could be just what they need to improve their sack numbers in 2015.
WR Eddie Royal
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Mike Evans looks like the real deal, and Vincent Jackson is the perfect complement who can move the chains consistently. But the Bucs still lack that small, shifty receiver who can make plays from the slot.
Louis Murphy already got a contract extension, but he's better suited as a depth piece to spell one of the outside receivers. Last year's sixth-round pick—Wyoming's Robert Herron—still needs plenty of development, and Russell Shepard is most useful on special teams.
This leaves the Bucs looking for an experienced slot target who could also help stabilize the revolving door that has been the return specialist situation.
Royal is undersized at 5'10", 182 pounds, but his speed and route-running skills would be perfect in the slot. He also has enough experience in both punt and kick returning to upgrade both areas for Tampa Bay.
The Virginia Tech product will be 29 years old next season, and when combined with his lack of ideal size, it's unlikely he'll be getting top dollar on the free-agent market. Tampa Bay shouldn't have to break the bank to bring in Royal, who proved he can still put up solid numbers by snagging 62 passes for 778 yards and seven touchdowns for the Chargers this year.
*All stats courtesy of NFL.com.
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