|
Tampa Bay will have their work
cut out for them this year, but
a projected $30 million in cap
space for 2007 should give them
some flexibility. With four
first-day picks, the Buccaneers
can be creative in how they want
to approach the draft, moving up
or down to select a targeted
player. Whoever calls signals in
Tampa Bay next year needs to be
surrounded with enough weapons
to compete.
Defensive Line: Expect a
lot of change along the
defensive front this offseason.
Defensive tackle “Booger”
McFarland has already been moved
to Indianapolis for a
second-round pick. Defensive end
Dewayne White is a free agent,
and Simeon Rice will most likely
be cut. Chris Hovan is fairly
solid, but would be more
effective if paired with an
athletic rusher on the inside.
The Bucs are going to have to
rebuild the right side of that
defensive line. Look for at
least one first-day pick to be
spent on an impact down lineman.
Wide Receiver: Tampa Bay
lost Michael Clayton to a
season-ending knee injury in the
midst of another disappointing
year. Joey Galloway
probably doesn’t have much left
in the tank at thirty-five
years old, and Michael Clayton
and Ike Hilliard have not been
producing either. An
infusion of young talent is
needed to take over for an aging
and underachieving group.
Quarterback: First things
first, the Bucs have to decide
on a direction at quarterback.
Is Chris Simms or Bruce
Gradkowski the future?
Chris Simms was re-signed, while
Bruce Gradkowski, although
gaining experience has yet to
really impress. The Buccaneers
are looking at a top 5 pick this
April, and they could be in the
Brady Quinn running. So much
depends on their view of Simms
health as if he can stay healthy
he is a serviceable starter who
can be built around for a few
years. With so many needs the
Bucs would be smart to wait to
address the position and fill in
the rest of the offense around
Simms.
Offensive Guard/Tackle:
Tampa used two first-day
selections last year on
offensive lineman in guard Davin
Joseph and tackle Jeremy
Trueblood. The rookies have
shown progress, but the line as
a whole has not improved and
guard Sean Mahan will be a free
agent at years end. The Bucs
will be forced to address their
needs on the offensive line for
the second straight year as
depth is needed badly.
Fullback: A spot normally
anchored by veteran Mike Alstott
will be in flux this offseason.
Alstott considered hanging it up
before last year before signing
a one-year deal, and will most
likely retire. Jerald Sowell,
Alstott’s back up, is also a
free agent, not to mention will
be 33 by the time training camp
opens up in 2007. If Sowell is
not re-signed, there are some
serviceable fullbacks available
in free agency, including New
England’s Patrick Pass.
Secondary: Ronde Barber
and Brian Kelly are not getting
any younger. Ronde plans on
playing a few more years, but
saying there's very little depth
is an understatement. The days
of John Lynch are gone and all
they have at the position are a
bunch of mid-round picks and
undrafted free agents
Notes:
On
defense, the team needs help at
each level and it’s mainly due
to the age of players on that
side of the ball. Linebacker
Derrick Brooks is closing in on
his mid-thirties and getting
paid a hefty sum, while Shelton
Quarles is even older and will
be thirty-six when next season
rolls around on the calendar. It
would be wise to begin preparing
a young linebacker heading into
next season for extra support
and depth. At defensive end, the
Bucs suit up another veteran in
Simeon Rice, and the team would
be wise to put some youth behind
him as well. The cornerback
position also presents concerns.
Ronde Barber is in his thirties,
and the Bucs picked up former
Raider and Texan Phillip
Buchanon because of their need.
With the future a concern on
defense, Tampa Bay will use
their draft choices to add as
much young depth as possible
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers Free Agency
Notes:
With about $24 million in salary
cap space, the Bucs are expected
to be major players in free
agency for the first time since
winning the Super Bowl four
years ago. Landing a starting
defensive end, a playmaking
receiver or upgrading the
offensive line, especially at
left tackle, likely will impact
coach Jon Gruden's approach to
the draft, where Tampa Bay picks
fourth. The Bucs could also use
help at safety, where starters
Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen
have struggled, and linebacker.
And don't be surprised to see
Gruden bring in a veteran
quarterback to compete with
Chris Simms, who missed most of
2006 because of injury.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
FBs Mike Alstott and Jerald
Sowell; CBs Phillip Buchanon and
CB Torrie Cox; T Cornell Green;
TEs Keith Heinrich and Doug
Jolley; G Sean Mahan; LB Wesly
Mallard; LS Dave Moore; QB Tim
Rattay; DE Dewayne White.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
CB Blue Adams; G Jeb Terry; S
Kalvin Pearson
|
