National Football League

Buccaneers Free Agent Outlook Part I

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:27 p.m. ET

Fansided, James Yarcho/FanSided via The Pewter Plank

As free agency approaches, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have plenty of decisions to make regarding their own players about to hit the market.

Free agency brings with it a sense of hope and improvement for every fan base. The thought of another team’s star coming in to help your favorite squad is certainly intriguing. However, championship teams are made by teams drafting, developing, and retaining their own talent – not a slew of outside guys coming in to save the day.

Now, that’s not to say outsiders don’t help out in key roles. We saw that this season from Robert Ayers, Brent Grimes, and Bryan Anger. We’ve seen it in the recent past with Vincent Jackson and Luke Stocker. Now the Bucs are in full evaluation mode for both the players ready to hit the market as well as their own who they don’t want to see get that far.

We’re going to take a look at the Bucs’ pending free agents and which ones are likely to stay as well as which ones are likely to go.

Oct 10, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) catches a pass in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Bucs defeated the Panthers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Vincent Jackson – Wide Receiver

Vincent Jackson has had two consecutive injury-plagued seasons after three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons for the Buccaneers. He’s now reached the end of his five year, $55-million dollar contract with the team and has made it clear he wants Tampa to be he and his family’s forever home.

Jackson has been simply outstanding within the community through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation focusing on military families as well as having opened a restaurant – Cask – in Tampa. Regardless of where he lands next season, Jackson appears to be a mainstay in the Tampa Bay area for the long haul.

As for his playing career, the Bucs don’t seem likely to give him another deal. If anyone brings him in, it’ll be a minimal deal due to the injury risk involved as well as the fact that he just turned 34 years old. The Bucs are going younger as they build towards a championship team and it would be a bit of a shock if Jackson was retained.

As much as the fans love him, unfortunately, Vincent Jackson’s tenure as a Buccaneer is over.

Verdict: Not Retained

Gosder Cherilus – Offensive Tackle

Ah, yes – Buccaneers’ fans favorite target. Gosder Cherilus was certainly one of the most disappointing players during the 2016 season. His inability to fill in for Demar Dotson during injury, serving as a proverbial turnstile made him this year’s Garrett Gilkey – fans just want him gone.

It seems likely that fans will get their wish. The Bucs will address offensive line depth via the draft and/or free agency and Cherilus seems destined for the cutting room floor. He’s never lived up to the hype of being a first round pick and disappointed both the Colts and the Buccaneers after being signed by each as a free agent.

On the plus side of thirty, the odds are stacked against Cherilus getting another shot with the Bucs as there will be plenty of better options available moving forward.

Verdict: Not Retained

Chris Conte – Safety

Despite somewhat improved play throughout the season, Chris Conte ultimately lost his job to injury. Once he was sidelined, Keith Tandy stepped in and earned a spot in the lineup for the rest of 2016.

Thanks to that, Tandy will have first dibs at competing for the starting role again this off-season with whatever players Tampa decides to sign in free agency or draft. The popular choice for Bucs fans is Eric Berry should he hit free agency, which makes a lot of sense. However, with as athletic and intelligent as Tandy is, he could switch to free safety should Berry be the guy.

So where does that leave Conte? Probably on another roster.

If Conte isn’t going to start, he also won’t want to accept the contract of a backup when there will be other teams willing to pay him a little more and give him playing time. Tandy remains the only safety on the roster, so expect the Bucs to sign/draft at least two, maybe three more to carry on the 2017 roster.

Much to the delight of Buccaneers fans, Conte won’t be one of them.

Verdict: Not Retained

Bradley McDougald – Safety

Bradley McDougald, however, should be one of those safeties the Bucs sign in free agency. He’s not a major play maker, but he’s a solid depth piece that can – and has – made impacts on games. He finished 2016 with two interceptions, bumping his career total up to five.

McDougald, who joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent for the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a one year, $2.53 million dollar “prove it” deal last season and appears to have proven his worth within Mike Smith‘s offense.

Now, he’s not going to be hauling in that big of a paycheck as McDouglad will be a depth piece and not likely a starter. but he’s certainly worth another contract with the Buccaneers. He’s versatile enough to fill in at either safety position should someone go down and has really matured over the past few seasons.

McDougald is definitely one of the players the Bucs will try to retain heading into 2017 and beyond.

Verdict: Re-Signed

Daryl Smith – Linebacker

This is an interesting one. Daryl Smith was one of the free agents the Buccaneers signed last season on a one year deal. Now, Mike Smith’s defense doesn’t call for three linebackers very often, so Smith’s playing time was limited.

