The Bucs must do much more than they have thus far to compete in 2019.
How do you improve your 5-11 team when you’re broke in football money?
The Bucs could not afford to shop at Nordstrom or Saks on Fifth Avenue.
Instead, Jason Licht and his boys were forced to stalk the discount aisle at Walmart in hopes prices would drop and they would be able to find something salvageable that would help them fix their team.
Thus far this off-season the Bucs have lost three starters from the 2018 team. The Bucs lost two Wide receivers as DeSean Jackson was traded to the Eagles and Adam Humphries signed with Tennessee. In addition linebacker, Kwon Alexander spurned the Bucs offer to sign with San Francisco 49ers.
Tampa also lost three other role players in linebacker Adarius Taylor who signed a two year deal with Cleveland, defensive lineman Mitch Unrein who was cut after he failed his physical and punter Bryan Anger who was also released.
Though the Bucs lost talent, they did make some additions.
The Bucs signed wide receiver Breshad Perriman who decided against re-signing with Cleveland after the trade for Odell Beckham Jr. In Perriman, the Bucs hope to have found their speed receiver replace Jackson.
This will be a homecoming of sorts for Perriman as he played his college ball at Central Florida.
Last year in Cleveland Perriman Had 16 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns. However, he has his share of injuries and off the field issues that have made it a challenge to keep him on the field at times.
Another move the Bucs made was adding linebacker Deone Bucannon Bucannon to a one year deal.
Buchanan will take the spot of Kwon Alexander. Bucannon is small for a linebacker measuring six foot one and weighing 211 pounds. Thus, it’s hard not to be concerned.
The Bucs need to look hard at linebacker Devin White from LSU with the number five pick as Bucannon will probably play more in pass coverage as his coverage skills are decent at best for a linebacker but more resemble a safety.
Right now the Bucs defense which was one of the worst in the league last season is worse than they were just a week ago with the Bucannon in and Alexander out.
The final of the Bucs three most significant moves so far was the addition of Punter Bradley Pinion who was signed to a four-year deal to replace Bryan Anger.
The scouting report on Pinion is a very strong leg, solid good kickoff man and a quality directional punter.
Tampa is counting on Pinion to have a significant impact on special teams this upcoming season.
All in all, the Bucs are not any better after this first initial wave of free agency and the defense is in worse shape because of the loss of Kwon Alexander. That’s why the Bucs grade for the first flurry of Free-Agency is a D-.
There are still some free agents out there that could help this Buccaneer team on both sides of the ball, but with the Bucs being right up against the cap don’t look for any marquee signings.
Bruce Arians and his coaching staff are going to have to work a lot of miracles to get this team to .500.
There is just too much mediocre talent on this team right now to be an impact team in the NFC South.
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