Free agency was an unmitigated disaster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last offseason. Ironically, their failures last year force the Bucs to once again dive headfirst into the free agency pool this year.
Bucs head coach Lovie Smith won't be disheartened by last season's unsuccessful acquisitions and will be active in the free agent market, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Though Smith makes it clear in the article that the Bucs are building through the draft, he also said, "you still have to use free agency when you feel the need. We felt the need coming in and didn't know our roster well. We know our roster a lot better now."
Smith should then know that his team has a myriad of needs. The offensive line remains a mess, the secondary and defensive line need upgrades and depth is a concern at nearly every position.
The Bucs are due to lose most—if not all—of their 2011 draft class this offseason. Defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers and linebacker Mason Foster are all free agents who have been given no indication that they will be re-signed by Tampa Bay.
What Tampa Bay does have is cap space. According to spotrac.com, the Bucs are $27 million under the 2015 salary cap. With that kind of money, the Bucs can afford to sign one or two top free agents like Denver's Orlando Franklin or New York's Jason Pierre-Paul.
Here are some of the latest news and rumors from the NFL free agent market that might impact the Bucs this offseason.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/18jRGUH
via IFTTT February 24, 2015 at 09:01PM
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