Despite that, Smith did see some action and was certainly one of the veteran leaders of the defense. At 34 years old and having played thirteen seasons, there’s no telling if Smith even wants to come back for another run. If he did, would he want to sign a minimum deal with a Super Bowl favorite or continue helping build something special in Tampa?

Quite frankly, no one is sure.

If Smith does decide he’s not done playing, the Buccaneers should certainly attempt to bring him back. The ability to not have him be an every down player is to his benefit at this point and his voice is one the Bucs surely want in the locker room. He signed here to be reunited with Mike Smith so there’s a decent chance he wants to return to be with the staff that he came to work with in the first place.

The decision really rests on Smith’s shoulders based on whether he wants to play or if he’s ready to hang them up.

Verdict: Re-Singed (Unless He Retires)

Brandon Myers – Tight End

Brandon Myers was one of the “big” free agent signings when Lovie Smith joined the team in 2014. However, Myers has been a role player at best throughout his time and has been surpassed by Cameron Brate as the tight end pass catcher and Myers isn’t near as talented a blocker as Luke Stocker, so he’s been left in no man’s land.

The Bucs thought they had a plethora of tight end depth at the start of the season – until they all began dropping like flies leading to players like Alan Cross getting snaps. That being said, it seems as if the Bucs will likely address tight end in the draft with the likes of O.J. Howard if they decide he’s the best player available at nineteen, or perhaps Jake Butt or Michael Roberts in the mid-to-late rounds.

Some other pending free agent tight ends include Jordan Cameron, Jermaine Gresham, Larry Donnell, Levine Toilolo, and Luke Wilson. The re-signing of Brandon Myers seems like a long shot at best.

Verdict: Not Retained

Josh Robinson – Cornerback/Special Teams

Another player brought in on a prove it deal, Josh Robinson became one of the key special teams players on the 2016 Buccaneers team. Although he didn’t see much playing time at cornerback, his value as a gunner on punt coverage was well worth the $2-million dollars he was paid.

As far as proving it, he certainly did that. With his emergence, he may be challenging Russell Shepard for special teams captain in the near future.

His ability to play corner certainly adds value at the position for depth should someone get injured and having a year in Smith’s system is a major bonus. The Bucs will likely still target corner in free agency or the draft as they’ll look to bolster the corps in preparation for Brent Grimes to either move on or retire after his contract is up.

Robinson isn’t a starting caliber corner, but he’s valuable enough to the team to make sure he returns in 2017.

Verdict: Re-Signed

Russell Shepard – Wide Receiver/Special Teams

Another special teamer, but more than that, he’s the captain. A player that Dirk Koetter has been on record saying he just can’t get rid of, Shepard stepped up in big ways in 2016 as not only a special teams player, but as a receiver when the entire position group sans Mike Evans seemed to be injured at the same time.

Shepard finished with 23 receptions for 341 yards and two touchdowns in 2016, becoming one of Jameis Winston‘s favorite deep targets down the stretch. Despite missing two games with an injury, Shepard displayed his worth for this team in a big way.

The Buccaneers will go for receivers this off-season, but they aren’t going to be able to fill the entire corps in one off-season. Seeing as how the position was ignored last year and the impending departure of Vincent Jackson, Shepard will be a key piece for the offense in 2017.

He will likely remain the special teams captain barring some crazy move that makes him exclusive to receiving. At the end of the day, Shep is a must sign – and Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter know that.

Verdict: Re-Signed

Next: Conclusion

Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter looks on during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion

So far, we’ve gotten through half of the 2016 Buccaneers set to hit free agency and only retained four. This isn’t a “should they, shouldn’t they” type of approach. Quite simply, this is what I believe the Bucs are likely to do and what makes sense for them moving forward towards Super Bowl contention.

We will have more to come on the remaining free agents Saturday as we continue to go down the line and get a better idea of where the Buccaneers are likely to stand on their players set for the market.

There is plenty of money in the Glazer’s checkbook to sign these players back as well as attack free agency with some vigor. The Bucs have done an outstanding job of structuring contracts to give themselves any needed wiggle room as well as ensuring there will be money leftover to retain the guys they really want.

So have no fear, Bucs fans. Mike Evans will get his deal, as will Jameis Winston, Kwon Alexander, Ali Marpet, and Donovan Smith. They are building something special in Tampa and they won’t be letting any key pieces escape.